Discovery Research PreK–12 Resource Center for Transformative Education Research and Translation (DRK–12 RC)

The Discovery Research PreK-12 Resource Center for Transformative Education Research and Translation (DRK-12 RC) will support the DRK-12 program and its community in fulfilling DRK-12 mission and goals. The resource center will encourage collaboration, translation, and capacity-building in applied STEM education research by connecting a broad range of interest holders, providing technical support, disseminating resources and increasing the visibility of DRK-12 program-funded impacts. In addition, the resource center will be an intellectual partner as NSF seeks to enhance the overall influence and reach of the DRK-12 program's research and development investments. All DRK-12 RC activities serve the national priority of translating scientific findings to and from educational practice to the benefit of society within an ethical and high-impact framework.

Under the leadership of the American Institutes for Research, in collaboration with the Southern Regional Education Board and the University of South Carolina, the DRK-12 RC is expected to work collaboratively with NSF and the DRK-12 Program's constituent communities to design, implement, and evaluate these three broad activities: 1) identify and share promising resources, tools, approaches, and research findings with teachers, school leaders and administrators and policymakers for feedback, strategic use and the advancement of science; 2) facilitate communication and collaboration among current, former, and prospective DRK-12 award recipients as a means of building STEM education researchers' capacity to conduct high-quality and meaningful work across the full range of project types supported by the program; and 3) further raise the national visibility of the DRK-12 program's goals and impacts. The DRK-12 RC is dedicated to building capacity while enhancing the accessibility and visibility of DRK-12 projects, research findings, and innovations through advanced technological tools and strategic communication efforts. By broadening awareness of the DRK-12 program, building focused research acumen, and promoting community engagement, the DRK-12 RC will foster a dynamic network of STEM education researchers, educators and decision-makers, empowering this powerful community to collaboratively transform fand advance PreK-12 STEM teaching and learning.