Partnerships across Academic and Geographic Boundaries: A Technology-Driven Transformation of 3rd-7th Grade STEM Learning Communities

This experience connects world-traveling college students with elementary and middle school students currently in traditional classroom settings.The purpose is to spark excitement for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) using a non-traditional approach.The focus of the program is to strengthen STEM learning in K-7 students while also strengthening the academic value of college trips.Active curricular participation and collaboration between traveling college students and K-7 classrooms make this a transformative educational process.During winter and spring breaks, U.S. college students travel around the world to gain a global perspective on many issues; however, their experiences are rarely shared.The developing model is designed to break the current mold by including K-7 students, teachers, and parents in the college academic trip experience using a inquiry-based exchange of ideas, theory, and hands-on activities and incorporating guided student mentoring.Currently available technology is used to develop a variety of unique learning communities to enhance and extend the environmental science curriculum in K-7 classrooms, especially underserved and underrepresented groups, by providing inquiry-based activities and by connecting those classrooms with real-world environmental studies around the globe.Our approach helps to broaden the current educational structure through the introduction of a collaborative exchange of ideas among college faculty, college students, K-7 teachers, K-7 students and environmental professionals via 21 st century technology.Our principal objective is to demonstrate that this technology-driven collaboration will enhance science learning as well as interest in STEM careers among K-7 students.