Bonnie Swan

The University of Central Florida STEAM program: Where engineering education and Art Meet

ICubed is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project housed at the University of Central Florida aimed at increasing participation in STEM fields through coordination and institutional integration. The University of Central Florida Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (UCF STEAM) is a component of ICubed. As a part of this program, UCF STEM faculty and undergraduate researchers work collaboratively with faculty and students in the College of Arts and Humanities to create science-inspired art based on the STEM researchers explanations of scientific concepts and possibilities. Since the programs inception in 2010, over 700 University of Central Florida faculty and students have participated in the STEAM program with a large majority coming from engineering fields. An evaluation of the program over the last six years demonstrates that by encouraging strong post-secondary cross-disciplinary collaborations, the UCF STEAM program has enlightened UCFs undergraduate engineering students in a manner that not only leads to greater recognition of the interdependencies of right- and left-brain directed skills but also has helped to improve learning and communication skills. This paper highlights UCF engineering STEAM activities and lends a discussion to the educational impact of such a program.

Meeting the Needs of Gifted and Talented Students: Case Study of a Virtual Learning Lab in a Rural Middle School

Researchers used case study methods to investigate a virtual learning lab (VLL) in a rural school district that was created in 2011 as a way to better meet the unique needs of exceptional students who are considered gifted. Data were collected through focus groups, classroom observations, interviews, and reviewing relevant documents. Topics include an in-depth explication of the learning lab, lessons learned and suggestions by teachers and administrators, and benefits for improved teaching and learning. Findings are that VLL programming, specifically online instruction that takes place in brick-and-mortar public schools, can be an effective means for providing accelerated coursework to exceptional middle school students who are gifted. Benefits include cost-effectiveness, parent and student satisfaction, allowing for individualized work pace in talent area, and others.

Personalization of Learning: Lessons from RTT-D Winners

This article presents a synthesis of personalization of learning strategies as extracted from 16 school district proposals funded in the 2012 Race to the Top (RTT-D) federal grant program. Personalization of learning strategies fell into six overall themes: digital learning materials and courses, data and data systems, curriculum and teaching, repurposed learning facilities, human capital, and professional development. For each theme, the article offers a summary, exemplars from the district proposals, and additional recommended resources.