Discipline-Based Education Research
The primary goal of the Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER) group is to study college-level STEM education through learning sciences and education research that is grounded within the cognate expertise of STEM disciplines. DBER research and change efforts work to inform college-level STEM education, drawing on multi-faceted inputs and support. Thus, the DBER Group is composed of faculty, staff and students from STEM, education and other fields who share a common interest in studying and transforming STEM education (formal and informal, PK-16+) through both basic and applied research. The group meets on a weekly basis via an informal STEM Education Seminar and Journal Club where we learn more about current STEM education research and activities in formal (grades PK-16+) and informal (outreach activities and museums) educational settings. Together we explore questions and ideas of mutual interest that deal with STEM education and STEM education research. All are welcome to attend. In addition to our seminar, we also host other types of activities such as workshops and socials.
Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership
Starting in 2012, Association of Public Land-grant Universities (APLU) developed the MTE-Partnership that now comprises 40 teams across 31 states, including the Nebraska partnership organized by UNL faculty. MTE-Partnership provides a coordinated research, development, and implementation effort to transform secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs, and is supported by a collaborative NSF grant between Auburn University and UNL. Sub-groups within the MTE-Partnership have four additional NSF awards, including two of which UNL is a lead or sub-award institution (SEMINAL and MODULE(S2). In 2022, an IUSE Community Transformations grant scaled-up the this collaborative NIC-Transform grant awarded to UNL and Auburn, establishing MTEP 2.0. Contact Wendy Smith for more information
STEM CONNECT
Launched in Fall 2019, STEM CONNECT awards scholarships to and provides curricular and co-curricular support to academically talented, low-income students with interest in careers that require strong skills in mathematics or computer science. A major goal of the program is to promote diversity within STEM disciplines. This is an NSF-funded S-STEM (Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) scholarship program forming a partnership among the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Southeast Community College (SCC), and Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC).
