STEAM Education at UNLV
As science, engineering, and technology become increasingly central to improving population well-being and addressing current and future challenges, it is imperative that we prepare our students accordingly.
The majority of Nevada's fastest-growing job fields require STEAM-prepared graduates. Many students with a passion and aptitude for STEAM-related career paths face hurdles early on in their college careers – from struggles with math concepts to a lack of mentors – that can prevent their dreams from gaining STEAM.
At UNLV, we're engaged in two different NSF-supported projects that bridge math skills and mentorship gaps to make STEAM career paths more accessible and achievable for our students. One that incorporates elements of online and video games into classroom learning, and another that combines scholarships with mentorship and career-focused "soft skills" building to increase retention.
We're focused on delivering high-demand degree programs for the 21st century economy. As we do this, we're concurrently building support mechanisms to ensure that any student with a passion for STEAM, regardless of their circumstance, has the opportunity to succeed.
Select Active STEM Education Sponsored Projects
Science Teacher Professional Development
Pedagogies to create engaging and inclusive science instruction are an integral part of STEM Education efforts. From the generation of motivational competencies in both teachers and students to transforming curricula to provide more interactive hands-on learning, UNLV scholars are working collaboratively with public school teachers to inject science and engineering learning with new life.
K-12 STEM Education Innovation
Constructive learning environments have been shown to increase student motivation, understanding of scientific phenomena, and the identification of oneself as science-competent, which is at the heart of STEM equity and inclusivity. UNLV scholars are researching the active ingredients in interventions that generate interest and belongingness in the middle school and high school science classroom.
College STEM Success Support
Undergraduate students in the sciences and engineering face the challenges of increasingly sophisticated material without the structure of high school or the more familiar communities of their public schools, not to mention the financial burden of tuition. UNLV scholars are researching ways of supporting STEM students through these challenges - creating scholarships, identifying struggling students early, increasing student self-efficacy and belonging, developing mentor networks, and involving families in the journey.
"My high school biology teacher told me he wanted to see me enter his classroom again with a white coat - to emphasize that if I wanted to be a doctor, I could do it."
Citlally Lopez, UNLV student and Pfizer Fellowship recipient
