Overview

In spring 2023, WestEd conducted one of the largest national surveys of science teachers using STEMscopes Science. With responses from 6,540 educators across 49 states, the study provides a comprehensive look at how teachers perceive the curriculum’s impact on instruction, student learning, and classroom engagement.

Background

STEMscopes Science is built on the 5E+IA learning model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate, Intervention, and Acceleration—and is designed to support hands-on, inquiry-based learning from kindergarten through high school. To better understand how the curriculum supports real classroom needs, Accelerate Learning partnered with WestEd, a nationally recognized nonprofit research agency, to administer a rigorous teacher perception survey.

Methods

WestEd distributed a survey to STEMscopes Science teachers nationwide where 6,540 teacher responses formed the analytic sample.

The survey captured:

• Teacher demographics

• Years of experience with STEMscopes

• Frequency of classroom use

• Perceptions of student benefits

• Perceptions of teacher benefits

• Helpfulness of individual curriculum components

• Reasons for adopting the program

WestEd also conducted two comparative analyses:

• Teachers with 5 years or fewer vs. 6+ years of experience

• Teachers with high usage vs. low usage of STEMscopes Science

Key Findings

1. Strong, Widespread Teacher Approval

Across nearly every survey item, teachers reported overwhelmingly positive perceptions:

• 92% agree STEMscopes increases students’ science knowledge and reasoning.

• 91% say it helps students “learn science by doing science.”

• 90% say their students enjoy using STEMscopes Science.

2. Clear Gains for Teachers

Teachers highlight benefits for their own practice:

• 94% say STEMscopes supports the belief that all students can learn science.

• Nearly 90% want continued access to STEMscopes next year.

3. Highly Rated Instructional Components

Teachers rated major curriculum elements as helpful or very helpful, including:

• Student Activities (87%)

• Picture Vocabulary (88%)

• Multiple Choice Assessments (88%)

• Guided Practice & Concept Attainment Quiz (87%)

4. Hands-On Learning Drives Adoption

Top reasons teachers chose STEMscopes:

1. Online accessibility (56%)

2. State standard alignment (55%)

3. Hands-on, experiential learning (52%)

4. Organized, standards-based structure (51%)

5. Higher Usage = Stronger Perceptions

Teachers who used STEMscopes frequently reported:

• Greater perceived student understanding

• Stronger confidence in instructional impact

• Higher recommendations to colleagues

Conclusion

WestEd’s national study demonstrates that STEMscopes Science is widely trusted by teachers, perceived as instructionally effective, and strongly associated with improved student engagement and conceptual understanding. The findings offer robust evidence supporting the curriculum’s impact and highlight clear opportunities to continue strengthening implementation across grade levels.