Building on the award-winning Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning (ML-PBL) curriculum, a dynamic new initiative—Collaborate Science (ColSci)—is set to transform science and literacy education for 4th graders across Alabama and the rural south.
A $10 million Education Innovation and Research grant from the U.S. Department of Education is funding this ambitious project, a collaboration between Michigan State University, Alabama A&M University, Accelerate Learning, Inc., and WestEd. Over the next five years, the ColSci curriculum will be rolled out and rigorously evaluated in 80 schools—both rural and urban—reaching over 3,300 students.
ColSci brings science to life by connecting classroom learning to the real-world environments students know and care about. Each lesson taps into local phenomena, sparking curiosity and increasing engagement by making science personal. And it’s not just science—students will also see gains in literacy, thanks to ColSci’s integrated, hands-on approach.
The curriculum is adaptable to local environments, boosting achievement by making learning relevant and meaningful. Teachers will be provided ongoing professional learning to help them bring project-based learning to life, while innovative AI scoring models will help refine instruction and support student success.
For more information about this project, contact Principal Investigator Dr. Namsoo Shin at namsoo@msu.edu.
