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Conferences

Thursdays, April 28–May 19, 2022 [virtual]

Fusing Equity and Whole-School STEM Models

Preliminary Program

  • Session 1: Thursday, April 28 at 1 p.m. CDT 

    Virtual: 90 minutes
    • Welcome & Opening remarks 
      • Dr. Gauri Vaishampayan will discuss the intent and need for the conference. She will situate the work of the conference in advancing our understanding of equity in whole-school STEM models, mapping the role of equity in whole-school STEM and non-STEM models, and identifying central issues and questions that can guide future research 
      • Dr. Fatima Brunson will ground the conference within the current cultural moment and in the context of the CoVID-19 pandemic. Unpacking the resulting impact on schools, communities, and their collaborators, Dr. Brunson will center the work of the conference on teacher education, professional development, in-service praxis, and the need for greater focus on equity in whole school reform models.  
    • Attendee cohort building
      • May include positionality statements, personal introductions, ice-breaker activities, establishing norms, etc. 
    • Dr. Vaishampayan will review key literature around equity in whole school STEM reform 

  • Session 2: Thursday, May 5 at 1 p.m. CDT

    Virtual: 90 minutes
    • Dr. Decoteau Irby and Dr. Fatima Brunson will facilitate a discussion about similarities and differences across attendee posters
    • Dr. Irby will engage attendees in discussion and activity about equitable practices at the whole-school level to establish working definitions of key concepts with attendees (e.g., equity, ISSs, whole school, STEM, etc.) while highlighting the state of the field.
    • Dr. Irby will lead a discussion of logic models/theoretical framings to synthesize changes and additions based on session presentations & lived experiences of attendees  

  • Session 3: Thursday, May 12 at 1 p.m. CDT

    Virtual: 90 minutes
    • Dr. Rachel Roegman will present about the barriers associated with understanding the intersection between equity and whole-school STEM programs/models. Dr. Roegman will unpack the need for appropriate definitions of equity, discuss the relationship between barriers to equity in whole-school STEM models and broader, whole-school reform efforts, and the need to interrogate who does equity within school ecosystems. 
    • Kelli Easterly, Executive Director of STEM at Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will share how reform in whole school STEM models has evolved, and how schools have functioned as community assets and brokers in supporting equitable STEM education. Ms. Easterly will provide insights about Skyline, CPS’s new digital curriculum, as a case study example of STEM curriculum implementation through an equity lens. 

  • Session 4: Thursday, May 19 at 1 p.m. CDT

    Virtual: 90 minutes
    • Fran Mast and Dr. Aaron Price will present about MSI’s Science Leadership Initiative Research Study as case study example of an investigation of whole-school STEM reform. 
    • Dr. Robert Tai and Dr. Melanie LaForce will present on methodological perspective and means for conducting research at the whole-school level.
    • Closing remarks

  • Optional In-person Event: May or June 2022 (TBD)

    Onsite (TBD)

    A weekend date following conference sessions in late May or early June. Details are being worked out, but we anticipate a half-day with catered lunch, a VIP tour of the Museum and some time to reflect on what we learned and help reinforce friendships and connections that were made. Families are welcome to attend and will be given free tickets to the Museum.

For more information, please email us at studyinfo@msichicago.org.