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
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
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.
