Reflections from our first MEI STEM Professional Development Day

Our preservice teachers have the opportunity to apply to be part of the NASA MEI STEM program sponsored by Texas State University and NASA Minority University Research and Education Project. The program is an intensive professional development program that introduces students to the 5E instructional model, STEM integration, and future-ready skill sets to incorporate in the classroom.  Each day our preservice teachers are reflection on what they learned at NASA. This is our first reflection from a series of reflections that we will share with you over the the next week.

NASA MEI participant video reflection can be found at https://youtu.be/pbDQcxYlHxo.

Published by

Dr. Jennifer Miller-Ray

Jennifer Miller-Ray, PhD. is a cognitive scientist, curriculum designer and learning expert specializing in literacy, STEM K-12 integration initiatives, makerspace instructional design, pedagogy, and digital resources. Currently, she serves as an assistant professor in reading in the College of Education at Sul Ross State University. She has designed literacy and makerspace events for NASA launch parties held at the Kennedy space center, NASA STEM camps, and for the Perot Museum. Dr. Miller has received multiple NASA, state, and community grants to fund STEM research programs. In addition, Dr. Miller has developed two Massive Open Online Courses through Canvas's Open Network highlighting NASA MMS Education Outreach programs. Dr. Miller has successfully implemented research initiatives to study student attitudes and perspectives during STEAM camp and in a middle school robotics program the last three years with the University of North Texas. Dr. Miller's research centers around a makerspace project-based learning model in which elementary and middle school students connect curriculum content to informal makerspace activities to make an artifact serving the career role of a journalist, scientist, engineer, or journalist. ​Recently, her dissertation initiatives, funded through a NASA grant and local library public school program, were highlighted as the innovative research project in the University of North Texas's January 2017 RESEARCH magazine.