Since 2016, the Society for Science has partnered with The Lemelson Foundation to engage and inspire the next generation of inventors. In 2023-2025, this partnership includes the addition of a newly-created Society for Science Invention Education Fellowship. The person serving as the Society's Invention Education Fellow will leverage established Society for Science Outreach & Equity programs and national network of STEM educators to promote equitable access to Invention Education nationwide.
Invention Education is a transdisciplinary approach to STEM learning. Additional information about this approach can be found here: http://www.inventioneducation.org/.
Objective:
The Invention Education Fellow will work across all Society for Science STEM education programs to identify where Invention Education principles and practices can be better incorporated and to suggest how to help implement such strategies.
Additionally, the Fellow will be charged with supporting the InventEd ecosystem by identifying ways to leverage the Society's robust national STEM educator community. The Fellow will work at the intersection of Invention Education and student research, with an educator perspective, to build bridges that enable educators to mentor students successfully across both areas. This work will increase the number of educators who are aware and knowledgeable about both Invention Education and student research opportunities, increasing the cross-pollination between the ecosystems.
Activities:
To learn about all of the Society's STEM education programs, identify where Invention Education principles and practices can be better incorporated, and suggest how to help implement new strategies, the Fellow will:
• Hold regular meetings with Society for Science competition and outreach program leads to better understand Society programming and the unique support provided to students underrepresented in STEM and invention.
• Host listening sessions with educators who support diverse learners in variety of situations, including various geographies, settings (rural/urban), school types (public, private, charter, magnet, CTE, tribal), student race/ethnicities and student socioeconomic statuses.
• Conduct an assessment of Society educators' perceptions of invention, knowledge of Invention Education, and their connection to the larger InventEd ecosystem and develop a summative assessment outlining findings and opportunities for growth.
• Engage with the InventEd Network to understand their ecosystem and speak with veteran Invention Education teachers who understand the pedagogical approach.
• Create Invention Education materials to be disseminated via Society channels that educate teachers about Invention Education and opportunities, including posting event opportunities, sources of information, resources for invention projects, and content highlighting diverse inventors to the Society's online educator communities.
• Collaborate with the Science News Learning team to create Invention Education-related lesson plan content tied to existing Science News media group content.
• Attend the Society's Research Teachers Conferences and Advocates Institute to augment sessions focused on supporting students of underrepresented race/ethnicity/income level with Invention Education-centered content.
• Support four Research Teachers Conference Invention Ambassadors by meeting with them throughout the year to ensure collective understanding of Invention Education and student research. Oversee their presentations at the conferences.
• Attend Advocate cohort calls to learn best practices for supporting students underrepresented in STEM in research and to answer questions about invention projects and competitions.
• Create tools that educators can use to bridge the Invention Education and student research worlds, such as presentation slides, Padlets, lesson plans, or resource lists.
• Inform the Society's STEM Research Grant equipment list by providing advice about equipment and technology commonly used in invention projects.
• Engage the Invention Education community-through targeted outreach and events-to share Society opportunities.
• Provide content for and maintain a new webpage on the Society's website in the Research at Home section.
Desired Experience and Competencies:
• A minimum of 5 years of education experience or teaching experience, 10+ years preferred. Experience supporting students who are underrepresented in STEM, evidence of a commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, and/or a lived experience that provides first-hand knowledge of the challenges faces by underrepresented groups.
• Experience and/or familiarity with Invention Education, problem-based learning, and independent student research
• Ability to gather and present opportunities and resources for students and teachers related to research and invention.
• Ability and willingness to listen, learn, and synthesize learnings from focus groups and surveys
Location: Anywhere
Posted: Aug. 25, 2024, 3:56 a.m.
Apply Now Company Website