By Eden Gold, Authority Magazine | Read it >
Providing experiential learning opportunities for students from historically marginalized communities, who are also underrepresented in STEM fields.
The landscape of education is undergoing a profound transformation, propelled by technological advancements, pedagogical innovations, and a deepened understanding of learning diversities. Traditional classrooms are evolving, and new modes of teaching and learning are emerging to better prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. This series will take a look at the groundbreaking work being done across the globe to redefine education. As a part of this interview series, we had the pleasure to interview Jennifer Colvin.
A thought leader in innovative delivery of STEM education, Jennifer Colvin is Learning Undefeated’s Chief Innovation Officer. Jen provides strategic direction of Learning Undefeated’s education programs, develops new initiatives, and leads partnerships with schools and school districts. Jen has built and shaped more than a dozen mobile laboratory programs, beginning with Learning Undefeated’s first lab (called MdBioLab) in 2003. Deeply committed to equity and access to STEM opportunities for all students, Jen has extensive experience developing and delivering informal science education programs, including mobile laboratories, distance and hybrid learning curricula, equipment loan programs, and disaster recovery education programs.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the “backstory” behind what brought you to this particular career path?
Ilove this question because this is definitely a non-traditional career path. I began my career in genomics working in quality assurance at a high-throughput sequencing facility, at the time when we as scientists were just beginning to unravel the mysteries of the human genome. After working in a laboratory environment for several years, I discovered I had a talent for education and began developing curriculum and training employees. Genomics was a booming field (maybe you’ve heard of the Human Genome Project?) and we needed to spread the word about these new, amazing career opportunities, so students could study, learn, and possibly even choose to work in this new field. I was the first educator to teach onboard MdBioLab, a 45-foot tractor-trailer that visited high schools across Maryland to help students learn about biotechnology careers here in our state.
From then on, I realized that bringing education opportunities right to the school parking lot was an incredibly rewarding way to reach students and get them excited about career opportunities they never knew existed. Since then, I have personally designed mobile laboratory programs on platforms from busses to trailers to shipping containers, including our newest innovation: immersive learning theaters that combine Hollywood-style special effects and video game elements with hands-on learning. This job is amazing because I get to combine my passion for building things, looking at problems in new ways, and never being satisfied with good enough.
Can you briefly share with our readers why you are an authority in the education field?
Although it doesn’t come naturally to me to shout about myself from the rooftops, I am proud to say that Learning Undefeated is driving STEM education in communities across the country and has prepared more than 1.5 million students for STEM careers. Mobile and immersive STEM education platforms — known as mobile laboratories — that I have designed are being used from Texas to Maine to connect K-12 students with meaningful STEM experiences. These traveling programs link students to career pathways and onramps where they can earn a living family wage. Custom-built trailers, busses and shipping containers range from laboratory-grade spaces to immersive learning theaters where students collaborate and work together to solve interactive puzzles based on the practices of science and engineering.
As a leader, I want to nurture a culture of innovation and give our educators the creative freedom to build resources that plant the seed of knowledge in students, water the seed, and help it grow. Success stories from our own programs and our partnerships include the Texas Mobile STEM Lab with the Texas Education Agency, Kalamazoo RESA Career Connect, Educate Maine’s BIOLAB, and an exciting new collaboration with the University of Arizona‘s American Indian Research Center for Health (expected 2025). These collaborative partnerships leverage our deep experience with a community’s cultural knowledge to build impactful programs. Learning Undefeated’s programs are increasing student graduation rates, impacting career choices, and building subject matter confidence that empowers students.
Please tell us all about the innovative educational approaches that you are using. What is the specific problem that you aim to solve, and how have you addressed it?
Learning Undefeated is driving race and gender equity in STEM through experiential and deep-impact learning experiences for students from under resourced communities.
Through innovative and experiential education programs for grades K-12, we are sparking interest in STEM careers, building the workforce that will drive the innovation economy, and bridging school, community, health and business.
We are achieving the mission through three goals:
- Creating STEM experiences that change lives through hands-on learning, building awareness, and engaging communities.
- Diversifying the pipeline of STEM professionals who will fill the jobs of tomorrow, by inspiring students to imagine their own success.
- Providing experiential learning opportunities for students from historically marginalized communities, who are also underrepresented in STEM fields.
In what ways do you think your approach might shape the future of education? What evidence supports this?
Growing up in a small town, I deeply understand the themes that are repeated across so many rural communities we work with: small budgets and vast distances mean that hands-on learning opportunities are few and far between. I believe that mobile laboratories have the possibility to transform access to STEM topics and techniques for students in rural and historically marginalized communities. Traveling programs level the playing field by introducing students and teachers to new and exciting content, and allowing the cost-sharing of hardware, software, and modern equipment that schools might otherwise not be able to afford. In isolated communities, mobile laboratories also model STEM careers, allowing students to meet professionals and learn about jobs they may not have considered. Our approach aims to educate, engage, and provide resources for schools and students about the depth and diversity of STEM career choices available, as well as connecting students with mentors to help them navigate their career path when graduating and beyond. In addition to providing equitable access to these high-paying jobs for students from all backgrounds, I believe this approach will result in increased innovation in STEM fields across the board due to more diverse perspectives in these job roles.
How do you measure the impact of your innovative educational practices on students’ learning and well-being?
Formative and summative evaluations measure program impact on teacher and student achievement, content knowledge, motivation, attitudes and confidence levels towards STEM topics, awareness of STEM careers, and interest in pursuing a STEM career. Outcomes are measured and evaluated using various methods such as classroom observation, interviews, and pre/post surveys.
In addition to STEM content knowledge gains, we are shaping the way students see themselves in STEM careers and how they envision their futures. After completing a Learning Undefeated program, 61% of students were more interested in finishing high school, and 64% of students were more interested in attending college. Our immersive learning environments also use technology to track student engagement and achievement. The amount of time to complete a task, the number of attempts, and collaboration among teams are a few examples data collected by software to help form opinions about student achievement and engagement in these immersive learning environments.
One of the biggest indicators of success is the continued demand for our programs. Year after year, hundreds of teachers and schools request that Learning Undefeated’s programs return to their campuses. For example, last school year we had more than 500 schools apply for our Texas Mobile STEM lab program! This continued support from teachers and schools has allowed us to expand from one mobile laboratory to seven, with nine(!) more being built to hit the road in the upcoming year.
What challenges have you faced in implementing your educational innovations, and how have you overcome them?
Weather is the biggest issue that is out of our hands when operating mobile STEM labs. We can plan contingency plans for our contingency plans but sometimes Mother Nature likes to see how well we can adapt. This includes unexpected significant snowfall burying a lab or making the expandable units difficult to close without removing snow by hand, a spring thaw that draws a tractor trailer into deep mud, heavy rain finding the smallest hole in the roof or flooding from the group up, and triple digit temperatures forcing air conditioning units beyond their capacities. Again, we’re always learning as we’re going!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My favorite quote is “Make it Matter” as I believe if you’re going to do something, you ought to do it well. No one wants to do work just for the sake of doing work! In fact, this motto is printed on the door of our office so that everyone sees it each day as they are leaving, heading out into the world to amazing things.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
The Learning Undefeated website or our Instagram at learningundftd.
Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!
