PGE/RES/PLN: How does Technology Affect Gender Equity in Science Education? A Retrospective and Prospective Study

在过去的十年里，密歇根州立大学（MSU）的各种课程都使用了计算机辅助个性化方法（CAPA）系统，这是一种网络工具，旨在促进和改进作业、测验和考试的方式，并在大量招生的课程中评分（E.Kashy等人，1993）。教师使用该系统为班上的每个学生生成唯一的作业。然后，系统就概念理解和解决方案的正确性向学生（和教师）提供即时反馈，并允许学生重新编写不正确的解决方案。最近对物理导论课程数据的分析表明，女性尤其可能受益于这些系统的广泛使用（D. Kashy, Albertelli， E. Kashy, & Thoennessen; 2001）。密歇根州立大学将进行一项有两个目标的规划研究：1。检查来自过去使用CAPA系统的许多科学领域的课程的庞大数据库，看看在物理学中发现的性别差异是否以及在多大程度上在其他科学领域被发现。计划一项全面的研究，试图找出在使用这项技术时促进科学、数学和工程教育中的性别平等的关键因素。本研究的课程使用了LON-CAPA系统（Learning Online Network with CAPA），这是一种利用网络技术进行学习和评估的综合工具。除了提供CAPA中工具的改进版本外，它还包括一个内容创作和管理系统，该系统允许教师和机构之间广泛而轻松地交换新的和现有的材料，一个广泛的数据收集和检索系统，以及一个内容交付系统，该系统将提供与NSF国家STEM数字图书馆之间的网关。这项研究将调查使用这种广泛可用和免费的技术是否也是提高妇女在科学课程上成功率的一种工具。

For the past decade, a variety of courses at Michigan State University (MSU) have used the Computer-Assisted Personalized Approach (CAPA) system, a network tool designed to facilitate and improve the way assignments, quizzes, and examinations are delivered and graded in large enrollment courses (E.Kashy et al., 1993). An instructor uses the system to generate unique assignments for each student in a class. The system then provides immediate feedback to students (and instructors) on conceptual understanding and correctness of solutions and allows students to rework incorrect solutions. Recent analyses of data from introductory physics courses suggest that women are particularly likely to benefit from the broader use of such systems (D. Kashy, Albertelli, E. Kashy, & Thoennessen; 2001).MSU will conduct a planning study with two objectives:1. Examine the vast database from courses in many areas of the sciences that have used the CAPA system in the past to see whether and to what degree the gender differences found in physics are found in other science fields.2. Plan a comprehensive study that will attempt to identify the critical elements that promote gender equity in science, mathematics, and engineering education when using this technology.The courses in the study make use of the LON-CAPA system (Learning Online Network with CAPA), an integrated tool that uses network technology for learning and assessment. In addition to providing improved versions of the tools in CAPA, it includes a content authoring and management system that allows new and existing materials to be broadlyand easily exchanged among instructors and institutions, an extensive data collection and retrieval system, and a content delivery system that will provide gateways to and from NSF's National STEM Digital Library.The study will investigate whether the use of this widely available and free technology is also a tool for enhancing the success rate of women in science courses.