Education Development Center

Education Development Center Inc. (EDC) is an education non-profit that is integral in the promotion and support of STEM in Maine, the US and worldwide. Below is a list of some of EDC's STEM related resources and projects.

EDC Corporate Office - http://www.edc.org
EDC Maine Office - http://maine.edc.org
EDC Learning and Teaching Division - http://ltd.edc.org/

Possible Worlds http://possibleworlds.edc.org/playpw/

Education Development Center’s free, online “Possible Worlds” games fit into regular science curricula and target science misconceptions, reading difficulties, and motivational issues that hamper science learning and teaching. The four games—The Ruby Realm, RoboRiot, Monster Music, and Galactic Gloop Zoo—focus on photosynthesis, genetics, heat transfer, and electricity.

The Fun Works…For Careers You Never Knew Existed! http://thefunworks.edc.org/index.php

This Education Development Center website offers a unique digital library that helps youth ages 11 to 15 explore exciting future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The site’s resources include games and interactives that show pathways to STEM careers in music, medicine, law, technology, art and design, sports, and multi-disciplinary fields.

SMARTR Virtual Learning Experiences http://smartr.edc.org/

Education Development Center engaged youth in developing SMARTR, a website of free mathematics and science “virtual learning experiences” (VLEs) for middle-grades students. The SMARTR VLEs are highly interactive learning scenarios that encourage youth to further explore and experience concepts such as ratios and proportions, probability, 3-dimensional geometry, genetics, forces and motion, and plate tectonics. The VLEs include a wide array of multimedia content including videos, virtual activities, simulations, manipulatives, and games along with related career information.

Successful STEM Education http://successfulstemeducation.org/

As the NSF’s partner in disseminating the findings of the National Research Council's Successful STEM Education report, Education Development Center developed the Successful STEM Education website. On the site, you can read STEM-related briefs, view videos from past events focused on key aspects of STEM education and college and career readiness, learn about evidence-based preK–12 STEM education programs, and explore many other resources.

Oceans of Data Institute http://www.oceansofdata.org/

The mission of Education Development Center’s Oceans of Data Institute is to bring Big Data into the pre-college classroom. To achieve this mission, the Institute is conducting research, developing and testing model learning environments that infuse large, authentic data sets into the classroom and develop students’ data-using skills, and convening experts from diverse fields to identify new strategies to enhance P–12 students’ data literacy.

Ocean Tracks http://oceantracks.org/

Ocean Tracks, an initiative of Education Development Center’s Oceans of Data Institute, enables students to engage in the critical scientific practices of developing questions, planning and carrying out investigations, and analyzing and interpreting data. Using the interactive map and data analysis tools, students can explore and quantify patterns in animal tracks by taking measurements, such as speed and diving depth, to support hypotheses about marine animal behavior.

OER in Mathematics http://maine.edc.org/file.php/1/oermath.html

This website offers a free and open set of online professional development materials for learning and teaching mathematics. Developed from a collaboration among Education Development Center, Maine Regional School Unit (RSU) #54, and Maine RSU #11, the resources incorporate the use of research-based instructional methods for algebra indicators in the Maine Learning Results Parameters for Essential Instruction (PEI), including short-cycle formative assessment with free digital tools.

STEM Learning and Research Center (STELAR) http://stelar.edc.org/

The STELAR website offers a wide range of free resources—publications, curricula, instruments—designed to advance the goal to help prepare a diverse, skilled, and innovative STEM workforce. Led by the Education Development Center, STELAR provides technical support to the NSF’s Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) projects.

UDL Curriculum Toolkit http://udl-toolkit.cast.org/home

Developed by Education Development Center, CAST, and the University of Michigan, the free, online “Universal Design for Learning Curriculum Toolkit” offers guidelines and an open-source Web-based software system that curriculum developers can use to digitally customize inquiry-based science curricula to incorporate UDL features.

Implementing the Mathematical Practice Standards http://mathpractices.edc.org/

This free, online resource developed by Education Development Center engages educators in learning more about the Standards for Mathematical Practice, how to support students in applying the Mathematical Practices, and how the Mathematical Practices connected to Common Core content standards. Educators can use the Illustrations, centered on student dialogues, to see the Mathematical Practices in action.

