Embodied Physics for Underrepresented Youth in Multiple Settings is a three-year Research into Practice project that will establish an approach to physics learning, identity development and engagement through dance for Black and Latinx youth in informal settings.

The project’s goals are two-fold: 1) to understand, characterize, and define the relationships between physics learning, identity, and engagement in environments that utilize creative embodied learning approaches; and 2) to develop a robust model for informal STEM learning that provides opportunities for youth to engage with key ideas in physics through dance and embodied activities and culturally responsive participation structures.

We implement activities from our developing learning lab model across a variety of strategically-chosen contexts through an iterative design-based research process. Through this process, we refine the elements of the model to see which most affect implementation and identify the conditions necessary for successful scale-up.

Who we are  

We are diverse group of researchers & educators, from TERC and University of Florida Gainsville.

Dr. Folashade Solomon, PI,
TERC

Dr. Dionne Champion, Co-PI,
University of Florida, Gainsville

Project Team

Jana Borgen, TERC
Christina Silva, Research Associate, TERC
Ada Ren-Mitchell, R&D Specialist, TERC

Design Team

Dr. Stephon Alexander, Physicist
Mariah Steele, Choreographer, Quicksilver Dance
Tracey Wright, Informal Education Independent Consultant

Evaluator

Elizabeth Osche, PERG

Youth Thought Partners

Our Thought Partners help co-design content for the project. They help develop and test activities.

Advisors

Dr. Cheryl Walker  
Dr. Ricardo Nemirovsky  
Dr. Makeeba McCreary  
Dr. Vandana Singh  
Petrina Cherry  
Dr. Jasmine Johnson  
Dr. Ann Rosebery  
Dr. Merritt Moore 

Partner Dance Sites

  • Roxbury Center (Site Director Andrea Major),  
  • OrigiNation (Site Director Shaumba Dibinga),  
  • Jose Mateo Ballet (Site Director Magdelena Gyftopoulos),  
  • and STEM from Dance (Site Director Yamilee Toussaint Beach).  
  • PI Dr. Champion will lead implementation of these activities with DancExcel. 

Funding 

Embodied Physics: Using the Lenses of Physics and Dance to Investigate Learning Engagement, and Identity Development for Black and Latinx Youth is funded by the National Science Foundation through Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) award number 2115921. 

About TERC 

TERC is a nonprofit made up of teams of math and science education and research experts dedicated to innovation and creative problem solving. At the frontier of theory and practice, TERC’s work encompasses research, content and curriculum development, technology innovation, professional development, and program evaluation. TERC has a passion for social justice and strives to create level playing fields for all learners, reaching more than three million students every year. To learn more, please visit www.terc.edu.