Duval County Public Schools STEM SIMS
Abstract
Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), in partnership with the University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville, FL proposes to initia,te a research project to establish, build, and then maintain a comprehensive STEM educational intervention for Modeling and Simulati,on using a sense-making approach. DCPS STEM SIMS includes three components: 1) the modification of a State of Florida career academy, course progression in Modeling and Simulation to include instruction in coding, 2) building a Simulation Design Lab for students to, engage in learning and modeling using simulations, and 3) creating a Mobile Simulation Experience using a portable simulation syste,m to facilitate its use and recruit secondary students to engage them in a simulation experiences. To maximize relevance of the prog,ram to learning outcomes for the Navy and other military branches, a sense-making framework will be embedded into the STEM SIMS curr,iculum and activities so that students will learn simulation and modeling coding and design skills, as well as how to embed dynamic,decision-making and communicative processes. Expected outcomes: Upon successful implementation of this introductory phase, the STEM,SIMS project will provide a replicable instructional experience throughout secondary classrooms that will result in 1) an establishe,d military-aligned career pathway culminating in an industry certification, 2) increased student knowledge of coding and simulation,development, and 3) increased student capacity to employ sensemaking problem-solving in individual and group settings. We also anti,cipate a potential long-term impact on workforce participation and will assess if students participating in this model will indicate, an increased interest in pursuing a career in STEM, including STEM-based careers in the Navy. Although we anticipate that this proj,ect will be replicable to school systems around the country, the STEM SIMS model will be particularly replicable in Florida, where a, workforce-aligned course progression is available.The proposed project remedies past issues inherent in K-12 education to better pr,epare graduates to be future operators in military careers. While the project will benefit the participants by increasing their know,ledge and skills, it also creates a further and more impactful benefit to the military in the long term. First, the project builds c,apacity of the Navy to develop better training because successful participants will be adept at designing simulation and modeling tr,aining tools that will include high-level problem-solving. This is important in a community like ours with a large military industry, that have been early adopters of simulations as training tools. Second, the DCPS STEM SIMS is designed to be replicable for K-12 di,stricts around the country to embed into their own course offerings. This curriculum and course model could be scaled and implemente,d in other regions to strengthen and increase the number of scientists and engineers critical to the Naval mission.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 13, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212522
Entities
People
- Yvonne Spinner
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy