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. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...

Admission for all UC campuses, meaning that participation in the C-STEM program is recognized in the UC admissions process as achievements that have explicitly prepared students for

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...

and

career The career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' defi ...

. C-STEM has University of California A-G Program Status. High schools can easily add the A-G approved

rigorous Rigour (British English) or rigor (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) describes a condition of stiffness or strictness. These constraints may be environmentally imposed, su ...

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

The C-STEM center is located on the University of California – Davis campus. The Center aims to transform

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

science Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...

technology Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and Reproducibility, reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in me ...

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...

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

achievement gap Achievement may refer to: *Achievement (heraldry) *Achievement (horse), a racehorse *Achievement (video gaming), a meta-goal defined outside of a game's parameters See also * Achievement test for student assessment * Achiever The Enneagram o ...

by broadening participation of students traditionally underrepresented in computing and STEM related careers and

post-secondary Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank, for example, defines tertiary education as including univers ...

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 to tackle real world concerns through integrated computing and STEM education. The C-STEM Center has developed innovative educational technology C-STEM Studio and

RoboBlockly 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 animate for beginners to ...

with computing in C/C++ 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 an interdisciplinary branch of computer science and engineering. Robotics involves design, construction, operation, and use of robots. The goal of robotics is to design machines that can help and assist humans. Robotics integrate ...

(Barobo Linkbot,

Lego Mindstorms NXT Lego Mindstorms NXT is a programmable robotics kit released by Lego on August 2, 2006. It replaced the first-generation Lego Mindstorms kit, which was called the Lego Mindstorms#Robotics Invention System, Robotics Invention System. The base ki ...

, 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 (; : curricula or curriculums) is broadly defined as the totality of student experiences that occur in the educational process. The term often refers specifically to a planned sequence of instruction, or to a view ...

that integrates computing and robotics into

Common Core The Common Core State Standards Initiative, also known as simply Common Core, is an educational initiative from 2010 that details what K–12 students throughout the United States should know in English language arts and mathematics at the conc ...

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, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines (includi ...

education for K-12 students. The Pathway includes robotics and math with coding activities in RoboBlockly and C/C++ for elementary school students, rigorous Computer Programming course for

middle school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...

students, and Computer Programming courses and

AP Computer Science Principles Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (also known as APCSP) is an AP Computer Science course and examination offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn college credit for a college-level computing ...

for high school students. One of goals for the C-STEM program is to provide formal computing education for all K-12 students. The C-STEM Center studies how to use innovative computing and robotics technologies to increase student interest and help them learn STEM subjects with an emphasis on

Algebra Algebra () is one of the broad areas of mathematics. Roughly speaking, algebra is the study of mathematical symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols in formulas; it is a unifying thread of almost all of mathematics. Elementary ...

, a gatekeeper for high-school graduation, university education and careers in STEM fields. The C-STEM program helps close the achievement gap, engages traditionally unrepresented groups and at risk students in learning STEM subjects while preparing all students to be career and college ready. The C-STEM Center provides unique professional development for teachers without any prior computing experience through 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 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 not only math and engineering, but also in

writing Writing is a medium of human communication which involves the representation of a language through a system of physically inscribed, mechanically transferred, or digitally represented symbols. Writing systems do not themselves constitute h ...

art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

and film production. Various C-STEM awards and

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

s are presented at the awards ceremonies to outstanding students to recognize their achievement and inspire them to pursue computing and STEM related careers and post-secondary study.

C-STEM Girls in Robotics Leadership (GIRL) Camps

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

mentoring Mentorship is the 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 personal and p ...

with fun and exciting robotics activities. The girls also learn

leadership Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets vi ...

and

communication Communication (from la, communicare, meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with") is usually defined as the transmission of information. The term may also refer to the message communicated through such transmissions or the field of inqui ...

skills and meet inspiring women leaders working with science and technology to gain exposure to the variety of opportunities available to them.

C-STEM Annual Conference

The annual C-STEM Conference on Integrated Computing and STEM Education provides a forum for educators to discuss the current educational landscape as well as issues related to integrated learning in computing and STEM education. Participants share their views, experiences and best practices, are given opportunities to discuss and influence the future direction of integrated computing, and STEM education.

References

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External links

C-STEM Center

C-STEM Studio

RoboBlockly
University of California University of California, Davis