Share Paper: Enhancing Learning Outcomes for Disadvantaged Children in Rural North Carolina: Incorporating Technology at a STEM Camp

1. Linda Crane-Mitchell, East Carolina University, United States

Abstract: High quality, inquiry-based, hands-on opportunities for students in rural elementary and middle school classrooms of Eastern North Carolina are uncommon. Area school districts often use direct-instruction scripted methods of teaching thus at-risk children have difficulty making the connections between content areas which causes low performance in the areas of mathematics, reading, and science. Research suggests that less advantaged children need additional learning opportunities to understand and use STEM content areas (Bell & Beven, 2015). An integrated approach to learning has also been reported to be more effective (Ronis, 2007) and supported by the Next Generation Science Standards (2012). Inquiry-based curriculum ...