STEM skills—from computer programming to bioengineering—are the bedrock of the 21st century economy.
Not all students have a high-quality STEM education, which can limit their post-secondary learning and career options. EDC works to improve the quality, effectiveness, and equity of STEM learning and teaching, giving all students a solid foundation in computer science and creating pathways to STEM careers for students from underrepresented groups, students from low-income families, and English learners.
We develop STEM curricula, digital games, and apps that engage, excite, and challenge students, aiming to foster and use technology for robust STEM experiences. And through national resource centers and collaborative research, we guide STEM research and program design.
Learn about EDC’s work with Family STEM Communities.
Related Content
Tackling Inequity in the Mathematics Classroom
EDC’s Babette Moeller and Matt McLeod discuss their efforts to make mathematics teaching more equitable.
EDC Talks: STEM Education in Rural Schools
In this video, Pam Buffington discusses how to enrich STEM learning in rural communities.
A New Language for Mathematics
Young children often struggle to write down their mathematical ideas. Could computer programming be an easier language for them?
EDC Talks: Making Time for Family Math
What are some fun, easy activities that families can do to encourage math learning at home? (Hint: You are probably already doing some of them.)
Tapping, Swiping, and Learning Science
Research findings on The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ have implications for parents, educators, and educational media developers.
Projects
Resources
Here are a few of our resources on STEM. To see more, visit our Resources section.
This report explores Massachusetts’ progress toward achieving equity in computer science (CS) education.
This report details a stackable credentials model to help college students learn the skills and habits needed for careers in big data. Developed as part of EDC’s Creating Pathways to Big Data Careers project, the report captures the results of a working session featuring four community colleges and facilitated by EDC.
EDC developed four online games for middle school science students that address common misconceptions about photosynthesis, heredity, electricity, and heat transfer.
This report presents findings from the Prekindergarten Transmedia Mathematics Study.
The sySTEM Impacted podcast shares stories of system-impacted people’s successes and struggles related to accessing STEM education and careers. The podcast features thoughtful discussions of topics such as learning opportunities, mental health awareness, and use of trauma-informed practices to support people impacted by incarceration.
This resource is designed to help K–8 teachers prepare their students to succeed in STEM learning in high school and thrive in STEM careers.
This report provides 73 guidelines for instructional designers that will enable K–12 teachers and students to use large online professional datasets. The authors drew on available literature and expert opinions from a wide range of disciplines—including education, science, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience—to develop the guidelines.
EDC’s Ocean Track modules engage undergraduate students in rigorous investigations of data science and climate change.
Science skills and habits of mind are the missing elements of the foundational skills package, and their addition to the mix can accelerate education recovery and reform. In the context of climate change, these skills are even more critical. This report makes the case for investment in primary science as a foundational skill set in low-resource contexts.
In this briefing book, the leaders of the Massachusetts Computing Attainment Network (MassCAN) describe the goals, key accomplishments, and future directions of the partnership.