K-12 outreach

NSF

NSF

Results of Prior NSF Educational Support

Kapila, Iskander, and Kriftcher (6/2004-5/2007) GK-12: Revitalizing Achievement by using Instrumentation in Science Education (RAISE). Grant No: DGE0337668, $1,474,762

The project goal was to raise academic achievement of high school students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and stimulate students’ interest in science and math by integrating modern sensing, instrumentation, and monitoring technologies in required and elective science labs.

Broader Impacts involved training, and deploying 36 RAISE Fellows in 5 New York City high schools. Relevant sensor based physics and living environment labs were developed. According to the project’s external evaluator, Fellows indicated that: participation in the project increased their own understanding of science (90%); and they had been helpful in teaching science concepts (80%). The project benefited K-12 students, as evidenced by a higher percentage of RAISE students (over 60%) passing the Regents exam than did non-RAISE students (under 40%) [1]. In addition, a third of the students participating in RAISE expressed interest in continuing their education at college in STEM disciplines. A two-week “Summer Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors, and Engineering” disseminated RAISE’s sensor-based projects to 20 teachers with funding from New York State [2,3]. The project resulted in publication of 4 journal articles [1,2,4, 5] and 11 conference papers [3, 5-16].

Kapila, Iskander, and Esner (6/2008–5/2013) GK-12: Applying Mechatronics to Promote Science (AMPS), Grant No: DGE0741714, $3,000,000.

This project exploits K-12 students’ fascination with robots by using robotics as a hook to stimulate them to learn STEM subjects while synergistically broadening the training of graduate students and providing rigorous STEM professional development to K-12 teachers. Activities are organized around the First Lego League competition and are frequently embedded in the classroom. An external pre- and post-project evaluation (2009-2010) of graduate Fellows’ presentation skills revealed a statistically significant gain in their ability to communicate complex STEM concepts to lay audiences (mean pre-score 2.75/4 versus post-score 3.23/4). Since spring 2010, teachers have reported changes in letter grades for students during or directly following the program. Specifically, out of 1,822 students, 68% saw their overall grades improve by one-half or one full letter grade, and 72% saw their science and math grades improve one-half or one full letter grade. Over 75% of the students reported that the program increased their interest in STEM subjects and careers.

Broader Impacts: In a typical year (AY 2011-2012), AMPS supported 7 doctoral and 7 masters Fellows who worked with 9 faculty, 22 teachers (Male-9, Female-13, Underrepresented-18) at 22 schools, and over 1,650 students. AMPS project’s success is evidenced from the following. First, the AMPS project was one of only 15 NSF-funded research and education projects selected and invited by NSF to showcase its activities at the Inaugural U.S. National Science and Engineering Expo, Washington, DC, October 23—24, 2010 [17]. Additionally AMPS received the 2011 Outstanding Project Award for Efforts in Sustainability and Media from NSF’s GK-12 Fellows Program. Finally, the project resulted in publication of 6 journal articles [17-22] and 10 conference papers [23-32].

