Education is vital to the progression and sustainability of society. By developing effective learning programs, this creates numerous impacts and benefits for future generations to come. K-12 STEM Education: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice is a pivotal source of academic material on the latest trends, techniques, technological tools, and scholarly perspectives on STEM education in K-12 learning environments. Including a range of pertinent topics such as instructional design, online learning, and educational technologies, this book is an ideal reference source for teachers, teacher educators, professionals, students, researchers, and practitioners interested in the latest developments in K-12 STEM education.

Modern technology has infiltrated many facets of society, including educational environments. Through the use of virtual learning, educational systems can become more efficient at teaching the student population and break down cost and distance barriers to reach populations that traditionally could not afford a good education. Virtual Reality in Education: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice is an essential reference source on the uses of virtual reality in K-12 and higher education classrooms with a focus on pedagogical and instructional outcomes and strategies. Highlighting a range of pertinent topics such as immersive virtual learning environments, virtual laboratories, and distance education, this publication is an ideal reference source for pre-service and in-service teachers, school administrators, principles, higher education faculty, K-12 instructors, policymakers, and researchers interested in virtual reality incorporation in the classroom.

The application of technology in classroom settings has equipped educators with innovative tools and techniques for effective teaching practice. Integrating digital technologies at the elementary and secondary levels helps to enrich the students’ learning experience and maximize competency in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Improving K-12 STEM Education Outcomes through Technological Integration focuses on current research surrounding the effectiveness, performance, and benefits of incorporating various technological tools within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classrooms. Focusing on evidence-based approaches and current educational innovations, this book is an essential reference source for teachers, teacher educators, and professionals interested in how emerging technologies are benefiting teaching and/or learning efficacy.

This title is an IGI Global Core Reference for 2019 as it provides the timeliest, trending research around overcoming challenges within the urban educational system. Featuring real-world solutions and comprehensive coverage on teacher professional development, racial microaggressions, STEM, and diversity in elementary and secondary education, this publication is ideal for teachers, faculty, administrators, policymakers, and educational researchers. K-12 STEM Education in Urban Learning Environments provides emerging research on the challenges and barriers of STEM education in urban environments and how to move forward in overcoming these challenges and barriers to provide equitable education for all K-12 students. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as teacher preparation, programming, gender and racial barriers, and more, this publication is ideally designed for teachers, faculty, administrators, policymakers, researchers, and scholars.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are cultural achievements that reflect our humanity, power our economy, and constitute fundamental aspects of our lives as citizens, consumers, parents, and members of the workforce. Providing all students with access to quality education in the STEM disciplines is important to our nation's competitiveness. However, it is challenging to identify the most successful schools and approaches in the STEM disciplines because success is defined in many ways and can occur in many different types of schools and settings. In addition, it is difficult to determine whether the success of a school's students is caused by actions the school takes or simply related to the population of students in the school. Successful K-12 STEM Education defines a framework for understanding "success" in K-12 STEM education. The book focuses its analysis on the science and mathematics parts of STEM and outlines criteria for identifying effective STEM schools and programs. Because a school's success should be defined by and measured relative to its goals, the book identifies three important goals that share certain elements, including learning STEM content and practices, developing positive dispositions toward STEM, and preparing students to be lifelong learners. A successful STEM program would increase the number of students who ultimately pursue advanced degrees and careers in STEM fields, enhance the STEM-capable workforce, and boost STEM literacy for all students. It is also critical to broaden the participation of women and minorities in STEM fields. Successful K-12 STEM Education examines the vast landscape of K-12 STEM education by considering different school models, highlighting research on effective STEM education practices, and identifying some conditions that promote and limit school- and student-level success in STEM. The book also looks at where further work is needed to develop appropriate data sources. The book will serve as a guide to policy makers; decision makers at the school and district levels; local, state, and federal government agencies; curriculum developers; educators; and parent and education advocacy groups.

STEM Education 2.0. discusses the most recent research on important selected K-12 STEM topics by synthesizing previous research and offering new research questions.