Evaluation data for the GK-12 program are provided for four primary stakeholders (GK-12 Fellows, K-12 Teachers, K-12 Students in participating schools, and K-12 Student Guardians) and provide an assessment of two implementation elements (the 5-week summer workshops that provide training for Fellows and Teachers and the K-12 academic school year where the training is implemented in the classroom). Types of data include pre- and post-tests for assessing the summer training, with a follow-up assessment at the end of the academic year to provide data on the success of program implementation. Annual standardized testing and student attitudinal data are being used to create a longitudinal database for assessing student academic growth and change in interest levels in math and science. Enrollment numbers in advanced STEM courses will be used to assess enrollment trends for GK-12 and non-GK-12 comparable schools.

Initial results have indicated that fellows are becoming more confident in their ability to communicate their STEM content knowledge to others, K-12 teachers are increasing their usage of inquiry learning activities and technology for facilitating STEM content coverage, both high and low performing K-12 students in GK-12 classrooms are showing higher gains on standardized math exams than their peers in control classrooms, and students in GK-12 classrooms are reporting higher interest levels in science and perceive science and math as being more useful to everyday life. If additional longitudinal data incorporating multiple academic outcome measures, additional grouping variables (e.g., gender, minority status), and greater control variables support the initial results, the potential impact on Arkansas K-12 STEM education could be large and could lead to the solidification of a systemic partnership between Arkansas STEM Graduate Programs, Teacher Education, and K-12 communities.

Selected Presentations and Reports

Fellows

Middle School Students