This book reports the results of a three-year research program funded by the National Science
Foundation which targeted students and teachers from four Detroit high schools in order for
them to learn experience and use IT within the context of STEM (IT STEM) and explore 21st
century career and educational pathways. The book discusses the accomplishment of these goals
through the creation of a Community of Designers-- an environment in which high school students
and teachers undergraduate graduate student assistants and STEM area faculty and industry
experts worked together as a cohesive team. The program created four project-based design teams
one for each STEM area. Each team had access to two year-round IT STEM enrichment experiences
to create high-quality learning projects strategies and curriculum models. These strategies
were applied in after school weekend and summer settings through hands-on inquiry-based
activities with a strong emphasis on non-traditional approaches to learning and understanding.
The book represents the first comprehensive description and analysis of the research program
and suggests a plan for future development and refinement.
