FSU’s FCR-STEM celebrates 20 years of impacting teaching and learning in Florida

For 20 years, the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (FCR–STEM) at Florida State University has helped shape how STEM is taught and learned in classrooms across Florida, developing research-based tools and technologies that support teachers and prepare students for a future workforce.  

FCR-STEM was created by the Florida Legislature, and it was competitively awarded to FSU in 2006. The Learning Systems Institute (LSI) has been the sole operator of FCR-STEM since its inception. 

The mission of FCR-STEM is to help the State of Florida improve STEM teaching and learning in grades K-12 and prepare students for higher education and STEM careers in the 21st century. Through its impacts on teacher knowledge and classroom practice, FCR-STEM strives to improve student achievement, narrow achievement gaps and increase student pursuit of STEM fields. 

“FCR-STEM has had a remarkable impact on STEM education in Florida over the past 20 years,” said Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “Their researchers have consistently pioneered innovative technologies to equip our K-12 educators with the tools and resources they need to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow’s workforce. By empowering educators, FCR-STEM ensures Florida’s students are positioned to thrive and lead in the next generation of work.” 

FCR-STEM has pioneered education technologies to drive STEM learning in areas such as robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), 3D printables, formative assessment systems, digital platforms and educational support systems for students with disabilities. 

“FCR-STEM has positively impacted STEM education in Florida’s K-12 classrooms for two decades,” said Rabieh Razzouk, director of LSI and FCR-STEM. “For 20 years, LSI team members have looked forward and innovated new systems and platforms giving Florida educators the tools to put our children in a position to capitalize on the opportunities that will be presented by the next generation of work.” 

FCR-STEM’s track record of developing innovative solutions to advance STEM education has led to dozens of partnerships across the country and across disciplines. Since its inception in 2006, FCR-STEM has been awarded more than 150 research grants totaling more than $190,000,000. Of those grants, more than 60 totaled $1 million or more.  

Sponsors have included the U.S. Department of Education, the Florida Department of Education, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the Everglades Foundation and eight Florida school boards. 

Innovations created by FCR-STEM include: 

• The CPALMS platform was developed to support K-12 education in Florida and is used by millions of people worldwide. More than 260,000 K-12 Florida educators and approximately three million Florida students actively use CPALMS to access educational resources, information that supports teaching and learning, and software applications designed to support them throughout their educational journeys. During the global pandemic, CPALMS was made available worldwide, and now, more than 20 million students depend on the platform. 

• MyStemKits was created at FCR-STEM and is the world’s largest library of standards-driven, 3D-printable kits and curriculum designed to support interdisciplinary education and nurture the skills necessary for success in the 21st century, including creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. 

• The Math Formative Assessment System (MFAS) was developed as part of the CPALMS platform. It is a K–12, research-based toolset that uncovers how students think and empowers teachers to adjust instruction for deeper understanding. MFAS tasks go beyond right-or-wrong answers to uncover students’ reasoning, misconceptions and learning strategies. 

• FCR-STEM is one of the leaders in Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), working on major projects both in Florida and nationally. CGI is a student-centered approach to teaching mathematics that focuses on understanding and building upon a child’s natural, intuitive problem-solving processes. Instead of forcing students to use memorized algorithms, CGI teachers present real-life problems, listen to how children naturally solve them, and tailor instruction accordingly. 

ABOUT LSI 

LSI strives to lead the way in creating innovative educational solutions that seamlessly connect theory with practice. Through advanced research, we develop industry-leading methods and implementation strategies to enhance systematic learning at all levels and in all environments. For more than five decades, LSI has been committed to driving measurable improvements in the performance of both individuals and organizations.