An Informed Approach to Improving Quantitative Literacy and Mitigating Math Anxiety in Undergraduates through Introductory Science Courses

智力价值：该项目正在开发一种双重方法，通过(1)研究如何通过入门科学评估和提高学生的定量素养，以及(2)教育其他大学教师提高定量素养的必要性，同时训练他们在自己的课堂上解决问题。虽然计算能力对于理解科学至关重要，但没有数据表明在一个学期的课程中，科学入门是否可以用来提高学生的计算能力。该项目与皮马社区学院合作，从普通教育天文学入门课程开始，研究如何利用非专业科学入门课程来提高学生对数字和数学推理技能的舒适度和能力。这些技能包括图表阅读、比例、百分比、概率和数字感。这项研究对于了解大学生的基本定量素养在哪些方面不足，以及是否可以通过科学课程提高素养和建立技能具有重要意义。更广泛的影响：该项目正在利用广泛的教学经验——在正式和非正式环境中，从初中到成人学习者，以及在各种科学学科——和教育研究，为科学入门课程的教师开发一个讲习班。这个研讨会提供了方法，课程材料和教育工具，教师需要帮助提高他们在课堂上的定量素养。通过提高人们对数学文盲的生活后果的认识，并提供经过测试的课程材料和旨在帮助培养定量技能的实用想法，该项目鼓励在科学课堂上强调计算能力，这不仅对学生有好处，也有助于他们学习科学。

Intellectual Merit: The project is developing a two-fold approach to the improvement of quantitative literacy in undergraduate students by (1) studying how students' quantitative literacy can be assessed and improved through the introductory sciences, and (2) educating other university faculty about the need to improve quantitative literacy while training them to address the problem in their own classrooms. While numeracy is essential to understanding science, there are no data on whether introductory science can be used to improve students' numerical ability during a one-semester course. Beginning with the general-education introductory astronomy course, in partnership with Pima Community College, this project is investigating how introductory science classes for non-majors can be used to improve students' comfort and ability with numbers and mathematical reasoning skills. Such skills include graph reading, proportionality, percentages, probability and number sense. This research is important in understanding where basic quantitative literacy among college students is insufficient, and whether literacy can be improved and skills established through science courses. Broader Impacts: The project is taking advantage of extensive teaching experience - in formal and informal settings, from junior high to adult learners, and in a variety of scientific disciplines - and educational research to develop a workshop for instructors of introductory science courses. This workshop provides the methods, curricular materials, and educational tools faculty need to help improve quantitative literacy in their classrooms. By increasing awareness regarding the life consequences of quantitative illiteracy and by providing tested curricular materials and practical ideas designed to help develop quantitative skills, the project is encouraging an emphasis on numeracy in the science classroom that serves students well by itself and also helps them learn the science.