This Project Team works to uncover best practices in enabling teachers to use research shared by STEM organizations addressing local issues to create context-specific, standards-aligned lessons and units. Members include New York City Department of Education - Department of STEM, Freeport-McMoRan, Teach for America, and NSTA/NCTM STEM Teacher Ambassadors.

In the first cycle of Project Teams, a team came together to examine best practices in teacher preparation. One major learning that emerged was the importance of grounding STEM education in local context. The finding suggested that teachers experience a paradigm shift in ways that allow them to be responsive to students’ specific lived experience.

This team will build on that insight and aims to use the localized research of a STEM organization to create standards-aligned K-12 resources for teachers. Eventually, the team may compile best practices or guidelines so that others may emulate this process. The plan for this project will be co-developed with its members and right-sized for those involved. Decision to focus on an urban or rural context will also depend on team members’ desire.