About C-STEM —  Transforming Math Education with Coding and Robotics

 

C-STEM (Computing, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is  a UC Approved Educational Preparation Program for Undergraduate Admission for both K-12 and Community College students to all UC campuses. Participation in the C-STEM program, C-STEM student individual awards and team awards for RoboPlay Competition, and extracurricular activities such as RoboPlay Competition and GIRL/GIRL+ Camps are recognized in the UC admissions process as achievements that have explicitly prepared students for college and career. Undergraduate applicants in UC on-line application can select C-STEM as a UC Approved Educational Preparation Program.

C-STEM has UC A-G Program Status. High schools can readily and easily add the  “A-G approved” rigorous C-STEM curriculum integrated with computing and robotics  to their own school’s A-G course lists to satisfy the UC/CSU admission requirements, without submitting a complete course content description and going through the traditional approval process with the University of California Office of President.

C-STEM develops computing and robotics technology, curriculum, and pedagogical strategies, and provides professional development and support for K-12 teachers, even those without any prior coding and robotics experience, to integrate hands-on coding and robotics into their classroom teaching. The rigorous C-STEM Math and CS Curriculum provides K-12 students with up to 13 years of integrated learning of math and computer science.

C-STEM has been independently vetted by STEMWorks as an Accomplished STEM program since 2015.

C-STEM Center aims to transform  math education with hands-on coding and robotics by solving real-world problems, guided by two key objectives:

  • Close the achievement gap by broadening participation of students traditionally underrepresented in computing and STEM related careers and post-secondary study.
  • Develop students’ 21st century problem-solving skills to tackle real world concerns through integrated  math and computer science education.

Our vision is  to provide formal computer science education for all K-12 students through existing math courses. The C-STEM Math and CS Curriculum  will provide K-12 students with 13 years of hands-on math education with coding and robotics.

 

The C-STEM Research and Outreach Program

C-STEM Program

The C-STEM Center studies how to use innovative computing and robotics technologies to increase student interest and help them learn math, especially Math 7, Math 8, and  Algebra, a gatekeeper for high-school graduation and careers in STEM fields. The C-STEM program helps close the math achievement gap, engages traditionally underrepresented and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and at-promise students in hands-on learning math with coding and robotics.

Through cutting edge research with funding from the National Science Foundation and California Department of Education, the C-STEM Center, in collaboration with our industry partners, has developed innovative educational technology Linkbot and computing in C/C++  for K-14 hands-on learning math and computer science. By working with K-14 educators, the C-STEM Center integrates computer science and robotics into teaching math by creating project-based computing and robotics activities, integrated curriculum, and hands-on personalized and collaborative learning strategies aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards. This integration helps students make meaningful connections between abstract math concepts and their relevance to real-life applications as well as help develop students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The mission of the C-STEM Center is to transform K-12 math education with coding and robotics by solving real-world problems. The goal of the C-STEM Center is to broaden participation of students, especially female and underrepresented minorities  in computing and to develop students’ computer-aided problem-solving skills to tackle real-world math problems through integrated math and computer science education.

The C-STEM Center also studies how to streamline the curriculum on computer science education in the context of math subject in elementary schools, middle schools, and  high schools, as well as the first two years of college to increase student interest in pursuing computing and STEM related careers and post-secondary study.

For successful implementation of the C-STEM Math and CS Curriculum integrated with coding and robotics in classrooms and afterschool programs, the C-STEM Center provides K-12 teachers without any prior computing experience to integrate coding and robotics into their classroom teaching. Participants of C-STEM PD can have an option to obtain UC Academic Credits for Computer Science Supplementary Teaching Credential Authorization.

RoboPlay Competition  is an annual culminating event for the C-STEM program. The event brings the C-STEM community together to organize RoboPlay Challenge Competitions in schools, districts, and regions near the end of May each year to further engage students in project-based team activities and to showcase their accomplishments and creativity not only in math and CS, but also in writing, art, music, and film production. The level playing field RoboPlay Competition promotes social and emotional learning.

The one-week C-STEM Girls in Robotics Leadership (GIRL) and GIRL+ Camps in summer freely available in different regions are designed for girls in middle and high schools to learn computing and STEM subject through near-peer mentoring with fun and exciting robotics and physical computing activities. The camps provide life-changing experience and inspiration to campers, encouraging them to pursue computing and STEM related careers and post-secondary studies. The girls also learn leadership and communication skills and meet inspiring women leaders working with science and technology to gain exposure to the variety of opportunities available to them.

 

For a brief overview of the C-STEM Program, click here.

 
Fundraising

C-STEM is funded by extramural funding sources. To sustain and expand the C-STEM program, the Center seeks endowment funding and support from federal and state funding agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. If you are interested in making a contribution, seeking joint funding opportunities, or having any ideas for raising funds for C-STEM, please contact us.

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C-STEM logo

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Acknowledgements

The research work conducted in the C-STEM Center  was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers CNS-1132709, IIS-1208690, IIS-1256780, and by the CaMSP Program of the California Department of Education.

 
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