The University of Houston Downtown is in the process of establishing HUNSTEM

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The University of Houston - Downtown is in the
process of establishing HUNSTEM (Houston Urban
Network for Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics).
HUNSTEM is funded by The U.S. Army Research
Office Grant W911NF-04-1-0024 and
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To visit HUNSTEM Go to http//HUNSTEM.uhd.e
du
PEOPLE
COMMUNITY
PROJECTS
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
HUNSTEM (Houston Urban Network for Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is
here!HUNSTEM is here to empower teachers,
students, parents, and the broader learning
community by integrating math and science
learning into every aspect of the education
experience. HUNSTEM will accomplish this by
making the promise of web-based project-based
learning a reality. HUNSTEM will bring a wealth
of resources together through an interactive
gateway that will be extensive, user-friendly,
and quality controlled via the integration of
national (NCTM, 2000 NRC, 1996), state (TEKS),
and local mathematics and science standards.
HUNSTEM will create learning communities that
will help students, teachers, and families move
freely between the far-flung resources of their
schools, mentors, and informal settings.HUNSTEM
will make it happen! HUNSTEM is funded by The
U.S. Army Research Office Grant
W911NF-04-1-0024 and
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HUNSTEM will be a large interactive web site for
the accumulation and distribution of materials to
Students Parents Teachers Schools
Universities Professional societies
Industries Research facilities in the greater
Houston area and beyond.
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Once established, HUNSTEM will become a hub for
projects connecting teachers and students with
informal settings and a broader learning
community.
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HUNSTEM Will foster cooperation between Informal
Science Education and the classroom Research
shows Informal science education encourages
learning by being engaging. Informal science
education encourages group learning. Peer
teaching is more evident in informal science
education environments. Family interactions
are improved by informal science
education. These benefits last beyond the
initial experience, throughout lifetimes. Nearly
every experience a child has with the natural
world generates science learning at some
level. Play and work, and experimentation and
inquiry, are inexplicably interrelated.
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Earth science projects will be a major component
of HUNSTEM.
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HUNSTEM will provide interactive ISE programs
for learners of all ages, ethnicities, gender,
and physical conditions a central network for
the many local STEM professional societies to
promote their individual educational outreach
activities an active STEM news source for items
of particular interest to the Houston area with
emphasis on informal science education
opportunities pre-screened STEM educational
materials by subject and grade level which
promotes PBL with respect to state and national
mathematics and science standards
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HUNSTEM will provide a comprehensive site to
assist pre-college students who wish to develop
and pursue STEM-related projects outside their
formal classrooms programs which promote
STEM-related careers in academia, business,
industry and government connections to STEM
activities and programs in universities and
national laboratories an increased capability
for many local ISE organizations to serve more
people of all ages utilizing modern instructional
technology
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HUNSTEM will provide PBL on-line materials
for STEM activities that can be used for
after-school programs increased
collaborations among many ISE organizations,
schools, colleges and universities, STEM
professional societies and others centered
around ISE a communication network for all
students, parents and other adults,
teachers, faculty and related agencies and
organizations promoting STEM awareness and
appreciation in the Houston area, and beyond
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HUNSTEM will be a dynamic resource for developing
new curriculum as well as connecting existing
electronically STEM-based materials across the
entire learning community.
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HUNSTEM will be an ideal model of how technology
can be utilized in an effective manner to promote
the interests of many diversified groups in a
particular geographic area, who all share a
common interest in STEM education and awareness.
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HUNSTEM separates itself from other
technology-based projects by utilizing a
theoretical underpinning that goes beyond
technology by encompassing constructivistic
learning and pedagogy theories, informal science
education outlets, and project-based science
strategies. It is guided by the National
Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996), the
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
(NCTM,2000) and the Texas Essential Knowledge and
Skills (TEKS).
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This project will eventually become a national
model for resource sharing and community
involvement centered on the promotion of
STEM-related project-based learning.
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HUNSTEM is part of the Scholars Academy
The UHD Scholars Academy (SA) is an academically
competitive program in the College of Sciences
and Technology (CST) that promotes scholarship
and student success for undergraduate students
majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM). This competitive program
is made possible by the National Science
Foundation, U.S. Army Research Office, U.S.
Department of Education, U.S. Office of Naval
Research, Welch Foundation, and UHD Donors.
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The mission of the Scholars Academy is to
increase the number of academically capable
students graduating with degrees in the natural,
mathematical and computer sciences, and
engineering/engineering technology, and to
increase the number of those choosing to pursue
graduate study in these fields. Many students
in the SA conduct research with faculty mentors.
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As well as encouraging Project-Based Learning
within the classroom, HUNSTEM will encourage
students currently in High School to consider
science careers by providing scholarships for
student workshops and opportunities to enter the
Scholars Academy.
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HUNSTEM is funded by The U.S. Army Research
Office Grant W911NF-04-1-0024 and