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About

Mercedes McKay is a leading educational researcher whose work centers on STEM learning through innovative, hands-on robotics curricula. Her major contributions lie in designing and evaluating challenge-based robotics programs that integrate science, programming, and engineering concepts for K-12 students. In her highly cited 2015 paper, "Student Learning of STEM Concepts Using a Challenge-based Robotics Curriculum" (11 citations), she demonstrated significant pre- and post-learning gains as student teams designed, built, programmed, and redesigned robots through increasingly sophisticated challenges. Her 2012 work, "Robots Underwater! Learning Science, Engineering and 21st Century Skills" (11 citations), pioneered the use of underwater robotics to create unique learning environments that develop both technical knowledge and critical 21st-century competencies. McKay’s research shows how novel contexts—like underwater challenges—can deepen student engagement and understanding. Her ongoing efforts, including the 2020 paper "Transforming a Middle and High School Robotics Curriculum," continue to shape how robotics is integrated into classrooms, making complex STEM concepts accessible and exciting for young learners.