Collaborative Research: Engaging Adolescents through Collaboration on Simulated STEM Career Scenarios and Mathematics Activities

合作研究：通过合作模拟 STEM 职业场景和数学活动来吸引青少年

• 批准号: 2048985
• 负责人: Daniel Heck
• 金额: $ 65.2万
• 依托单位: Horizon Research Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-07-01 至 2024-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2048985&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Engaging; Adolescents; through

Employment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and attainment in STEM education need to reflect better the diversity of US population demographics. This disparity is especially concerning given projected shortfalls in skilled workers for jobs in STEM fields. This project will lead to the creation of virtual simulations of peer collaboration in STEM fields, designed for use by adolescents. Practice with these simulations will help adolescents build collaborative skills and career interest in STEM fields, especially those that use mathematics and require strong teamwork. By creating an innovative simulation to support mathematics collaborative skills development and STEM career identities, and grounding its use in informal learning environments that capitalize on youths’ cultural assets, this project will increase the likelihood that students historically underrepresented in STEM careers will persist in the STEM career pipeline. The project’s work will result in three simulation modules, program materials supporting their use in informal learning environments, and initial research evidence about their implementation and impacts. The simulations will feature authentic performance settings of STEM career scenarios with opportunities for repeated application of mathematical knowledge and collaborative skills. Simulation players will interact with virtual partners, receiving feedback to improve performance and emphasize the value of mathematics and collaboration in STEM careers. Adapted from an artificial intelligence platform used in healthcare training, the simulations’ virtual partners and their dialog will be based on recordings of mathematics collaboration in secondary school classrooms. Simulation content and supports will be informed by staff from strategic partners, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center (MPSC) and LatinxEd, that provide STEM-focused programming to African American, Latinx, and future first-generation college students. Six African American and Latinx STEM Career Partners will ground the simulations in authentic mathematics and collaborative industry practices that appeal to student users. A total of 96 African American and Latinx adolescents, and adolescents who are potential first-generation college students will serve as play-testers. An additional 80 participants enrolled in the strategic partners’ programs will engage in field-testing: playing each of three simulations, generating user data, and completing a transfer task of collaborative skills in mathematics and self-report surveys about their STEM career interests and aspirations. Field-test data will be analyzed using multi-level models for nested data and repeated measures. Qualitative data collection will include observations of play and field testing, and interviews with program staff and industry consultants. Thematic analysis will inform curricular supports and improve implementation utility and feasibility. This project is funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）领域的就业和STEM教育领域的成就需要更好地反映美国人口人群的多样性。这种差距特别关注熟练工人在STEM领域的工作的预计缺口。该项目将导致创建用于STEM领域的同伴协作的虚拟模拟，该模拟旨在由青少年使用。通过这些模拟进行练习将帮助青少年在STEM领域建立协作技能和职业兴趣，尤其是那些使用数学并需要强大团队合作的人。通过创建创新的模拟来支持数学协作技能发展和STEM职业身份，并将其在非正式学习环境中使用，以利用年轻人的文化资产，该项目将增加学生在STEM Careers中史无前例的学生在STEM职业生涯中持续存在的可能性。该项目的工作将导致三个模拟模块，支持其在非正式学习环境中使用的程序材料以及有关其实施和影响的初步研究证据。这些模拟将以STEM职业场景的真实性能设置为特色，并有机会重复应用数学知识和协作技能。模拟玩家将与虚拟合作伙伴互动，收到反馈以提高性能并强调数学和协作在STEM职业中的价值。该模拟的虚拟合作伙伴及其对话是根据用于医疗保健培训的人工智能平台改编的，将基于中学教室中数学合作的录音。模拟内容和支持将由战略合作伙伴，莫尔黑德天文馆和科学中心（MPSC）和拉丁裔的员工告知，并为非洲裔美国人，拉丁裔和未来的第一代大学生提供注重STEM的编程。六个非洲裔美国人和拉丁裔STEM职业合作伙伴将基础对吸引学生用户的真实数学和协作行业实践的模拟。共有96名非裔美国人和拉丁裔青少年，以及潜在的第一代大学生的青少年将作为游戏测试。参加战略合作伙伴计划的另外80名参与者将参与现场测试：播放三个模拟，生成用户数据，并完成数学协作技能的转移任务以及有关其STEM职业兴趣和愿望的自我报告调查。现场测试数据将使用嵌套数据和重复度量的多级模型进行分析。定性数据收集将包括对游戏和现场测试的观察以及对计划人员和行业顾问的访谈。主题分析将为课程支持和改进实施实施效用和可行性提供信息。该项目是由学生和教师（ITEST）计划的创新技术经验资助的，该计划支持对实践，计划要素，环境，环境和过程的理解，从而有助于增加学生对科学，技术，工程和数学和数学（STEM）的知识和兴趣的促进知识和兴趣（STEM）以及通过ICT的信息（ICT）奖，以反映了NSF的启动奖，并反映了DEEM的宣传，并证明了该奖项。和更广泛的影响审查标准。