The BESST REU: Promoting soil science learning and shifts in attitudes toward science
The BESST REU: Promoting soil science learning and shifts in attitudes toward science
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最佳 REU：促进土壤科学学习和科学态度的转变
DOI：
10.1002/nse2.20100
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发表时间：
2023
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Heitman, Joshua L.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Overbay, Amy;Duckworth, Owen;Heitman, Joshua L.
需要强调土壤作为人类与地球之间界面的重要，多方面作用的课程，以吸引来自不同背景的新生。本科生基础和环境土壤科学培训研究经验（BEST REU）网站旨在为来自各种科学，技术，工程和数学学科的本科生提供现代土壤科学的实质性研究经验，同时发展专业和技术技能。在这里，我们检查前五个BEST队列活动前和活动后调查的数据，评估经验对学生的研究技能，土壤科学知识和科学自我效能的影响。结果表明，这两个程序范围内，共同的经验，如我们的地貌野外营地，和具体的，个人的，指导的研究经验是重要的学生的成果。学生经历了他们的能力进行研究，土壤科学知识，并在执行科学任务的信心显着增加。此外，定性数据表明，该计划从根本上影响了学生如何看待自己和理解“做科学”的任务。由REU程序，如BEST提供的经验是有价值的，以帮助学生完善他们的个人目标和沟通和协作的研究内的理解。BEST还帮助学生更好地理解和沟通土壤科学家的作用。
Programs that emphasize the important, multifaceted roles that soils play as the interfaces between humanity and the earth are needed to attract new students from diverse backgrounds. The Basic and Environmental Soil Science Training Research Experience for Undergraduates (BESST REU) site aims to provide undergraduates from a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines with a substantive research experience on modern soil science while developing professional and technical skills. Here, we examine data from the first five BESST cohorts pre‐ and post‐activity surveys, assessing effects of the experience on students’ research skills, knowledge about soil science, and science self‐efficacy. Results suggest that both program‐wide, common experiences, such as our geomorphology field camp, and specific, individual, mentored research experiences were important to student outcomes. Students experienced significant increases in their capacity to conduct research, knowledge about soil science, and confidence in carrying out scientific tasks. Further, qualitative data suggest that the program fundamentally impacted how students saw themselves and understood the task of “doing science.” Experiences provided by REU programs such as BESST are valuable to help students refine their personal goals and understanding of communication and collaboration within research. BESST also helped students to better understand and communicate the role of soil scientists.