MMSA Awarded NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY Planning Grant
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On July 15, 2026, the Maine Mathematics & Science Alliance (MMSA) was awarded a nearly $50,000 planning grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s FINDERS FOUNDRY program to explore a new approach to integrating computer science into K–12 classrooms.
The project is led by MMSA staff Ian Collins, AI STEM Education Specialist and Principal Investigator, and Rachael Dektor, CS Education Researcher and Co-Principal Investigator.
Together, they will support the co-design of a teacher-facing, AI-powered web application that generates computer science activities connected to English Language Arts texts already being taught in classrooms.
“I’m most excited to collaborate with a team bringing diverse experiences and perspectives to explore how evolving technologies can make computer science instruction more accessible within English language arts,” says Rachael Dektor.
The goal is to make computer science integration more accessible for educators without requiring them to be computer science experts. Working alongside educators, the team will explore how the tool can fit within existing instructional time, curriculum requirements and classroom systems.
MMSA’s team was one of 50 selected to receive a FINDERS FOUNDRY award. The award will support the team as they develop and test this tool alongside educators. Learn more about the NSF award here(opens in a new tab), and explore other research and publications from MMSA.
Ian Collins
AI STEM Education Specialist
Rachael Dektor, Ph.D.
CS Education Researcher