About the STEMACES Study
Science Technology Engineering Math And Computer Education Success (STEMACES) builds on Learning by Making (LbyM)'s decade of success in ninth-grade classrooms. What was a year-long curriculum in our ninth grade course has been simplified and transformed into a set of activities that teachers can pick and choose from to create their own plan for their eighth-grade classrooms.
Empowering Students & Teachers
Following a few introductory lessons, students will have all of the supporting skills and background that they need to begin whatever project the teacher has in mind. This empowers both teacher and student to engage in real engineering and scientific practices.
Real-World Applications
Students experience and engage in the practices that engineers and scientists do "in the field," such as answering questions, solving challenges, and analyzing data. Science and engineering are skills and knowledge that can be built over time.
Research Study Details
The U.S. Department of Education is funding Sonoma State University, Angelo State University, and WestEd to rigorously examine the impact of the STEMACES program on eighth grade student achievement in science during the 2025-2026 school year.
Eligibility & Compensation
All 8th grade science teachers who are new to STEMACES are eligible. Eligible teachers will be compensated for their participation. Teachers from rural California and Texas schools are prioritized.
What's Included
Professional Learning led by WestEd, Materials (student activity guides and worksheets, teacher materials, kits), ongoing responsive teacher support, and virtual professional learning community sessions.
Research Focus
The use of computational thinking in the classroom, the effectiveness of STEMACES teacher professional learning, and the importance of supporting teachers in implementation.