Seed Grant for Gaming in STEM Education

Aaron C. Clark, PI for VisTE

This proposal is to ask for funding to startup the next area of thematic research from the visualization area within the Friday Institute (FI) and the VisTE:  Visualization in Technology Education NSF funded project (ends fall of 2006).  The proposal seeks resources to have visual-based materials branch out into areas associate with gaming and game design for students at the secondary level (8th and 9th grades).  Unlike the Hi-Five NSF project currently housed at the Friday Institute, this project believes that middle and high school students can make their own computer games using freeware and shareware materials that will enhance their understanding of technology (i.e. visualization theory) and STEM disciplines.  The targeted student population for this type of gaming in education will be students deemed “at risk” and need some type of reinforcement and incentive to say in school and learn.  The development of games around STEM disciplines will help with the enhancing of knowledge in these areas and bring about relevance to the subject matter (number one reason students drop-out of school in NC).  Also, each game requires some form of reading for logic and control and therefore will help with the second most common reason student’s drop-out of school, the inability to read.  The objectives of this new proposal are to:  develop students ability to visualize and use visual-based materials; enhance their technological literacy, and increase their appreciation for STEM disciplines throughout their educational experience and in return, stay in school for those students deemed “at risk” (note:  NC has one of the highest drop-out rates in the country).
The project will begin with extensive research on gaming and gaming education.  At the same time, surveys will be developed for students, teachers, administrators, and parents to find out what they think about gaming and the role it can play in education.  Going beyond the surveys will be brief qualitative interviews that will also aid in determining the future direction of this area of study.  Once all is completed, the information will be presented on behalf of the FI and the people involved at state, regional, and national conferences.  But, most importantly, the data will be the background needed to ask for further funding in this area of gaming and STEM education from both public and private sources.
            The proposal supports the mission of the FI by continuing the new and innovative strains of research for the visualization area within the collaborative of mathematics and science.  The research conducted for the study will be futuristic in content, but standard practice as a measure.  The data gathered from this project will be the developing basis for which future larger grants can be obtained.  The type of information to be discovered in this proposed seed grant will help with the background research needed for obtaining these larger grants but at the same time, promote what the PI for the project feels will be the next area of learning using technology.
            In conclusion, this project will provided the necessary background research and data to begin a larger effort towards finding ways to keep students in school and enhance their learning.  Gaming is just one engine to keep students interested in school topics (i.e. STEM areas), while at the same time promoting technological literacy. 
Listed below is a simple timeline for the startup research needed for completion of this phase of the project:
Feb.-April-  Develop a data-base of resources for research in this area. 
May-June-  Develop four types of simple surveys, one for students, parents, administration, and teachers of technology in North Carolina. 
July-August-  Administer survey to random selected teachers and administrators.
August-September-  administer survey to randomly selected students throughout the state for grades 8 and 9; survey parents through our contacts with 4-H in CALS.  Note:  Also, qualitative interviews will be conducted for all parties throughout the duration of data collection.
October through May-  analyze data and disseminate at conferences at the state and regional level.  Also, use the information to develop further grants from both DOE and NSF that will allow for the detailed investigation found with the survey data.