MU, WVU Tech Secure Major Joint Grants for Clean Water Curriculum Research and Education

As students head back to classrooms this fall, a new wave of clean water research and education is coming with them. Millersville University of Pennsylvania and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) have each secured grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to bring cutting-edge water science into schools across West Virginia and Delaware over the next four years.

The ENVISION project will integrate new technologies and hands-on learning tools to help students explore water quality, freshwater ecosystems, and environmental stewardship. Teachers and students alike will have access to innovative classroom resources to engage with real-world water science.

Totalling more than $1 million, the project will also examine elementary school students' understanding of local watershed ecosystems and aim to spark interest in environmental STEM (E-STEM) careers. Building on an existing curriculum called Shared Waters, teachers and researchers will integrate spatial computing technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality, and artificial intelligence (AI) into classroom lessons.

"We hope that students who participate in this project will develop a deeper interest in STEM and E-STEM fields," said Tamara Floyd Smith, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs and project lead for WVU Tech and Shared Waters. "ENVISION will provide resources to train teachers, provide classroom supplies and fund field trips to make learning science fun for West Virginia and Delaware elementary students."

In addition to classroom instruction, the project will evaluate how these technologies impact student learning outcomes, engagement, and long-term interest in E-STEM careers.

"This collaborative grant has been in development for over a year," said Nanette Marcum-Dietrich, Ph.D., project lead for Millersville University and Shared Waters.

"Our goal is to connect students to the science in their own backyards. By combining watershed education with spatial computing, we're creating experiences that are both hands-on and high-tech," says Marcum-Dietrich. "As someone who grew up in southern West Virginia, this project is deeply personal to me. ENVISION is a chance to give back to my childhood home, to the people and the land that shaped who I am."

"By providing a way for integrating spatial computing into elementary environmental education, this project enhances not only educational excellence and student outcomes, but also helps build a pipeline of future STEM professionals," Floyd Smith added.

The project officially began on September 15, with classroom implementation planned for April and May. A workshop for interested teachers will be held in March. Teachers of grades 3-5 who participate in the project will receive a stipend of $1,800. In West Virginia, schools in southern West Virginia are invited to participate, but any educator in West Virginia who is interested is able to participate. Teachers will receive professional development, classroom-ready lessons through the Shared Waters curriculum, materials, and financial support to integrate and directly support their learning goals.

Educators interested in participating in this project should contact Nanette Marcum-Dietrich by emailing [email protected].

The project team appreciates the support of Representatives Lloyd Smucker and Chrissy Houlahan, who assisted in navigating federal communications during the proposal's review.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award Nos. 2445738 and 2445737. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.