National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Science Education Consortium

PR No.4200592826​ Grant Number: NNX16AL63A​ (2016-2021) 

IITTL/UNT and dozens of science education and technology partners nationwide are working with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on a five-year mission to encourage interest in space science. UNT will provide formative and summative evaluation of the products/programs spawned through the STEM Innovation Lab at Goddard, vetted and refined in our Design Research Lab environment at UNT, and pilot-tested in informal learning environments to produce a sound and timely research base of demonstrated effects on knowledge of and interest in technology-infused activities related to Space Science. Publications demonstrating measurable effects will be produced.

simEquity: Improving Student Learning While Decreasing Bias in Teaching Through Simulation

NSF Research on Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning (RETTL) Award #2118849 (2021-2024)

The simEquity project, in collaboration with simSchool, aims to contribute to a more just and equitable society in the future by encouraging teachers to identify, reflect on and correct revealed biases. This three-year project will implement a scalable model for developing equitable, culturally responsive teaching practices through a simulated teaching environment. The outcomes of this project will identify best practices that can be implemented on a broad scale to help teachers recognize and mitigate the influence of implicit bias that often impacts student success. Bias reduction in teaching practices is a key foundation for enabling future leaders of society to achieve their highest innate and positively nurtured potential. The COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted disparities in learning and emphasized the importance of socio-emotional stability for the long-term well-being of students and teachers.