Projects
Chicago Museums
At the Chicago Children’s Museum, our research focused on that the NSF refers to as the “STEM problem” where there are fewer kids interested in STEM fields. One goal is to recommend methods that parents and other educators can use with young children in STEM learning situations to foster early understanding of STEM-related concepts increasing interest in future science education and career options. These studies take place in a building exhibit within the Chicago Children’s Museum that was designed specifically to advance STEM learning.
Chicago Children’s Museum
The Field Museum
Chicago Public Schools
Career and Technical Education
Career-focused experiential learning programs, sometimes called Career and Technical Education (CTE), provide students with opportunities to explore careers and gain marketable skills while still in high school. Mapping Your Community is a partnership between Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Northwestern University, The Learning Partnership and James Madison University, where CPS CTE teachers develop lessons for students to learn about mapping through GIS. Prior research has shown that students who participate in GIS-focused learning programs show improved spatial thinking and STEM problem-solving skills.
Analogy Training via Al Sketch Worksheets
Ken Forbus' group using Al-based Sketch Worksheets to scaffold analogical mapping
Students see elements of domains being compared
They identify what goes with what
Feedback given immediately on demand
Entire history of student activity embedded in worksheet
