Project Grant 2610217

Seattle Central Community College received a $499,997 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2029. This Improving Teaching and Learning through Computing (ITYC) Track 1 award supports the development and implementation of interdisciplinary learning modules that integrate data science and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy into introductory chemistry and biology courses at the two-year college level. The project will create curriculum materials and instructional approaches that engage both STEM and non-STEM students in real-world data analysis, visualization, and interpretation using authentic scientific and societal contexts, guided by an interdisciplinary data investigation framework.

The deliverables include a strategic model for embedding data- and AI-aware learning across early STEM pathways that strengthens faculty practice, builds institutional capacity, and advances data-rich undergraduate STEM education. Through partnerships with regional research institutions, the project will provide authentic datasets and workforce applications context. The college will conduct mixed-methods research utilizing surveys, assessments, interviews, and classroom observations to document the impact of these learning experiences on students' STEM interest, understanding of data and AI's role in science, and awareness of contemporary academic and career pathways in technology-driven fields.