MSU researchers are strengthening schools nationwide

Michigan State University is helping reshape how students learn in every corner of the country, from rural high schools to urban districts, and right here in Michigan. Backed by federal funding, Spartan researchers are developing innovative ways to teach science, improve writing, integrate AI, and support mental health and school safety, among other breakthroughs. Their work is changing classrooms, and lives, for the better.

MSU’s College of Education has consistently ranked one of the top education schools in the nation, including ranking no. 1 in the nation for its elementary and secondary education programs for more than 30 straight years.

Spartan researchers have been top recipients of federal research dollars to advance education in terms of improving academic performance of students as well as broader issues that affect learning, such as mental health, school safety and emerging technologies.

Changing the way science is taught

Recent reports show that U.S. students are not keeping pace with the knowledge, skills and technology that are critical for their future careers, particularly in science-related courses.

"We're in a time where we need to concentrate on what we should be teaching young people today in schools,” says Barbara Schneider, John A. Hannah University Distinguished Professor in the College of Education. “The fact is that there are young people who might have an interest in STEM but get turned off about it in the classroom."

To fix this, Schneider and her colleague Joseph Krajcik teamed up to reimagine how science is taught. Krajcik is the Lappan-Philips Professor of Science Education in the College of Education and Lyman Briggs College, and director of MSU’s Collaborative Research in Education, Assessment, and Teaching Environments for STEM, also referred to as CREATE for STEM.

The research team developed new materials, assessments and workshops to build a curriculum centered on project-based learning. Teachers were trained to guide students in using curiosity and experimentation to build models, collect data and test theories.

The program was studied across 70 high schools, reaching about 7,000 predominantly low-income students — including those in Detroit, Los Angeles and even internationally in Finland.

The research results have been vetted and published in conference papers and in a book. The findings showed that students scored better on tests and reported higher interest in science than those taught with traditional learning materials. There also is strong evidence the curricula and teaching approach significantly impacts student science learning in a positive manner.

"They're doing the work of what a scientist does," Krajcik says. "They're also showing themselves that 'Hey, I can do this,' which is a powerful component that promotes confidence and learning."

This research was funded by the National Science Foundation.

Read more on MSUToday.

Placing a specific focus on the rural South

In the rural U.S. South, one in six students lives in poverty. With lower high school graduation and college credit acceptance rates, learning science can be even more difficult.

So, Schneider and Krajcik collaborated with two more colleagues, Clausell Mathis, an assistant professor in Lyman Briggs College and the College of Education, as well as Sheneka Williams, professor and chair of the Department of Education Administration in the College of Education.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education and in partnership with other universities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, MSU researchers adapted their successful evidence-based high school chemistry and physics program — Crafting Engaging Science Environments — to the rural South.

The project will reach 4,000 students and 90 teachers in Alabama and North Carolina, many in under-resourced districts.

“The significance of this project, which focuses on culturally responsive instruction in physics and chemistry through a project-based approach, provides students with enriching classroom experiences where they can see the relevance of science in their own lives,” Mathis says.

Read more on MSUToday.

Developing elementary writing skills

Writing is one of the most important — and most difficult — skills students will ever learn. And for elementary students just starting out, it can feel overwhelming. Later in life, writing skills are essential in nearly all professions, yet instruction often falls short.

Teaching effective writing is the research focus of Adrea Truckenmiller, an associate professor in the College of Education. By equipping teachers with tools that demystify writing instruction, Truckenmiller and her team are helping more students gain the skills they need to succeed in school and later in life.

To do this, the team developed a web-based program called the Writing Architect, which provides teachers with tailored, evidence-based instructional resources. Students complete assessments that score their writing in five areas: text structure, vocabulary use, spelling, sentence accuracy and typing fluency.

“Identifying these five components was a major finding,” Truckenmiller says. “This is the first classroom-based assessment to predict a majority of students’ performance on the M-STEP (end-of-year test of grade-level expectations).”

Last year, several dozen teachers and more than 800 students participated in a pilot study in school districts across Michigan. The pilot, now in its fifth year, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, continues to evolve based on teacher input, researchers’ observations and student progress.

Truckenmiller and her colleagues at MSU continue refining the Writing Architect using real classroom feedback, ensuring research stays connected to student needs so more learners gain a solid foundation in one of the most essential skills for success.

Read more from University Outreach and Engagement.

Using AI to support students

As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into education, researchers at MSU are leveraging AI technology to support students, especially those with developmental disabilities.

Roughly one in six children has a developmental condition, such as autism or attention deficit disorder, which can make it harder to engage with peers and classroom material.

Professor Subir Biswas in the College of Engineering and Associate Professor Sarah Douglas in the College of Social Science, teamed up to create Wearable Human Interaction Trackers to gather information about children’s locations, frontal orientation, speech and movement to assess peer interactions.

The data helps educators better understand and support students with developmental disabilities.

“Early childhood teachers play a key role in supporting social development, but they have many responsibilities and are often unable to gather data about social interactions,” Douglas says. “Leveraging technology to provide them with data and help them make instructional decisions can accelerate supports for children with social challenges.”

Other Spartan education researchers are exploring how generative AI can be used effectively in education more broadly.

Aman Yadav, Lappan-Phillips Professor of Computing Engineering in the colleges of Education and Natural Science, and Michael Lachney, associate professor in the College of Education, have developed a pilot curriculum to assess educators' knowledge and attitudes about generative AI as it relates to classroom instruction.

Their goal is to create learning materials that can be shared with educators across the country.

Both research projects are funded by the National Science Foundation.

Read more on MSUToday.

Improving school safety and training

School safety remains a top concern for schools across the country, and it goes beyond emergency drills and locked doors. An MSU researcher has partnered with Michigan State Police to provide school resource officers and officials with better resources to create an environment where students feel understood and supported.

John Carlson, a professor in the colleges of Education and Social Science, partnered with MSP to develop a series of six online courses covering topics ranging from mental health intervention to school climate to relationship building. Michigan Virtual was selected to roll out the free courses to school districts across the state. This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Drawing on decades of research in school psychology and violence prevention, Carlson and his team developed the curriculum around key strategies for early intervention and relationship-based support.

“We know schools must work with their community partners to develop procedures to identify which kids may need more help and support,” Carlson says. “Mental health supports, inclusive of the unique needs of the population being served, must be made available to help keep our schools safe for all.”

Read more on MSUToday.

From improving instruction to empowering teachers and keeping students safe, MSU’s education research, much of which is supported by federal funding, is making a measurable difference in classrooms across Michigan and beyond.

Read more stories about how MSU researchers are creating stronger schools.

For generations, Spartans have been changing the world through research. Federal funding helps power many of the discoveries that improve lives and keep America at the forefront of innovation and competitiveness. From lifesaving cancer treatments to solutions that advance technology, agriculture, energy and more, MSU researchers work every day to shape a better future for the people of Michigan and beyond. Learn more about MSU’s research impact powered by partnership with the federal government.