Goals

The goals of the LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research support the following strategic goals of Texas State University:
• Texas State Strategic Plan Goal 3 - Provide premier student-centered educational experiences that foster retention and success.
• Texas State Strategic Plan Goal 4 - Enrich our learning and working environment by attracting and supporting a more diverse faculty, staff, and student body.
• Texas State Diversity Plan Working Principle D - Leveraging the benefits of a diverse community in the creation of high-quality learning and working environments.
• College of Education's Strategic Plan Goal 2 and the College of Science and Engineering's Strategic Plan Goal 5 - Supporting STEM education.
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Research Goals
Research is a priority of the LBJ Institute. To achieve its research goals, the institute will:
Support faculty interdisciplinary and collaborative teaching, research and service activities, bringing together professionals from the sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics and education to share expertise and knowledge from their fields.
Investigate the effectiveness of innovations in the fields of STEM education.
Inform researchers, teachers, scientists and policymakers by publishing research and other materials to support continued improvement in both understanding and outcomes in the field.
Publish STEM education whitepapers commissioned by the LBJ Institute and guide interested faculty to contribute to peer-reviewed STEM education journals and present their research findings at state and national STEM education conferences.
Seek external funding and support other university grant-writers in efforts aimed at conducting K–20 STEM education research.
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Education Goals
The LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research has established the following goals for enhancing STEM education in Texas:
Organize and share STEM resources for teachers and faculty via a website.
Develop innovative new curriculum materials, use of technology, and professional development approaches to improve STEM education efforts.
Increase student, community, and teacher excitement for learning STEM.
Provide professional development to better prepare K–12 teachers and university faculty in the crucial STEM areas of inquiry, active learning, project-based and problem-based learning, integrated technology and integrated subjects.
Secure external funding to support K–20 outreach and teacher/faculty professional development.