In November, faculty members from Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, for the culminating event of the STEMpowered learning and development series, an 18-month collaboration between Peabody College and Sukkur IBA University to strengthen STEM education in Pakistan, with support from Beyond the Classroom. A $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State supported the collaboration.
During the three-day convening, 11 faculty members and 16 students from Sukkur IBA University gave presentations on tackling local problems of practice in STEM learning and development. These presentations showcased their work and impact throughout the STEMpowered project. The work was informed by the collaborative continuous improvement process using the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles, with sustained guidance from Peabody faculty at each stage of addressing a problem of practice.
In one study, Sukkur IBA faculty presented survey data showing that low-cost, inquiry-based teaching methods increased students' confidence, creativity, and real-world STEM application by 60 to 80 percent.
"It was gratifying to participate with the faculty and students in Karachi to see first-hand their learning and engagement and to continue to discuss how initial projects can be sustained and scaled over time," said Ellen Goldring, distinguished research dean, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor and professor of educational leadership and policy at Peabody College.
Goldring gave a joint presentation with Camilla Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development, on the process of academic publishing. She also introduced a panel discussion on STEM education and education policy systems in Pakistan.
Chris Vanags, director of the Peabody Research Office and research assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in Vanderbilt's College of Arts and Science, led workshops on the importance of engaging students in active learning practices that center them as knowledge creators.
"While it was challenging, it was also incredibly rewarding to work with our partners in their context. We didn't just focus on scientific methods; we wanted to build a learning paradigm that focuses on agency. Seeing these students advocate for change in their communities based on scientific evidence that they collected was truly a highlight of my career," Vanags said.
Throughout the STEMpowered learning and development series, which included eight virtual sessions and an immersion in Nashville in September, participants enhanced their understanding and practice of STEM education and deepened their international professional networks.
Following the convening in Karachi, Peabody and Sukkur IBA faculty have continued to work together. The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt recently developed a STEM course that matches the need for a new STEM course at Sukkur IBA. In February, SSMV led a workshop at Vanderbilt for Sukkur IBA faculty and students on the course design and its interactive projects, so that Sukkur IBA can develop a similar course for their students.
Through initiatives like STEMpowered, Peabody College is committed to advancing STEM education globally by fostering sustained partnerships that empower educators and learners across borders.
