Texas A&M Partnership Brings Hands-On STEM Learning to Classrooms

Researchers equip science teachers with tools to spark student curiosity

Sixth-grade science teachers in Bryan Independent School District are transforming how they teach this fall through a research-driven partnership with the Texas A&M University Institute for Technology-Infused Learning (TITIL).

Bryan ISD science teachers collaborate with a Texas A&M mentor during a STEM workshop focused on coding and hands-on model building.

The collaboration introduces STEM+C programming, which combines traditional science concepts with coding activities and hands-on model building. Teachers worked alongside undergraduate mentors from Texas A&M’s College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences, who provided practical experience from previous program implementations, helping teachers see how technology and hands-on learning actually work together in practice. Each teacher received complete curriculum packages with lesson plans, student materials and implementation guides for immediate classroom use.

The institute has spent four years developing this program, creating 13 different science curriculum units and working with schools throughout the College Station area, reaching 25 classes and nearly 600 students. Dr. Rebecca Schlegel, interim director of TITIL, points to the program’s broader educational impact, as students can develop multiple skills simultaneously, such as analytical thinking, technological literacy and creative problem-solving.

Texas A&M STEM partnership mentors demonstrate LED coding during a Bryan ISD teachers training session.

The approach also connects multiple disciplines in ways that mirror how STEM functions in the real world, while also accommodating different learning styles. Students who learn best through firsthand engagement can succeed alongside those who thrive with traditional methods.

Bryan ISD Science Coordinator Lisa Smith participated in the training alongside classroom teachers. She observed how the University team worked with the educators during the hands-on session. “The presenters were good and so patient with the teachers,” Smith said. “They had them fully engaged and excited about using the materials with their students.”

The Texas A&M Institute for Technology-Infused Learning is housed in our Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC). To learn more about the institute’s research and partnerships, click on the following link: https://titil.tamu.edu/

For media inquiries, contact Ruben Hidalgo.