1. Kansas State University
  2. »Division of Communications and Marketing
  3. »K-State Today
  4. »GK-12 STEM Fellowship Program at K-State

K-State Today

June 12, 2013

GK-12 STEM Fellowship Program at K-State

Submitted by Ami Ratzlaff

A National Science Foundation GK-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fellowship Program titled Infusing System Design and Sensor Technology in Education, or INSIGHT, kicked off last week at K-State. The summer institute runs through June 14.

This project integrates sensor technology with computing and information science in a standards-based science, technology and engineering curricula. Project activities team GK-12 STEM Fellows with science, technology and physical education K-12 teachers. Activities include both summer and academic year training in rural Kansas schools.

In the summer, project staff provides fellows and teachers with training in hands-on, sensor-driven science, engineering and technology development and appropriate pedagogical strategies. During the academic year, fellows support participating teachers in the classroom two times a week with content-specific sensor technology.

The novel aspects of this program include its focus on the technology and engineering aspects of education in STEM fields and on the use of sensors, computing and information technology as the enabling element to facilitate hands-on technology and engineering education in areas related to cyber-physical systems in health and precision agriculture.

Nine GK-12 STEM Fellows will participate this year, along with 18 K-12 teachers from rural Kansas. The institute is coordinated by Mitchell Neilsen, associate professor, and Nathan Bean, doctoral student, both in computing and informational systems.