Project Goals
This project has three primary goals.
- The firs goal is to greatly increase learning of mathematics and valuing of engineering careers among traditional and underrepresented student populations.
- The second goal is to create in mathematics and engineering graduate students the desire to pursue careers as university educators who also engage in outreach and serve as mentors to diverse pre-college students.
- The third goal is to establish long-term relationships among geographically-separated K-12 teachers and university faculty to support effective teaching of mathematics and promotion of engineering careers at the K-12 and university levels
The Model
The Culturally-Relevant Engineering Applications in Mathematics (CREAM) model promises energized student learning and increased success of students in mathematics classes along the engineering pipeline. Key features of the model are:
- Culturally Relevant Mathematics. Engineering applications, drawing from proven curricular materials, linked to mandated mathematics learning outcomes and relevant cultural interests
- Diverse Implementation. Model implemented in widely-distributed secondary schools with Hispanic, Native, and African American cultures and academic diversity
- Mentored Learning. Graduate fellows, as content experts and role models, mentor youth in learning and understanding culturally relevant engineering applications
- Cyber Learning Communities. Students, teachers, fellows, and faculty linked by high-end videoconferencing support one another and extend resources available to everyone
- Assessment-Driven Revision. Ongoing assessment of student learning and attitudes and teacher and fellow development guide model refinement for success
- Resource Leveraging. Partnering with schools, cultural experts, statewide extension, MESA, and engineering education research center to access resources and support sustainability