Founded in 2010, UC Davis Center for Integrated Computing and STEM Education (C-STEM) develops educational computing and robotics technology, curriculum, and pedagogical strategies, and provides professional development and support for STEM teachers, even those without any prior coding and robotics experience, to integrate hands-on computing and robotics into their classroom teaching math, CS, and STEAM. C-STEM is a UC Approved Educational Preparation Program for undergraduate admission for all University of California campuses. C-STEM also has UCOP A-G Program Status with 20 high school courses, including four honor math courses, for preparing students for admission to the University of California and California State University. C-STEM provides professional development for teachers with Computer Science Supplementary Teaching Credential Authorization credits in partnership with UC Riverside Extension.
The rigorous C-STEM Math-ICT Curriculum provides K-12 students with 13 years of integrated learning of math and computer science. The center focuses on algebra, a gatekeeper for careers in STEM. Hands-on activities with coding and robots inspire and engage students who are otherwise turned off by math and STEM subjects. The C-STEM Math-ICT curriculum is in use in more than 60 school districts with over 10,000 students, mostly in California. For at-risk and gifted students alike, C-STEM program can significantly increase math performance and close the achievement gap.
Software, tools, and textbooks of the C-STEM program are available for download from the center’s website. C-STEM Center and its partners organize the RoboPlay Competition every May at UC Davis and in Orange County. RoboPlay is a theme-based level playing field robotics competition for K-12 students. It is designed for students to showcase their real-world problem solving skills in a competitive environment. The center also runs an annual conference on computing and STEM education, and a highly successful summer program called Girls in Robotics Leadership (GIRL) and GIRL+ Camps for middle and high school girls in different regions. Since 2010, the center has received over $8 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, as well as support from the California Department of Education and corporate sponsors.
Media contact(s):
- Harry Cheng, C-STEM Center, (530) 752-5020, hhcheng@ucdavis.edu
- Andy Fell, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu
