A Field-Initiated Vision of Research Infrastructure for STEM Education

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Bibliographic Details
Title: A Field-Initiated Vision of Research Infrastructure for STEM Education
Language: English
Authors: Benjamin Motz, Amanda Diekman, Robert Goldstone, Dorainne Green, Emily Fyfe, Steve Bernardini, Katherine Emerson, Harmony Jankowski, Shahana Ansari, Maegan Arney, Christina Areizaga Barbieri, Erin Baumgartner, Michael Beam, Kathryn Boucher, Matthew Callison, Elizabeth Canning, Xiao-Yin Chen, Jason Chow, Tim Clark, John Gensic, Allison Godwin, Sebahat Gok, Elizabeth Gunderson, Franki Kung, Elida Laski, Janice Mak, Allison Master, Percival Matthews, Megan Merrick, Ambar Narwal, Brad Newkirk, Brandon Olszewski, Andrew Rice, Ming Shelby, Pooja Sidney, Winona Snapp-Childs, Molly Stewart, Clarissa Thompson, Elizabeth Tipton, Heidi Vuletich, Andrew White, Ayla Winegar, Veronica Yan, Cristina Zepeda, Tongyao Zhang, Mary Murphy
Source: International Journal of STEM Education. 2025 12.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Contract Number: 2243778
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: STEM Education, Educational Research, Research Methodology, Research Design, Research Needs, Equal Education, Educational Psychology, Needs Assessment, Networks
DOI: 10.1186/s40594-025-00581-z
ISSN: 2196-7822
Abstract: STEM education research has historically been under-equipped, relying on standardized tests and questionnaires while other fields deploy space telescopes and particle accelerators. What would happen if we designed research infrastructure for STEM education to address our priority needs? The INTERACT Incubator is a research coordination network whose goal was to develop a field-initiated vision of novel infrastructure that would enable aspirational research that could advance equity in STEM education. The incubator brought together a diverse cohort of experimental social psychologists who study social cues in STEM, experimental cognitive psychologists who study learning in authentic classroom settings, as well as education stakeholders and technologists with expertise in digital infrastructure for education. In Phase 1 we conducted a needs assessment, where we brainstormed aspirational research studies and identified three core infrastructure requirements: coordinated data collection and measurement systems, sustainable large-scale research-practice partnership frameworks, and knowledge repositories combined with professional learning networks. In Phase 2 we designed an integrated solution to address these needs. The INTERACT Incubator's solution differs from existing research infrastructure because ours was systematically designed to address research needs identified by the field itself, rather than building research services on top of existing research capacities or operational systems. This commentary documents a consensus vision for novel infrastructure that would enable the research needed to achieve meaningful progress in STEM education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/68qyr
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1493839
Database: ERIC
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