Cited References 

  1. Iskander, M. and Kapila, V. (2012) “Revitalizing Achievement by using Instrumentation in Science Education (RAISE), A GK-12 Fellows Project, ASCE Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, Vol. 138, No. 1, DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000085 [link]
  2. Iskander, M., Kapila, V. and Kriftcher, N. (2010) “Outreach to K-12 Teachers: Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors, and Engineering (WISE). ASCE Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, Vol. 136, No. 2, 102-111, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000012 [link]
  3. Iskander, M., Kapila, V. and Kriftcher, N. (2007) “Workshop in Instrumentation Sensors and Engineering (WISE) for Teachers,” Innovative Techniques in Instruction Technology, E-learning, Assessment, E-assessment, and, Education, Springer, 285-291, ISBN 978-1-4020-8738-7 [link]
  4. Sobhan, S., Yakubov, N., Kapila, V., Iskander, M., and Kriftcher, N. (2007) “Modern Sensing and Computerized Data Acquisition Technology in High School Physics Labs,” International Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 23, No. 5, Part 1, 902-909 [link]
  5. Kapila, V, and Iskander (2014) “Lessons Learned from Conducting a K-12 Project to Revitalize Achievement by using Instrumentation in Science Education”, Journal of STEM Education [link]
  6. Yakubov, N., Sobhan, S., Iskander, M., Kapila, V., Kriftcher, N. and Kadashev, A. (2005) “Integration of Real-Time Sensor Based Experiments in High School Science Labs: a GK-12 Project,” Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition [pdf]
  7. Kriftcher, N., Kapila, V. and Iskander, M. (2006) “Developing a K-16 Continuum for Science and Engineering Studies,” Proceedings, Fifth Global Conference on Engineering Education, ed. Z. Pudlowski, UNESCO International Center for Engineering Education (UICEE), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 171-174
  8. Walia, M., Yu, E., Iskander, M., Kapila, V. and Kriftcher, N. (2006) “Using Real-Time Sensors in High School Living Environment Labs: A Gk-12 Project,” Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE [pdf]
  9. Sobhan, S., Yakubov, N., Kapila, V., Iskander, M. and Kriftcher, N. (2006) “Modern Sensing and Computerized Data Acquisition Technology in High School Physics Labs,” Advances in Computer, Information, and System Sciences, and Engineering, 441-447, Springer, ISBN: 978-1-4020-5260-6 [link]
  10. Wallia, M., Yu, E., Iskander, M., Kapila, V. and Kriftcher, N. (2006) “The Modern Science Lab, Integrating Technology is the Answer,” Advances in Computer, Information, and System Sciences, and Engineering, 357-362, Springer, ISBN: 978-1-4020-5260-6
  11. Yu, E., Iskander, M., Kapila, V. and Kriftcher, N. (2007) “Promoting Engineering Careers by Using Modern Sensors in High School Science Labs,” Innovations in E-learning, Instruction Technology, Assessment, and, Engineering Education, Springer, 229-235, DOI: 978-1-4020-6261-2 [link]
  12. Victor, J. and Iskander, M. (2007) “Issues in the Evaluation of a Program to Provide Assistance to Science Teachers in Inner-City Secondary Schools,” Innovations in E-learning, Instruction Technology, Assessment, and, Engineering Education, Springer, 169-174, DOI: 978-1-4020-6261-2 [link]
  13. Iskander, M., Yu, E. and Yakubov, N. (2009) “A Course in Instrumentation & Monitoring and Condition Assessment for Civil Engineers,” Contemporary Topics in In-Situ Testing, Analysis, and Reliability of Foundations, GSP No. 186, 624–631, ASCE
  14. Iskander, M., Yu, E. and Yakubov, N. (2008) “A Course in Instrumentation & Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure,” Innovative Techniques in Instruction Technology, E-learning, Assessment, E-assessment, and, Education, Springer, 292-297, ISBN 978-1-4020-8738-7
  15. Iskander, M., Kapila, V. and Kriftcher, N. (2010) “Using Modern Sensors in High School Science Labs to Promote Engineering Careers,” Advances in Analysis, Modeling & Design, GSP No. 199, 3295-3304, ASCE [link]
  16. Popichak A. (2008) “Enhancing High School Science Through Sensor-Based Lab Exercises”, In: Iskander M. (eds) Innovative Techniques in Instruction Technology, E-learning, E-assessment, and Education, Springer, p. 53-58 [pdf]
  17. Abaid N., Yuvienco, C., Kapila, V. and Iskander, M. (2011) “Mechatronics Mania at the Inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival,” IEEE Control Systems Magazine, Vol. 31, No. 5, 105-124, DOI:10.1109/MCS.2011.941835 [link]
  18. Laut, J., V. Kapila, M. Iskander (2014) “Exposing Middle School Students to Robotics and Engineering through LEGO and Matlab,” Computers in Education Journal, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 2-13, ASEE [pdf]
  19. Williams, K., Igel, I., Poveda, R., Kapila, V. and Iskander, M. “Enriching K-12 Science and Mathematics Education Using LEGOs,” Accepted for publication, Advances in Engineering Education, ASEE
  20. Suescun-Florez, E. Iskander, V. Kapila and R. Cain (2013) “Geotechnical Engineering in US Elementary Schools,” European Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 300–315, Taylor & Francis [link]
  21. Suescun-Florez, E., Iskander M., Cain R., Kapila V. (2013) “Delivering Geotechnical Engineering to Elementary School Children”, Geo-Strata, pp. 44 [pdf]
  22. Suescun-Florez, E. M Iskander, Cain and V. Kapila (2013) “Elementary School Geotechnical Engineering,” Geo Strata Magazine, ASCE
  23. Williams, K., Kapila, V. and Iskander, M. (2011) “Enriching K-12 Science Education Using LEGOs,” Proceedings American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE, Paper No: AC 2011-1861 [link]
  24. Kapila, V., Iskander, M. and Kriftcher, N. (2010) “Integrating Graduate Student Research into K-12
    Classrooms: A GK-12 Fellows Project,” Proceedings, American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, Paper No: AC 2010-581, ASEE
  25. Igel, I., Poveda, R., Kapila, V., and Iskander, M. (2011) “Enriching K-12 Math Education Using LEGOs,” Proceedings, American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE, Paper No: AC 2011-1871 [link]
  26. Muldoon, J., P. Phamduy, R. Le Grand, V. Kapila, M. Iskander (2013) “Connecting Cognitive Domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy and Robotics to Promote Learning in K-12 Environment,” American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE [pdf]
  27. Suescun-Florez, E., R. Cain, V. Kapila M Iskander (2013) “Bringing Soil Mechanics to Elementary Schools,” American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE [pdf]
  28. Laut, J., V. Kapila, M. Iskander (2013) “Exposing Middle School Students to Robotics and Engineering through LEGO and Matlab,” American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE [pdf]
  29. Igel, I, R. Poveda, V. Kapila, and Iskander (2012) “Examining the Efficacy of a LEGO Robotics Training for Volunteer Mentors and K-12 Teachers,” Proc.American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE [link]
  30. Faisal, A., V. Kapila, and Iskander (2012) “Using Robotics to Promote Learning in Elementary Grades,” Proc.American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE [pdf]
  31. Williams, K., V. Kapila, and Iskander, (2011) “Enriching K-12 Science Education Using LEGOs,” Proc.American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE [link]
  32. Igel, I, R. Poveda, V. Kapila, and Iskander, (2011) “Enriching K-12 Math Education Using LEGOs,” Proc.American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, ASEE [link]