Culturally Relevant STEM Education

Birds & Bots

Promoting learning and interest in mathematics for urban Black and Latinx children through culturally relevant daily robot coding activities

The project is funded by the NSF ITEST award #2147699 to Teachers College, Columbia University. The project works with New York City Black and Latinx students in grades 1-3 to build a foundation for interest and success in future STEM careers.

Mission

How to improve achievement and interest in mathematics of New York City Black and Latinx students in grades 1-3 to build a foundation for interest and success in future STEM careers?

We are developing, testing, and implementing a set of culturally relevant robot coding activities that will use an age-appropriate technology platform to support standards-based mathematics instruction.

  1. Co-design coding activities with the teacher-participants;

  2. Link these activities to everyday interests and culturally informed prior knowledge of Black and Latinx students

  3. Provide teachers with professional development (PD) to help them integrate these activities into teaching routines

  4. Engage STEM professionals of color to share their stories with the students.

Meet the passionate individuals driving our mission forward

Our strategic partners support us in achieving the project goals

Find out about our project

See our sample activity

Research is an essential element of our project