Creating project-based learning experiences for University-K-12 partnerships

The development of University-K-12 partnerships to promote increased interest in and knowledge of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines requires well-planned and implemented curricular content. The content must meet several constraints, including interest to the partner-teacher, relevance to the students to help engage them, and consistency with state and national standards. Through four years of experience, we have developed a process to create new project-based experiences that are used by college students who teach in middle school classrooms. The process involves input from partner-teachers, development of activities and lessons by college students, and oversight and refinement of the content by program administrators. The project-based learning approach is consistent with national and state standards and has been shown to improve the understanding of basic concepts, to encourage deep and creative learning, and to develop teamwork and communication skills. The essential elements of the development process for our project-based curricula are included here.