The New Science Project: An Introductory Science Reform Effort

新科学项目：介绍性科学改革努力

• 批准号: 9652147
• 负责人: James Swartz
• 金额: $ 19.69万
• 依托单位: Grinnell College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1996
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1996-08-01 至 1999-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9652147&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: New; Science; Project; Introductory; Reform

The New Science Project was developed by a team of faculty and administrators in response to the recognition that too large a number of students from traditionally underrepresented groups in the sciences were entering Grinnell stating a desire to have science majors, but ultimately leaving science. These students were academically talented; they graduated, but not in science. There was also strong advisory support in developing and encouraging these efforts from the Trustees and a special Presidential advisory committee of alumni. This group of Trustees and alumni, who are science graduates, have actively supported these activities by coming to Grinnell and speaking with students, as well as with financial support. A clear indicator of the support received by the Trustees is their decision to go forward with the $15.3 million renovation and the expansion of Grinnell's science facilities, which they agreed was necessary in order to physically accommodate the curricular and pedagogical changes in the science division. The New Science Project is an integral part of a larger division-wide reform effort by Grinnell's science faculty and administration which includes making significant changes in teaching methodologies and the curriculum, coupled with the renovation and expansion of the science facilities. The larger science program reforms promote collaborative learning and foster the communication and the interchange of ideas central to a vital community of learners. In order to achieve this Grinnell's science faculty are introducing significant change in both pedagogy and in content. By coupling creative thought with experimentation, we hope to make the study of science an intrinsic part of the liberal arts education at Grinnell. The New Science Project seeks to make the study of science accessible to all students and to increase their chances of success. While the reforms which the Project has and will introduce are options/services available to all students, we have targeted those students who are traditionally underrepresented in the sciences. To encourage these students, we have developed a multi-disciplinary program that includes curricular reform experiments in all five science departments, a pre-orientation program for invited students prior to their freshman year, and opportunities for early research experiences. Curricular reforms consisted primarily of one-credit workshop/laboratory courses parallel to the four-credit introductory courses. Now in its third full year of operation, assessment of the program has identified directions for further improvement. Workshops and seminars in Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics were definitely needed, but were not affecting enough students, and needed better coordination with the introductory course; and students needing extra assistance in introductory courses had limited resources. Curricular reform projects, have emerged to meet these curricular needs and supplementary student assistance resources will be provided. This proposal to the NSF seeks support for the second generation of reforms as part of Grinnell College's New Science Project. We propose development of completely revised introductory courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Math. The Physics Workshop series, introduced under the first phase of the New Science Project, will continue throughout the project. We also propose the coordination and expansion of student tutoring and mentoring services through a new Science Learning Center.

新科学项目是由教职员工和管理人员团队开发的，旨在回应这样的认识：太多来自传统上在科学领域代表性不足的群体的学生进入格林内尔，表示希望主修科学，但最终离开了科学。这些学生在学术上很有天赋；他们毕业了，但不是科学专业。受托人和校友特别总统咨询委员会也为发展和鼓励这些努力提供了强有力的咨询支持。这群理科毕业生的受托人和校友通过来到格林内尔与学生交谈以及提供财政支持，积极支持这些活动。受托人获得支持的一个明显标志是他们决定继续进行 1,530 万美元的格林内尔科学设施翻修和扩建，他们认为这是必要的，以便在物理上适应科学部门的课程和教学变化。 新科学项目是格林内尔科学学院和行政部门更大范围的改革努力的一个组成部分，其中包括对教学方法和课程进行重大改变，以及科学设施的翻新和扩建。更大规模的科学项目改革促进协作学习，促进对重要学习者群体至关重要的沟通和思想交流。为了实现这一目标，格林内尔的科学系正在教学法和内容上进行重大变革。通过将创造性思维与实验相结合，我们希望使科学研究成为格林内尔文科教育的固有组成部分。新科学项目旨在让所有学生都能学习科学并增加他们成功的机会。虽然该项目已经和将要引入的改革是向所有学生提供的选择/服务，但我们的目标是那些传统上在科学领域代表性不足的学生。为了鼓励这些学生，我们制定了一项多学科计划，其中包括所有五个科学系的课程改革实验、为受邀学生在大一前提供的预定向计划以及早期研究经验的机会。课程改革主要包括与四学分入门课程并行的一学分研讨会/实验室课程。现在已进入运营的第三个完整年头，对该计划的评估已确定了进一步改进的方向。生物、化学和数学方面的讲习班和研讨会确实需要，但影响的学生不够多，需要与入门课程更好地协调；入门课程需要额外帮助的学生资源有限。课程改革项目的出现是为了满足这些课程需求，并将提供补充的学生援助资源。 向美国国家科学基金会提交的这项提案寻求对第二代改革的支持，作为格林内尔学院新科学项目的一部分。我们建议开发完全修订的生物学、化学和数学入门课程。在新科学项目第一阶段引入的物理研讨会系列将在整个项目中继续进行。我们还建议通过新的科学学习中心协调和扩大学生辅导和指导服务。