Advancing Research & Communication in STEM

Elementary science student using plastic atom model educational toy

Problem

The United States has fallen short on teaching STEM subjects.

While other countries are raising their game on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the U.S. continues to lag behind. American students must become more proficient in these STEM subjects to remain competitive in an increasingly global economy.

Solution

NORC launched a comprehensive project to improve STEM education.

Our project, run by the Center for Advancing Research & Communication in STEM (ARC-STEM), looked at ways to boost STEM learning both inside and outside the classroom. With $6 million in federal funding, ARC-STEM collaborated over six years with more than 300 researchers in the National Science Foundation’s Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering program, known as REESE.

ARC-STEM’s mission was threefold:

Produce rigorous evidence of what works to improve STEM instruction and learning
Encourage discovery and innovation across disciplines and institutions
Gather, synthesize, and disseminate findings to a variety of stakeholders, including instructors and policymakers

ARC-STEM also promoted wide adoption of equity and inclusion strategies by advancing understanding of factors that dissuade women and people of color from taking STEM classes and pursuing careers in STEM fields.

Result

A new, effective ecosystem for supporting the research needed to help educators and policymakers promote STEM.

The ARC-STEM project has fostered a community to nurture a new generation of scientists. It has made strides to encourage understanding barriers that prevent women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups from pursuing education and careers in STEM. ARC-STEM has also promoted awareness of the REESE program and its contributions to STEM learning.