Past Projects

“More Figuring Out”: 3-D Teaching of Science and Engineering (3D-TSE) [map id="1" disable_scroll="true"]Click for Larger Map Some seventy-five percent of Maine school districts have adopted a set of science and engineering standards that are focused on three-dimensional (3-D) teaching and learning that integrates the three dimensions of disciplinary core ideas, ...

The Early Mathematical Thinking Enhancement Project (EMTEP), a continuation of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA)'s long-standing Early Mathematical Thinking (EMT) project, created a set of diagnostic assessment tools intended as a formative assessment strategy to uncover students current level of mathematical thinking and guide instruction in grades K-4 ...

Emergency Response Technology Natural disasters, especially those involving flooding, are on the rise. Between August and September of 2017, hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria devastated the Houston area, parts of Florida, and several Caribbean islands including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. They caused both extreme wind and flood ...

Engineering Ambassadors Engineering Ambassadors pairs local engineers and other STEM professionals with teachers and their students to bring engaging design challenges to middle and secondary classrooms in the greater Portland, Maine area. The program’s main goal is to help students meet and interact with area engineers, hear their stories and recognize ...

STEMex is a highly experimental program that funds scientists and engineers to deliver inquiry-based STEM programs to children aged 6-10 and their families in museums and libraries, using a variety of techniques such as storytelling, personal histories, and analogies. In 2016 the program funded its first four awardees in locations ...

In 2018 a supplemental award was made to MMSA to investigate if student learners could communicate computational literacy through video based interviews with local community professionals. Results were mixed. ECS Video Showcase To improve access to computer science instruction by Maine middle and high school students, MMSA developed a proposal ...

There are two major goals of FCD; first to build a deep understanding of the Common Core Math Standards, the Common Core English Language Arts Standards, and the Framework/Next Generation Science Standards, especially as it relates to practices or capacities; and, second, to build a community of practice among those ...

Click here to go to project web page Geniverse is a project led by The Concord Consortium that develops free, web-based software for high school biology. It engages students in exploring heredity and genetics by breeding and studying virtual dragons. Interactive models, powered by real genes, enable students to do simulated ...

The Governor's Academy experience is designed to prepare STEM teacher leaders to be ambassadors for the mathematics, engineering, and science teaching profession; mentors for the support of new teachers; facilitators of collegial learning; partners and advisers to various district, regional, and statewide initiatives; and contributors to STEM partnerships in Maine ...

Click here to go to project web page The Math & Science Through Engineering (MSTE) project is a professional development collaboration between MMSA, Maine Maritime Academy, Auburn School Department, Ridge View Community School (Dexter, AOS 94), Lake Region School District (MSAD 61), Mountain Valley & Dirigo Middle Schools (RSU 10), ...

PowerHouse, designed by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Seaver Institute, was begun in 2013 with the goal of designing an online learning environment targeting home energy management. MMSA was one of several subcontractors for the project, with the role ...

The Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance is developing, assessing, and documenting a new model of professional development that targets out-of-school educators who want to embrace STEM education more deeply. MMSA's Dr. Sue Allen directs this project. The pilot program has ended, and the resulting project ACRES (Afterschool Coaching for Rural Educators ...

On Sept 13-14 the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance led a conference in Washington DC on the topic of out-of-school STEM learning in rural places. The conference was the first of its kind to bring together about 30 innovators and experts in rural STEM learning that happens outside of school; ...

The STEM Guides project creates and studies an innovative model of capacity-building for out-of-school STEM learning in rural areas. “STEM Guides” are community members who both cultivate the local landscape of out-of-school STEM and help youth and families navigate it. Small teams of STEM Guides are trained to identify and ...