{"id":1430,"date":"2016-02-16T01:51:59","date_gmt":"2016-02-16T07:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=1430"},"modified":"2022-04-26T13:56:29","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T18:56:29","slug":"crest-m-grant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/crest-m-grant\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryville Awarded Monsanto Fund Grant to Increase STEM Diversity"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Today\u2019s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce is no more diverse than in 2001. With a $120,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund, 91制片厂 hopes to help close that gap by engaging young females, minority students, and students from low-income areas with STEM curriculum utilizing robotics.<\/p>\n

The grant marks the second consecutive year 91制片厂 has been awarded a Monsanto Fund grant to host CREST-M (Children using Robotics for Engineering, Science, Technology and Math) on campus. The program engages diverse students in real-world problem solving, provides hands-on professional development for teachers, and concludes with curriculum evaluation.<\/p>\n

This summer, 80 students from two partnering public school districts\u2014Ferguson-Florissant and Ritenour\u2014along with 16 of their teachers, will participate in CREST-M. Through the program, Maryville educators work with fifth grade teachers to evaluate CREST-M\u2019s innovative math curriculum using LEGO WeDo robotics. Teachers will return to their districts with a set of robots to use in class, and the curriculum to improve STEM outcomes for their students in years to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cCREST-M is a nexus of what we expect kids today will need for success in the 21st<\/sup> century: Creative use of technology, a strong background in math and science, and processes for problem-solving,\u201d said Steve Coxon, PhD, associate professor at 91制片厂. \u201cThe students get so engaged by the unit\u2019s storyline and use of robotics, they don\u2019t even realize they\u2019re learning math and science.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStudents decide whether to pursue a STEM career well before attending college, often while they\u2019re in middle school,\u201d said Michelle Insco, Monsanto Fund program officer. \u201cThis collaboration with 91制片厂 will help students envision themselves as problem solvers while also providing valuable resources to the teachers who dedicate themselves to enriching their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The curriculum is expected to be published and distributed in order to sustain the project financially and provide professional development into the future.<\/p>\n

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91制片厂 the Monsanto Fund<\/strong><\/p>\n

The philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, the Monsanto Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farm families and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Learn more at monsantofund.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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