Inform Research
Help researchers understand the actual needs, desires, and strengths of rural schools.
Archived
Envisioning Rural Futures
Part of Learning Sciences Research
Envisioning Rural Futures brought together the people who know rural communities best—educators and local workforce leaders—alongside STEM researchers to bridge the gap between research and practice. Together, we tackled pressing problems in rural K-12 STEM education and explored how local ingenuity can drive lasting progress in STEM teaching and learning and community growth.
Audiences
Learning Environments
Research often focuses on urban centers to improve STEM education, while rural communities are frequently left out of the conversation. This is a missed opportunity, as 9.5 million students attend school in rural contexts. While these districts face distinct challenges, like funding gaps and teacher shortages, they also possess an abundance of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and community spirit.
No one understands rural schools better than the educators and leaders who live there. Envisioning Rural Futures was a one-year initiative that connected rural educators, workforce leaders, and STEM researchers to turn bold research into real-world practice. The initiative leveraged local expertise to solve key challenges in K–12 STEM education. By honoring and elevating local expertise, the initiative proved how rural ingenuity can drive lasting progress in STEM learning and bolster rural communities.
Our Goals
The goals for this project are to:
Create Solutions
Identify opportunities for place-based learning that connect the classroom to the local economy.
Build a Roadmap
Produce a practical summary and a set of priority questions to reinvigorate STEM education in rural areas nationwide.
In 2026, Envisioning Rural Futures participants…
- Participated in a virtual convening, exchanging ideas and brainstorming novel approaches to rural STEM education.
- Had the opportunity to further collaborate and advance rural STEM education projects.
- Were part of a new network of rural practitioners and researchers that advance knowledge in rural STEM education practices.
Our Team
