C-STEM (Center for Integrated Computing and STEM Education) is a UC-approved educational preparation program for

undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education, usually in a college or university. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, ...

admission for UC campuses to prepare students for

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...

and

career A career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work (human activity), work and other aspects of personal life, life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ...

. C-STEM has

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university, research university system in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Oakland, the system is co ...

A-G Program status.

High schools A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...

can add the A-G approved C-STEM curriculum to their own school’s A-G course lists for the UC/CSU admission requirements. CStemWikiPedia

The C-STEM center is located on the

University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD, or Davis) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Davis, California, United States. It is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University ...

, campus. The Center aims to transform

computing Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computer, computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and the development of both computer hardware, hardware and softw ...

science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...

engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

, and

mathematics Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...

(C-STEM) education in both formal and informal K-14 programs through integrated learning, guided by two key objectives: * Close the

achievement gap Educational Inequality is the unequal distribution of academic resources, including but not limited to school funding, qualified and experienced teachers, booksphysical facilitiesand technologies, to socially excluded communities. These communiti ...

by broadening participation of students traditionally underrepresented in computing and

STEM Stem or STEM most commonly refers to: * Plant stem, a structural axis of a vascular plant * Stem group * Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics Stem or STEM can also refer to: Language and writing * Word stem, part of a word respon ...

related careers and

post-secondary Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...

study. * Develop students’ 21st century

problem-solving Problem solving is the process of achieving a goal by overcoming obstacles, a frequent part of most activities. Problems in need of solutions range from simple personal tasks (e.g. how to turn on an appliance) to complex issues in business an ...

skills through integrated computing and STEM education. The C-STEM Center has developed educational technology C-STEM Studio and

RoboBlockly RoboBlocky (formerly RoboBlockly) is a web-based robot simulation environment for learning coding and math. Based on Blockly, it uses a simple puzzle-piece interface to program virtual Linkbot, Lego Mindstorms NXT and EV3, as well as to draw and a ...

with computing in

C/C++ The C and C++ programming languages are closely related but have many significant differences. C++ began as a fork of an early, pre-standardized C, and was designed to be mostly source-and-link compatible with C compilers of the time. Due to ...

for K-14 hands-on integrated learning. C-STEM Studio is a platform for teaching computing, science, technology, engineering and mathematics with

robotics Robotics is the interdisciplinary study and practice of the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. Within mechanical engineering, robotics is the design and construction of the physical structures of robots, while in computer s ...

(Barobo Linkbot,

Lego Mindstorms NXT Lego Mindstorms NXT is a programmable robotics kit released by Lego on August 2, 2006. It replaced the Lego Mindstorms#Robotics Invention System, Robotics Invention System, the first-generation Lego Mindstorms kit. The base kit ships in two ve ...

, EV3, and Arduino boards). RoboBlockly is a web-based robot simulation for learning coding and math. The Center has also developed integrated C-STEM

curriculum In education, a curriculum (; : curriculums or curricula ) is the totality of student experiences that occur in an educational process. The term often refers specifically to a planned sequence of instruction, or to a view of the student's experi ...

that integrates computing and robotics into

Common Core The Common Core State Standards Initiative, also known as simply Common Core, was an American, multi-state educational initiative begun in 2010 with the goal of increasing consistency across state standards, or what K–12 students throughout th ...

compliant math courses with coding and math activities for grades 1 through 9. The vision of the C-STEM is to provide formal computing education for all K-12 students. C-STEM ICT Pathway provides 12-years

computer science Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Computer science spans Theoretical computer science, theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to Applied science, ...

education for K-12 students. The Pathway includes robotics and math with coding activities in RoboBlockly and C/C++ for

elementary school A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...

students, rigorous Computer Programming course for

middle school Middle school, also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school. Afghanistan In Afghanistan, middle school includes g ...

students, and Computer Programming courses and

AP Computer Science Principles Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (also known as AP CSP) is an AP Computer Science course and examination offered by the College Board under the Advanced Placement program. The course is designed as an equivalent to a first-sem ...

for high school students. The C-STEM Center studies the use of innovative computing and robotics technologies to increase student interest, with an emphasis on

Algebra Algebra is a branch of mathematics that deals with abstract systems, known as algebraic structures, and the manipulation of expressions within those systems. It is a generalization of arithmetic that introduces variables and algebraic ope ...

. The C-STEM program tries to close the achievement gap, engages traditionally unrepresented groups and at risk students in learning STEM subjects. The C-STEM Center provides C-STEM 2-Day Academy, On-Site Training, 1-Week Institute, and Train-the-Trainer program to integrate computing and robotics into their classroom teaching.

C-STEM Day

The annual C-STEM Day is organized to build public awareness and

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. List of country legal systems, Different countries and legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a ba ...

for Integrated Computing and STEM education. The C-STEM Center and its partners organize curriculum-based RoboPlay Competitions on C-STEM Day, typically held at the end of May each year, to further engage students in project-based team activities and to showcase their accomplishments and creativity in math, engineering, writing,

art Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around ''works'' utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, tec ...

music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...

and

film production Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...

. Various C-STEM awards and

scholarship A scholarship is a form of Student financial aid, financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, Multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion, athleti ...

s are presented at the awards ceremonies to students to recognize their achievements.

C-STEM Girls in Robotics Leadership (GIRL) Camps

The one-week GIRL Camps in summer are aimed to inspire girls in middle school to pursue computing and STEM-related careers and post-secondary studies through near-peer

mentoring Mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the perso ...

with robotics activities. The girls also meet female leaders working in science and technology.

C-STEM Annual Conference

The annual C-STEM Conference on Integrated Computing and STEM Education provides a forum for educators to discuss, share their views, and experiences about the educational landscape, as well as issues related to integrated learning in computing and STEM education.

References

{{Reflist

External links

C-STEM Center

C-STEM Studio
University of California University of California, Davis