August 1, 2018
Lauraine Genota of Education Week interviewed Dr. Carol O'Donnell, director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center, to get her opinion on a new project-based learning program called "Geospatial Semester" as a way of engaging high school students in authentic STEM experiences. The program originated at James Madison University (JMU) in Virginia, where faculty guide high school students through STEM project and award them college credit upon completion. According to Dr. Bob Kolvoord, Dean of the College of Integrated Science and Engineering at JMU, a student's project could be focused on something as hyperlocal as traffic on school grounds or as global as children's health around the world. The goal is for students to develop an understanding of spatial concepts and refine their critical thinking skills while using geographic information systems technology to solve problems within their community. NSF has awarded a $2 million grant to JMU, Northwestern University, and the Chicago public schools to implement the program in the 370,000-student school system, the nation's third-largest.