STEM Education Research Group

External Grants and Contracts (Total = $7,829,321)

Puvirajah, A. (2020 – 2022). Newly Arrived Refugee Children’s Computational Thinking through Informal Learning Experiences: An Exploration of STEM Identity Development and Community Building. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Awarded $62,828. Role: Principal Investigator.

Neil, N. & Puvirajah, A. (2019 – 2020). Supporting Participation of Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Informal STEM Experiences. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Awarded $24,662. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Neil, N. & Puvirajah, A. (2018 – 2020). An Exploration of an Informal Learning Context on STEM Engagement and Social Skills Development in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Awarded $66,613. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A. (2016 – 2019). A Reciprocal Model for Teaching and Learning Computational Competencies. National Science Foundation (subcontract). Awarded $10,900. Role: Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A., Brantley-Dias, L., & Barrett-Williams, D. (Summer 2016 – Spring 2017). Integrating Elementary Physical Science and Mathematics through Three Dimensional Learning. Funded by No Child Left Behind: Improving Teacher Quality, U.S. Department of Education. Awarded $37,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

Kelly-Jackson, C. & Puvirajah, A. (Summer 2016 – Spring 2017). 3-D Science in the School Yard: Building Capacity for the Next Generation. Funded by No Child Left Behind: Improving Teacher Quality, U.S. Department of Education. Awarded $46,000. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A., Monsaas, J., & Aponte, L. (Summer 2015 – Spring 2018). A Reciprocal Model for Teaching and Learning Computational Competencies – Connecting Pre-Service Teachers and Urban Latino Youth. National Science Foundation. Awarded $771,809. Role: Principal Investigator.

Calandra, B., Puvirajah, A., & Renken, M. (Summer 2015 – Spring 2018). Acquainting Metro Atlanta Youth with STEM. National Science Foundation. Awarded $537,514. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A. & Morris-Robbins, C. (Spring 2014 – Spring 2015). Our Changing World: Exploring Crosscutting Concepts in Earth, Life, and Physical Sciences through Energy Flow. Funded by No Child Left Behind: Improving Teacher Quality, U.S. Department of Education. Awarded $38,571. Role: Principal Investigator.

Chahine, I., Puvirajah, A., & Jiang, Y. (Spring 2014 – Spring 2015). Scaffolding Mathematics and Science Teachers Practices to Enhance Level Students’ Computational Thinking Skills Using Project- based Learning. Funded by No Child Left Behind: Improving Teacher Quality, U.S. Department of Education. Awarded $43,631. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A., Morris-Robbins, C., Russell, N., & Stephens, K. (Summer 2013 – Spring 2014). Our Changing World: Exploring Crosscutting Ideas Regarding Earth and Life through Time. Funded by No Child Left Behind: Improving Teacher Quality. Awarded $48,379. Role: Principal Investigator.

Thompson, W., Puvirajah, A., Calandra, B., & Harmon, S. (Fall 2013 – Summer 2014). After-School All-Stars Atlanta. Funded by the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children’s Services. Awarded $1,258,000. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Thompson, W., Puvirajah, A., Calandra, B., & Harmon, S. (Fall 2012 – Summer 2013). After-School All-Stars Atlanta. Funded by the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children’s Services. Awarded $950,000. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Internally Funded Awards (Total = $689,980)

Puvirajah, A. (Fall 2022). Conference Travel Support – American Educational Research Association. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $3,000.

Puvirajah, A. (Fall 2021). Conference Travel Support – National Association for Research in Science Teaching. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $3,000.

Puvirajah, A. (Fall 2021 – Spring 2022). Examining COVID-19 Tweets in the Post-Truth Era: A Check on Canadians’ Scientific Literacy. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $7,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

Namukasa, I., Puvirajah, A., Tarc, P., Arku, G., & Tieku, T. (Winter 2021 – Fall 2023). STEAM maker education in resource-poor communities in London, Ontario. University of Western Ontario Social Action Project. Awarded $100,000. Role: Collaborator.

Malkin, A., Lee, G., Neil, N., Kim, M, & Puvirajah. (Winter 2021 – Fall 2023). Adaptive Learning in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities Inherent in Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic. University of Western Ontario Social Action Project. Awarded $100,000. Role: Collaborator.

Gardiner, R., Viczko, M., Bauman, C., Li, J., Puvirajah, A., Pacini-Ketchabaw, V., Myers, P., Vanden-Boomen, D., & Trewartha, B. (Fall 2020 – Fall 2023). Creating a Signature Pedagogy for Western’s EdD. University of Western Ontario Social Action Project. Awarded $99,640. Role: Collaborator.

Neil, N., Puvirajah, A., Bax, K., King, C., & Archibald, L. (Fall 2020 – Fall 2023). Faculty of Education Virtual Family Resource Hub. University of Western Ontario Social Action Project. Awarded $85,000. Role: Collaborator.

Puvirajah, A. (Fall 2019 – Spring 2021). Examining the Extent of Interprofessional Collaboration Among Health Education Students: A Pilot Study. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $5,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A. (Fall 2019). Conference Travel Support – National Association for Research in Science Teaching. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $3,000.

Puvirajah, A. (Spring 2019). Conference Travel Support – European Science Education Research Association. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $3,000.

Puvirajah, A. (Fall 2018). Faculty Research Development Fund – Development of a Multidimensional Reflection Rubric. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $2390.

Puvirajah, A. (Spring 2018). Conference Travel Support – Association for Science Teacher Education. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $3,200.

Puvirajah, A. (Fall 2017). Conference Travel Support – Women and Girls in Georgia. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $1,830.

Puvirajah, A. (February 2017 – January 2019). Examining Newly Arrived Students’ Informal Learning Experiences with Computational Thinking. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $25,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A. (January 2017 – December 2018). Engaging Newly Arrived Students in STEM through Informal Learning Experiences. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $4,400. Role: Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A. (Spring 2017). Establishing a Research Program on Video Facilitated Reflection at Western through Dyadic Mentor-Mentee Relationship. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $2,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

Puvirajah, A. (Spring 2017). Conference Travel Support – National Association for Research in Science Teaching. University of Western Ontario. Awarded $2,556.

Puvirajah, A. (Summer 2013). Evaluation of Academy for Future Teachers. Funded by Georgia State University’s Academy for Future Teachers. Awarded $6,000. Role: Consultant.

Puvirajah, A. (2013). A Reciprocal Model for Teaching and Learning Computational Competencies: Connecting Pre-Service Teachers and Urban Youth through REAL Experiences – Proposal Development. Awarded $5000. Role: Principal Investigator.