Integrating an Artificial Intelligence-Driven, Culturally Responsible Digital Graphic Novel Curriculum into STEM Introductory Biology Courses

将人工智能驱动、对文化负责的数字图画小说课程融入 STEM 生物学入门课程

• 批准号: 2234281
• 负责人: Shayla Williams
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: Albany State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-03-01 至 2026-02-28
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2234281&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Integrating; Artificial; Intelligence; Driven; Culturally

This project aims to serve the national interest by implementing a novel approach to engage and retain students in STEM. Traditional classroom-focused programs often fail to adequately stimulate interest in STEM and STEM-based research, especially for minority groups underrepresented in their pursuit of STEM fields of study. However, hands-on focused classrooms have been shown to increase minority and female participation in STEM. The use of graphic novels is another hands-on, practical proven technique, as such artifacts are a learning medium that combines both text and visuals to improve student performance. However, the creation of a custom graphic novel can be time-consuming. Thus, this project will focus on using an artificial intelligence/natural language processing (AI/NLP) approach to develop a digital graphic novel curriculum that is personalized to the cultural background and challenge level of the user. The target group of students comprises freshman and sophomores taking a Principles of Biology course because the first two years of college are considered potential “leaks” in the STEM pipeline. The proposed research will develop a prototype of the front-end student experience and workflows for digital interaction with a graphic novel curriculum through an intuitive, web-based interface design. An educational curriculum, content, and engaging humor will be integrated with navigation tools to enable transitions into, within, and between different graphical-comedic lessons. The envisioned web app will be developed, tested, and produced on Amazon Web Services. Platform architecture will be composed of three components: electronic data sourcing, student web interface, and a back-end AI engine. This approach will address a paucity of data on the impact of using an effective learning modality such as graphic novels with a predominately historically disadvantaged population in the STEM fields. The success of this project will create a reproducible method for effectively designing, producing, and integrating a customized, culturally responsive graphic novel using an AI/NLP-driven platform into inquiry-based STEM classes, as well as determining its efficacy and impact on student learning gains and STEM course retention. Project findings may have additional implications for increasing minority STEM participation in upper class biology courses and for disciplines outside of biology. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through its Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.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.

该项目旨在通过实施一种新颖的方法来吸引和留住学生，以服务于国家利益。传统的以课堂为中心的项目往往无法充分激发对 STEM 和基于 STEM 的研究的兴趣，特别是对于在追求 STEM 方面代表性不足的少数群体。然而，以实践为重点的课堂已被证明可以增加少数族裔和女性对 STEM 的参与。图画小说的使用是另一种经过实践检验的技术，因为此类作品是一种结合了文本和学习的媒介。提高学生视觉效果然而，定制图画小说的创作可能非常耗时，因此，该项目将专注于使用人工智能/自然语言处理（AI/NLP）方法来开发个性化的数字图画小说课程。用户的文化背景和挑战水平包括新生和参加生物学原理课程的新生，因为大学的前两年被认为是 STEM 管道中的潜在“漏洞”。前端学生的数字交互体验和工作流程通过直观的、基于网络的界面设计的图形小说课程将教育课程、内容和引人入胜的幽默与导航工具相结合，以实现不同图形喜剧课程之间的过渡。在亚马逊网络服务平台架构上开发、测试和生产的系统将由三个组件组成：电子数据源、学生网络界面和后端人工智能引擎。这种方法将解决数据缺乏对使用网络服务的影响。有效的学习方式，例如图画小说该项目的成功将创建一种可重复的方法，使用 AI/NLP 驱动的平台将定制的、文化敏感的图画小说有效地设计、制作和集成到基于探究的 STEM 课程中。以及确定其对学生学习成果和 STEM 课程保留的有效性和影响 项目研究结果可能对增加少数族裔 STEM 参与高年级生物学课程以及生物学以外的学科产生额外影响。发展该项目旨在提高所有学生 STEM 教育的有效性，通过其参与式学生学习轨道，支持有前途的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过评估被认为值得支持。利用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准。