The Billion Oyster Project and Curriculum and Community Enterprise for Restoration Science Curriculum: Summary of STEM+C and ITEST Program Impacts on NYC Teachers and Students

Abstract

For over a decade, the Billion Oyster Project and Curriculum and Community Enterprise for the Restoration of New York Harbor (BOP-CCERS) Educational Program has supported New York City teachers and students through experiential learning in science education. The program has been supported by over $10 million dollars of award support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and has involved multiple community stakeholder collaborations led by Pace University. Within the University, the initiative spanned three different schools and colleges with collaboration through many academic departments. Two grants in the project have been the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics plus Computing (STEM+C) and Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program. The purpose of this article is to summarize the major impacts this integrated program has had on New York City teachers and students designed to provide teachers with experiential education support and engage students to improve their STEM education and encourage further STEM studies and career pathways. Results from over a decade of programming, vast amounts of data collection and analysis, and multiple research studies have indicated considerable achievements for the program involving both support for teachers and engagement for students. The long-term outcome is improved student STEM achievement and recruitment and retention of diverse students in STEM college programs and careers.