USDA SBIR PHASE II - SCICAST: Stimulating Community Involvement by Cultivating Screencast Technologies

Rural educational systems continue to show alarming trends with regard to lower student achievement, higher drop-out rates, a declining tax base, less parental support, and fewer school resources. Consequently, rural students typically have less access to lab facilities, fewer Advanced Placement (AP) and distance-learning course offerings, and fewer opportunities to get additional academic help at their time of need. As a result, rural America consistently produces far fewer scientists, doctors, and engineers, and struggles to fill positions that require a highly-skilled, technology-savvy workforce during a time when the nationwide demand for such occupations is at an all-time high. Skilled occupations are critically needed in rural America given current shortages in such industries as healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, and agriculture. Consequently, there is huge need for rural school districts to stimulate greater interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among all ages and enable greater opportunities for academic success among K-12 students. Thankfully, it has been shown that improving community awareness of STEM-related opportunities and providing rural students with greater chances for success in science has a positive effect on education and career opportunities, helps narrow the digital divide, enhances rural prosperity, reduces outmigration, increases broadband adoption, and ultimately returns much of the capital currently being invested in rural youth.The research and development associated with this SBIR Phase II project aligns directly with USDA's Strategic Goal 1: Assist Rural Communities to Create Prosperity so they are Self-Sustaining, Repopulating, and Economically Thriving. The prototype technology that was developed and tested during Phase I was shown to improve comprehension levels especially among learners that struggle with literacy, provide teachers with a better mechanism for generating feedback, and invited parents to learn more about the STEM activities in which their children were involved in school. During Phase II, STEMclips™ will be fully developed and thoroughly examined within rural schools and households that mirror the challenges associated with community shortfalls related to STEM. During this time, Inquiry Technologies, LLC will clearly demonstrate that our instructional technology line will significantly enhance educational efforts that aim to increase achievement levels among K-12 students and pique greater interest in and conversations about STEM among learners of all ages. These Phase II research and development efforts will ultimately provide heightened opportunities for entry into high-tech, well-paid positions that deliver valuable services and improve the economic vitality and overall quality of life among those residing in rural communities.