The iBears program is AN NSF-funded program and collaboration between the Department of Educational Psychology (School of Education) and the Department of Biology (College of Arts and Sciences) at Baylor University

Mission and Goals

• Development of 21st century skills in undergraduate STEM education

  • Ways of thinking, Ways of working, Tools for working, Living in the world 

• Increase the pipeline of K-16 science education, creating a more diverse and inclusive science community

• Create a shared vision and connect current and future iBEARS collaborators (STEM and STEM education faculty, teachers, administrators)

Background 

• A partnership between university (STEM and Education departments) and K-12 school/school district 

• Undergraduate STEM majors teach K-12 students science through video conferencing over 15 week semester 

• Work culminates in a research project designed and implemented by K-12 students with mentoring support from undergraduate students 

Reach

• Undergraduate student participants: 160

• K-12 teacher participants: 50

  • 5 returning teachers

• K-12 student participants: 100+ 

*estimates from 2017-present  

Relevance

Inclusive Science Programming 

• K-12 student involvement/exposure to science that might not happen inside the traditional classroom

• Promote research in the curriculum

• Destigmatize science/scientific research