Rooted in research, ByExample is an approach that is proven to be effective but rarely seen in math textbooks. Federal support has scaled this approach so that more students can improve their analytic and critical thinking skills in math.
Prisms of Reality, Inc. is utilizing virtual reality to improve students’ understanding of STEM subjects. By creating learning opportunities that are meaningful and interactive, Prisms of Reality is expanding the way that we approach STEM education.
Exploring Computer Science supports teachers in understanding and teaching computer science. With support from federal investments, this program is exposing students and educators who would not normally engage in computer science to the subject.
Turning Education R&D Investments into Impact
Prisms of Reality, Inc., Exploring Computer Science, and By Example are improving STEM outcomes for students with the support of strategic federal investments in education R&D.
Prisms of Reality, Inc. received:
$ 225000
$225,000 of Phase I funding from the National Science Foundation’s SBIR program.
$ 270000
$270,000 of Phase I funding from the National Institute of Health’s SBIR program.
$ 945000
$945,000 of Phase II funding from the National Science Foundation’s SBIR program.
ByExample was supported by four Institute of Education Sciences Development and Innovation grants:
$ 1.49 million
$1.49 million in 2010
$ 1.5 million
$1.5 million in 2015
$ 1.4 million
$1.4 million in 2019
$ 3.8 million
$3.8 million in 2021
Exploring Computer Science received:
$ 1.4 million
$1.4 million from a National Science Foundation grant
This funding led to:
11 %
Students who use Prisms perform 11 percent better than their peers on exponential functions
10 %
10 percentage point difference in performance for high schoolers who use AlgebraByExample
56 %
Increase of 56% in computer science knowledge for students in Exploring Computer Science classrooms
How STEM-Centered Ed R&D Can Increase America’s Global Competitiveness
The nature of the workforce is becoming increasingly STEM-centered. In the U.S., industries like clean energy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing are facing a workforce crisis. Projections currently estimate that there will be 1.4 million technical STEM jobs unfilled in the U.S. by 2030. Without a strong federal commitment to STEM education, American students will not be equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in the jobs of the future.
One way to bolster STEM learning in the U.S. is through investing in STEM education research and development (R&D). Federally funded STEM education R&D programs have been found to have a positive impact on student outcomes, but more work needs to be done to shine a light on what’s working, for whom, and in what conditions. Projects that have leveraged federal funding to increase students’ STEM engagement and learning outcomes include Prisms of Reality, Inc., Exploring Computer Science, and the ByExample pedagogical approach.
How Prisms of Reality, Inc. Works
Founded in San Francisco in 2020, Prisms of Reality, Inc. utilized various federal programs and funding sources to create the first spatial learning platform for K-12 STEM education. Prisms is an immersive virtual reality platform that teaches math and physics, tailored for students from historically underserved populations. It uses three main components to make learning more meaningful and interactive: 1) VR content modules that deepen students’ understanding of core concepts, 2) a multiplayer sandbox for additional practice problems, and 3) instructional materials with a web-based dashboard to support STEM learning.
During its first year, the Prisms team tested the first iteration of its virtual reality modules and found average learning gains of 20 percent for students before and after engaging with the prototype. In a subsequent study, “Learning Exponential Functions With Immersive Virtual Reality, ”researchers found that students who used Prisms performed 11 percent better than their peers on exponential functions. Shortly after, Prisms was scaled across the country, and the program is now used in 140 school districts across 30 states.
How ByExample Works
The SERP Institute offers another example of using federal funds to better support students’ understanding of STEM curriculum – specifically in math. Based in Washington, D.C., the SERP Institute collaborated with researchers from Temple University and several school districts to create a program that allows students to learn by working through math problems that have already been solved.
The idea behind the resulting “ByExample” program is that students can overcome misconceptions in math when provided with worked-through problems interspersed with additional practice problems. This method is proven by research but rarely used in math textbooks. With ByExample, some worked-through problems require students to explain the reasoning behind key steps. This practice furthers their skills in analyzing, critiquing, and articulating mathematical arguments.
ByExample started with AlgebraByExample. Students who use this program have been found to score an average of 10 percentage points higher in conceptual knowledge than their peers in control classrooms taught by the same teacher. And, students who had previously struggled with algebra benefitted the most from the assignments.
After finding great success with AlgebraByExample, the SERP team developed MathByExample — a similar concept but for 4th and 5th graders. Preliminary research found that students who received the MathByExample intervention also saw improvements in learning. Today, the ByExample team is working to develop and test GeometryByExample.
How Exploring Computer Science Works
Exploring Computer Science is another project that benefitted from federal investments in STEM R&D, and it is now making STEM skills more accessible to educators. Housed at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Oregon, Exploring Computer Science is a professional development program that teaches educators computer science concepts and practices that are effective in high school classrooms. It also includes online professional learning to any first-year high school teacher.
The Exploring Computer Science program is rooted in three key components: computer science concepts, inquiry, and equity – and it supports teachers across disciplines, leading to more educators in different subjects gaining knowledge and understanding of computer science concepts. Exploring Computer Science not only expands access for educators, it also contributes to increased computer science interest and outcomes for students. One study demonstrated that students in Exploring Computer Science classrooms saw an average increase of 56 percent in their knowledge of computer science. Program participation resulted in a 25 percent increase in students who reported being “very interested in computer science.”
With jobs in STEM growing two times faster than non-STEM jobs, teaching students to become STEM literate is more important than ever. All students can benefit from evidence-based strategies in STEM education, and if they desire, pursue high-paying STEM-related careers. A federal investment in evidence-based programs like Prisms, ByExample, and Exploring Computer Science is essential to prepareAmericans for the jobs and economy of the future and ensure that the U.S. remains globally competitive.