Research Projects
Ujima GIRL Project
The $2.4M Ujima Girls in a Robotics Leadership (GIRL) Project, funded by the NSF, aims to address the significant challenges of inclusion and equity for Black/African American middle school and high school girls in STEM education. The project uses hands-on coding and robotics as an engaging and fun vehicle for increasing positive attitudes toward STEM and developing leadership skills through peer mentoring with female college students. Each cohort of participants starts in a one-week camp, divided into two levels: Ujima GIRL Camp for middle school students and Ujima GIRL+ Camp for high school students. After participating in a Ujima GIRL Camp, campers will have support to organize Ujima GIRL Clubs in their schools to inspire peers and girls in feeder elementary schools, further expanding peer-mentoring and STEM engagement.
Co-Robots
The C-STEM Center’s NSF funded research program, Co-Robots, studies how to use co-robot systems and math-oriented co-robotics competitions to enhance student engagement, increase students’ motivation in learning Algebra and subsequent STEM subjects, and interest in pursuing STEM related careers and post-secondary study. Teachers are engaged in a two week (8 hours / day) summer program on integrating computing and robotics into the classroom. Through the academic year followup, the C-STEM Center works with researchers and teachers to develop innovative co-robot technology and curricula to transform math and science education by integrating computing, robotics, and engineering into K-12 education.
C-STEM+
The Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) in partnership with the UC Davis C-STEM Center received a $1.5 million over three years from the California Department of Education for the C-STEM+ Project. The project provides intensive and follow-up training in mathematics, technology, and engineering. The project represents both a countywide professional development model with all five Yolo County school districts participating and a regional model including rural, suburban, and urban high need school districts serving students in Region 3. Over fifty highly qualified teachers in grades 6-12 are recruited to participate in the project.
PRISM
This project entitled “Programming and Robotics Integrated with Science and Mathematics (PRISM)” is funded with $1.8 million dollars for three years by the California Department of Education, through a partnership with Solano County Office of Education (SCOE). The project provides intensive and follow-up training in mathematics, technology, engineering, and science. The project represents both a countywide professional development model and a regional model including rural, suburban, and urban high need school districts. We are recruiting over sixty highly qualified math, physical science or math-based Career Technical Education teachers to participate in the project.