The National Science Resources Center (NSRC) was established in 1985 by the National Academies and the Smithsonian Institution. It was created in response to 1983's "A Nation at Risk," the first call to action for better science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The organization currently operates solely under the Smithsonian Institution. It holds a Federal i3 Investment in Innovation grant.
The NSRC attacked the STEM education problem at the foundation of public education, elementary schools. It developed a strategic agenda based on a five-point plan for changing the entire system of teaching and learning science:
- Development and support of rigorous, R&D-based curriculum that encourages exploration and inquiry
- State-of-the-art professional program development for teacher training and preparation to become proficient in guided inquiry
- Dedicated logistics, including pick up, refurbishment and delivery of curriculum materials to participating schools
- Assessment and evaluation
- Administrative and community support
The NSRC succeeded in building a sustainable model for reform and has never stopped scaling up. Its elementary school model, has been followed by one for middle school and one for high school, under which RxeSEARCH is a strategic capstone element.
A Systemic Approach to Science Education Improvement
The key to the NSRC's approach is systemic reform. It treats the entire school system as a single multilayered entity, addressing critical issues at every level. This strategy turns parents, teachers, school administrators, school board members, policy makers, and business and community leaders into actively participating stakeholders in the success of STEM education policy reform.
Ultimately the results speak for themselves. Students who are excited about science and learn by investigating, reasoning, concluding and discussing.
Students are not the only beneficiaries of systemic education reform. Teachers get access to improved curriculum and training. Policy makers and administrators see improved results and encourage further investment in reform. Community and business leaders see schools improve and are able to attract more talent to the region.
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