Project Grant 2318287

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $695,368 Project Grant under the STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) program (CFDA 47.076) to the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. (UGA Research Foundation) to develop instructional units that integrate computer coding into mathematics and science lessons for third, fourth, and fifth grade students. The goal is to create engaging, conceptually-focused coding tasks that can be incorporated into elementary school curriculum to spark and sustain student interest in STEM subjects, particularly for underrepresented groups like female and rural students. The project will examine the cognitive demand of coding tasks, develop a framework to guide teacher professional development on integrating coding, and evaluate student learning and interest in the integrated instructional approach. This effort builds on a research-practice partnership between UGA researchers and the Jackson County School System to co-design and implement the instructional units. Data sources will include classroom observations, student assessments, and surveys to address key research questions. The award period runs from August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2026.