Engaging the 21st-Century Learner in Collaborative, Cross-curricular Literacy

Through a prior project, the team developed a platform to engage groups of students in simulated missions where they collaboratively create solutions to address real-world STEM-related problems. This project is fully developing a cross-curricular literacy intervention for weekly use across English-Language Arts, STEM, and social studies grade 5 classes. The literacy-enhanced missions will be computer-based experiences with storylines and character voice overs, graphics, and a gamification mechanic to engage students in collaborative, real-world scenarios requiring grade-level literacy skills, such as reading informational texts and informative and explanatory writing, in the context of high-interest STEM and social studies topics