story by Claire Miller
Georgia State University Associate Professor Jonte Myers and Professor Terri Pigott have received a three-year, $1.2 million National Science Foundation grant to create a post-doctoral program aimed at improving K-12 mathematics and science outcomes for historically underrepresented groups.
Their grant, entitled, “A Postdoctoral Fellowship in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses,” will recruit graduates with doctorates in math or science education and experience in quantitative research to participate in a three-year post-doctoral program.
The program fellows will engage in research experiences, coursework and mentoring programs that will enable them to conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses. They'll use these skills to identify evidence-based practices for supporting students’ mathematics and science learning – particularly for students with disabilities, those from minoritized backgrounds and students living in rural areas.
“Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are rigorous research methods researchers use to synthesize and analyze evidence from existing scientific studies on a particular topic. They are commonly used in academic and scientific research to provide a comprehensive and evidence-based understanding of a specific question or issue,” Myers and Pigott explained. “We will train the post-doctoral fellows in using these methods to find out what interventions work best for increasing students’ proficiency in mathematics and science.”
The fellows will then develop materials teachers can use to implement the research-based teaching methods that work best for historically underrepresented students.
This grant project is an important step toward providing K-12 educators with evidence-based practices that support all students’ mathematics and science learning.
“It's about equipping every young mind with the tools they need to not only succeed in the workforce, but to become pioneers of innovation that drives progress,” Myers and Pigott said. “High-quality STEM education is the key that unlocks potential, opens doors to opportunities and powers progress. It's about ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, can build a better future for themselves and the world around them.”
To learn more about the grant, visit https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2329570&HistoricalAwards=false.