The New Science Project: An Introductory Science Reform Effort

新科学项目是由一个教职员工和管理人员组成的团队开发的，因为人们认识到，来自传统上代表人数较少的科学界群体的太多学生进入格林内尔大学，表示希望攻读科学专业，但最终离开了科学专业。这些学生在学术上很有天赋；他们毕业了，但不是理科。董事会和一个由校友组成的特别总统咨询委员会在制定和鼓励这些努力方面也提供了强有力的咨询支持。这些受托人和校友都是理科毕业生，他们积极支持这些活动，他们来到格林内尔，与学生交谈，并提供资金支持。董事会获得支持的一个明显迹象是，他们决定继续进行耗资1530万美元的翻修和扩建格林内尔的科学设施，他们认为这是必要的，以适应科学部的课程和教学改革。新科学项目是格林内尔科学教职员工和管理部门更大范围的改革努力的组成部分，其中包括对教学方法和课程进行重大改革，以及科学设施的翻新和扩建。更大的科学计划改革促进了协作学习，并促进了对一个重要的学习者社区至关重要的思想的沟通和交流。为了实现这一目标，格林内尔的科学教员们在教学方法和内容上都进行了重大变革。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大学文科教育的内在组成部分。新科学项目旨在使所有学生都能学习科学，并增加他们成功的机会。虽然该项目已经并将推出的改革是所有学生都可以选择的选择/服务，但我们针对的是那些在科学界传统上代表性不足的学生。为了鼓励这些学生，我们制定了一个多学科计划，其中包括在所有五个科学系进行课程改革实验，为被邀请的学生在大一之前进行预适应计划，以及获得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平行的一学分讲习班/实验室课程。目前，该计划已进入运行的第三个完整年头，对该计划的评估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肯定是必要的，但没有影响到足够多的学生，需要更好地与入门课程协调；需要在入门课程中获得额外帮助的学生资源有限。课程改革项目，以满足这些课程的需要，并将提供补充的学生援助资源。这项提交给国家科学基金会的提案寻求对第二代改革的支持，这是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、化学和数学入门课程。在新科学项目第一阶段中推出的物理讲习班系列将贯穿整个项目。我们还建议通过一个新的科学学习中心来协调和扩大学生辅导和辅导服务。

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.