Mathematical Thinking: Supports for English Language Learners

http://mathandlanguage.edc.org/mathematics-tasks

This Education Development Center online resource offers middle school mathematics teachers proven strategies to support English learners’ success. Currently, the site offers 14 mathematics tasks and related language tools including warm-ups, sentence starters and frames, word charts, and Spanish translations. Teachers can download or print all 14 tasks and related resources.

EdTech Leaders Online Custom Interactives

http://www.edtechleaders.org/custom-development/interactives

Explore these free interactives developed by Education Development Center’s EdTech Leaders Online (ETLO) professional development program. ETLO’s instructional designers and technical developers create custom interactives like these—focused on science, mathematics, blended learning, and lesson planning—to help schools and districts address specific learning goals for students and educators. Interactives can be integrated into online courses or used as stand-alone learning objects.  

EDC Earth Science https://lab-aids.com/high-school-curriculum/edc-earth-science

EDC: Earth Science is a new, full-year, activity-driven high school earth science course developed by Education Development Center with support from the NSF. Fully aligned to the Next Generation Science Framework, the course helps teachers engage students in active, inquiry-oriented learning, challenges students with provocative investigations and questions, and offers full support for literacy, assessment, and technology sciences.

Transition to Algebra http://www.heinemann.com/transitiontoalgebra/

Transition to Algebra is a new, full-year algebra support curriculum designed to run concurrently with first-year algebra and raise the competence and confidence of students who may benefit from supports for algebra success. Developed by Education Development Center with funding from the NSF and published by Heinemann, Transition to Algebra engages students in exploring algebraic logic puzzles that connect to and extend algebra course topics and learn broadly-applicable tools and strategies to help them make sense of what they are learning in algebra.

Formative Assessment in Mathematics http://famath.edc.org/

This Education Development Center website provides resources for teachers and professional developers about formative assessment as it appears in a mathematics classroom. Much of the information may be transferable to other subjects. Articles, videos, and other resources clearly explain the formative assessment process and how it can help enhance learning and teaching.

Foundations of Science Literacy http://foundationsofscienceliteracy.org/

Education Development Center’s Foundations of Science Literacy professional development for preschool teachers blends college-level coursework, coaching, a nationally recognized science curriculum, and classroom-based assignments. Studies show that it enables preschool teachers to engage children in exploring science, leads to enhanced early science learning environments and classroom quality, and improves children’s understanding of science concepts.

Amgen Biotech Experience http://www.amgenbiotechexperience.com/

Amgen Biotech Experience is an international, innovative science education program funded by the Amgen Foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by Education Development Center. The Amgen Biotech Experience provides teacher professional development, teaching materials, and research-grade equipment and supplies to middle and high schools. The program features a hands-on molecular biology curriculum that introduces students to the excitement of scientific discovery. Each year, over 50,000 students and hundreds of science teachers participate and have the opportunity to explore the methods scientists use to create biotechnology medicines.

National Partnerships for Afterschool Science2 http://npass2.edc.org/

Education Development Center’s NPASS2 initiative trains afterschool staff to lead engaging hands-on science and engineering projects with children. Afterschool is the perfect place for kids to have fun while exploring interesting, simple (but not necessarily easy) challenges with common and inexpensive materials! This online Education Development Center resource provides info about NPASS2’s approach, as well as links to the Design It! and Explore It! curricula, professional development materials, videos, and more.

Mathematical Practice Institute https://mpi.edc.org/

The Mathematical Practice Institute at Education Development Center works to make rigorous mathematics available and interesting to all students. The Institute emphasizes the development of deep content knowledge and mathematical habits of mind—ways of thinking, mental habits, and research techniques that mathematicians use when approaching problems—that bring coherence to any curriculum and highlight mathematics as a sense-making activity accessible to all. The Institute’s website offers a wealth of mathematics-related resources, as well as info about the Institute’s curricula, research, technical assistance, and professional development services.

Inquiring Into Science Instruction Observation Protocol http://isiop.edc.org/

This free classroom observation protocol is designed to assist evaluators and researchers in determining the extent to which quality pedagogical practices and instruction about scientific inquiry are present in secondary science teaching. The protocol was created by Education Development Center, in close collaboration with teachers, field test participants, and other instrument developers. The website includes a user’s manual, codebook, and other materials.