Middle School Science Readiness Program

该项目侧重于小学和中学之间的关键落点，通常被认为是学生在STEM领域取得成功和兴趣的第一个主要障碍。为了帮助小学生成功地过渡到中学科学，首席研究员将设计、实施和测试一个课后项目模型（中学科学准备项目），旨在支持这一关键时刻的科学教学。该模型使用了现实世界中科学、技术、工程和数学领域长达一年的活动，如航空航天（NASA-Johnson航天中心）、能源（石化工业）和生物技术（德克萨斯医疗中心）。来自休斯顿8所高中的16名教师和320名学生将参加这个课外活动。通过与休斯顿独立学区（HISD）的长期合作，贝勒医学院（BCM）将聘请一个跨学科项目团队（例如，来自STEM学科的大学教职员工、教育心理学家、数据管理人员、在线教育提供商、校长、教师领导和家长）来开发模型项目。在STEM学习体验中，该项目嵌入了支持STEM相关领域职业意识的语言和社交技能。PI分别使用准实验设计和外部评估器进行方法和评估。该项目将通过BCM获奖网站“BioEd Online”（www.bioedonline.org）和“K8 Science”（www.k8science.org），在当地和全国范围内免费传播这一课外活动模式。

This project focuses on the critical drop-off point between elementary and middle school, often identified as the first major roadblock to the success and interest of students in STEM. To help elementary students successfully transition to middle school science, the Principal Investigator will design, implement and test a model after-school program (Middle School Science Readiness program) aimed at supporting science teaching and learning at this critical juncture. The model uses year-long activities in real-world science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields such as aerospace (NASA-Johnson Space Center), energy (petrochemical industry), and biotechnology (Texas Medical Center). Sixteen teachers and 320 students from eight high need elementary schools in Houston will participate in this after-school program. Through a longstanding partnership with the Houston Independent School District (HISD), Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) will engage an interdisciplinary project team (e.g., university faculty members from STEM disciplines, educational psychologist, data managers, online education providers, principals, teacher leaders, and parents) to develop the model program. Within the STEM learning experiences, the project embeds language and social skills that support career awareness in STEM related fields. The PI uses a quasi-experimental design and an external evaluator for methodology and assessment, respectively. The project will disseminate the model after-school program without charge, locally and nationally via BCM award-winning websites, BioEd Online (www.bioedonline.org), and K8 Science (www.k8science.org).