Researchers at MIT secure funding for the development and testing of 14 groundbreaking educational concepts aimed at enhancement.
The MIT Jameel World Education Lab has dished out a whopping $917,526 in Education Innovation Grants to fuels the ideas of 14 research projects. These projects, led by researchers spanning 11 departments, labs, and centers across MIT, dabble in topics ranging from electrical engineering to ecological sustainability.
"These grants support MIT research that can revolutionize education everywhere," says Anjali Sastry, faculty director of the Jameel World Education Lab. "We're all about spreading knowledge, sharing insights, and collaborating with revolutionary minds to instigate global change in education. Educators in countless countries will take inspiration from this year's ambitious endeavors, which tackle core educational challenges with never-before-seen methods."
Since 2017, the Jameel World Education Lab, a part of MIT Open Learning, has funded over $5 million worth of projects to overhaul teaching and learning across the life cycle – from pK-12 to higher education to workforce learning. The grants have funded educational innovations across a rich spectrum of MIT fields: mechanical engineering, literature, architecture, computer science, artificial intelligence, aeronautics and astronautics, management, physics, and more.
"We're thrilled by the vast array of topics tackled by this year's grant recipients," adds Maria Segala, data, reporting, and grants administrator for the Jameel World Education Lab. "We can't wait to connect these game-changing projects to the broader MIT community, Jameel World Education Lab member organizations, and educators and learners worldwide."
Here's a taste of what these grantees have in store:
"Illuminating Education: An Online Platform for Embodied Learning" - Jennifer Light, Bern Dibner Professor of the History of Science and Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Light is on a mission to bridge the chasm between research on movement and learning processes and the teaching strategies that educators adopt. By investigating ways for schools to integrate physical activity and academic instruction – for instance, teaching geometry through yoga, physics through martial arts, and history through dance – Light hopes to pave the way for a more holistic educational approach.
"Knowledge Transfer in Glassblowing: From Expert to Apprentice" - Andrés Felipe Salazar-Gomez, Research Scientist at MIT Open Learning; Alexandre Armengol Urpi, Postdoc in the Department of Mechanical Engineering; Sanjay Sarma, Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Salazar-Gomez and Sarma are diving into the realm of tacit knowledge, know-how that usually remains hidden from verbal expression, codification, or explicit transfer. They'll delve into this by employing overt and covert attention signatures, as well as scene point-of-view videos, eye tracking, and detailed instructions from glassblowing experts to teach this skill to naive learners. The outcome: innovative instructional resources.
"Games for Climate Education: Prototyping Impactful Learning Experiences" - Lana Cook, Associate Director of the MIT Systems Awareness Lab; Eric Klopfer, Director of the MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program and Head of MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Climate Interactive's climate change simulator, En-ROADS, has been a big hit in engaging participants to contemplate the effects of various policies and actions on climate change. However, a larger and more meaningful shift in understanding, policy, and action necessitates education on a far greater scale than what's achievable through En-ROADS' current facilitation model. So, Cook and Klopfer are exploring game-based facilitation.
"Archival Arts Education: Bridging the Gap in Literary Arts Education" - Joshua Bennett, Distinguished Chair of the Humanities and Professor in MIT Literature
Bennett's vision for "Minor Notes" aims to remedy the gaps in K-12 literary arts education by blending archival research with collaborative art-making. He plans to team up with a group of high school seniors and their faculty advisors to delve into local community archives, compose original works of art inspired by historical materials discovered in these spaces, and breathe new life into the literary arts curriculum.
"Deepening and Expanding Creative Learning Experiences through Festivals of Invention and Creativity" - Ann Berger Valente, Educational Research Manager at the MIT Media Lab; Leo Burd, Director of the Lemann Creative Learning Program at the Media Lab
As part of the Brazilian Creative Learning Network program, the MIT Media Lab's Lifelong Kindergarten group intends to create a set of resources and guides to extend and widen the scope of creative learning experiences through Festivals of Invention and Creativity in various nations. Valente and Burd will gather feedback and input during the development process from educators in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, South Africa, and other countries to refine these resources.
And so much more! The 2023 Education Innovation Grant recipients and their projects are bounds to reshape the landscape of education innumerable ways. Keep your eyes peeled for updates and innovative breakthroughs!
- The MIT Jameel World Education Lab is funding various research projects, totaling $917,526, to drive innovation in education.
- These projects, led by researchers from 11 different departments, labs, and centers at MIT, cover topics ranging from electrical engineering to ecological sustainability.
- Anjali Sastry, the faculty director of the Jameel World Education Lab, emphasizes the lab's commitment to spreading knowledge and collaborating to instigate global change in education.
- Since 2017, the lab has funded over $5 million worth of projects aimed at overhauling education across various stages, from pK-12 to higher education to workforce learning.
- Projects have been funded across a broad spectrum of MIT fields, including mechanical engineering, literature, architecture, computer science, artificial intelligence, and more.
- Maria Segala, the data, reporting, and grants administrator for the Jameel World Education Lab, is excited about the diverse topics tackled by the grant recipients.
- Jennifer Light's project, "Illuminating Education: An Online Platform for Embodied Learning," aims to bridge the gap between research on movement and learning processes and teaching strategies.
- Light's project focuses on integrating physical activity and academic instruction, such as teaching geometry through yoga and physics through martial arts.
- Andrés Felipe Salazar-Gomez and Sanjay Sarma's project delves into the realm of tacit knowledge, exploring ways to teach glassblowing to naive learners.
- Lana Cook and Eric Klopfer are exploring game-based facilitation to engage more participants in climate change education, building on the success of the En-ROADS climate change simulator.
- Joshua Bennett's vision for "Minor Notes" aims to remedy gaps in K-12 literary arts education by blending archival research with collaborative art-making.
- Ann Berger Valente and Leo Burd aim to extend and widen the scope of creative learning experiences through Festivals of Invention and Creativity in various nations.
- The 2023 Education Innovation Grant recipients and their projects are poised to reshape education in numerous ways, with updates and breakthroughs to follow.
- Innovation in teaching and learning methods is critical for the future of education, as the world faces challenges such as climate change and the need for sustainable energy solutions.
- Education is a vital tool for fostering self-development, technology, and engineering skills, which are essential for addressing these challenges.
- The Jameel World Education Lab's grants also provide opportunities for students to engage in research and mentorship, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of learning, teaching, and innovation on campus.
- The story of the 2023 Education Innovation Grants and the projects they fund is just one piece of the broader narrative of education and self-development, particularly in the context of STEM education and the ongoing push for sustainability.
