Creating and assessing stem kits for p-12 teacher use

With the continuing call for increased STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education at the pre-college level, teachers are expected to train students in these concepts. However, many teachers do not have the STEM educational background or experience to create opportunities for students to actively engage in learning STEM concepts [1]. Additionally, it is known that inquiry based instruction promotes learning, yet, a recent study revealed that teachers with science related degrees, as opposed to education only degrees, offer inquiry based learning at higher levels [2]. Therefore, there is a need to support teacher delivery of STEM educational concepts. While teachers may receive additional training through local universities or other professional development opportunities, it is challenging to learn from a crash course in a topic or be expected to create an effective lesson plan. However, creating a "kit" for teachers offers a solid starting point to assist teachers in STEM delivery [3]. Following this idea, we developed kits for teacher use; these kits are cost effective, with the materials being widely available. But, most importantly, the kits contain the background STEM information with easy-to-follow instructions that allow teachers to connect the STEM theoretical concepts to practical experiences. This paper discusses (1) how to create the kits, (2) how to train teachers to use the kits, and (3) how to assess the kits from both the teacher and the student learning perspectives.