A Pilot Study to Examine Online Idea Jams as a Dissemination Mechanism for Educational Innovations

该项目是关于使用在线互动技术(IdeaJam--http://www.elguji.com/))作为治疗用人单位社区内部沟通机制的有效性的试验性研究。这一工具正被用来确定和促进由理工学院资助的成熟采用的创新，并收集有关STEM教员的教学和教学需求的信息。预期结果包括协作确定STEM讲师可以轻松采用并由专业协会或网络和印刷出版商推广的高度感兴趣的创新；开发人员可以用来改进或完善其创新的反馈；围绕一项创新有相同兴趣的讲师之间开展合作；以及产生可能有助于确定新的资助机会的新想法、研究途径和趋势。该软件工具支持Idea Jam，这是在线会议的扩展版本，具有通常用于安排现场或流媒体演示的“主舞台”，更重要的是，具有高水平互动和参与的机制。该项目正在组织两个创意即兴演讲，一个关注所有STEM领域，另一个专注于工程和数学。每场活动将持续一到两天，由三到四名创新者现场或录音演示。项目调查人员正在使用既定的审查标准来选择要介绍的具体创新，并通过直接电子邮件活动邀请TUES PI以及支持STEM教育创新的各种组织的成员提交想法。Idea Jam软件收集的数据以及通过焦点小组收集的数据正被用来向参与者提供关于如何促进和改进他们的创新的反馈。由独立评估员领导的评估工作正在使用IdeaJam指标、Jam后调查和后续访谈，以确定该方法是否适合和有效地作为STEM教育界的传播工具。该项目的更广泛影响包括一个低成本、有效的机制，以加强STEM教育界，并以一种允许资源不足的学院和大学充分参与的方式加强创新教育方法的传播。

The project is a pilot study on the effectiveness of using online, interactive technology (IdeaJam© -- http://www.elguji.com/) as a mechanism for communicating within the TUES community. This tool is being used to identify and promote TUES funded innovations that are ripe for adoption and to gather information about the teaching and pedagogical needs of STEM faculty members. Expected outcomes include the collaborative identification of high interest innovations that can be easily adapted by STEM instructors and promoted by professional societies or by web and print publishers; feedback that developers can use to improve or refine their innovations; the development of collaborations among instructors sharing the same interests around an innovation; and the generation of new ideas, research paths, and trends that might help define new funding opportunities. The software tool supports Idea Jams, which are expanded versions of online conferences with the usual "main stage" for scheduled live or streamed presentations and, more importantly, mechanism for a high level of interactivity and participation. The project is organizing two Idea Jams, one looking at all STEM fields and one concentrating on engineering and mathematics. Each will run for one to two days with three to four innovators making either live or taped presentations. The project investigators are using established review criteria to select specific innovations for presentation and a direct email campaign to invite TUES PIs along with members of various organizations that support STEM educational innovation to submit ideas. Data collected by the Idea Jam software and also through focus groups are being used to provide participants with feedback on how to promote and improve their innovations. The evaluation effort, which is being led by independent evaluators, is using IdeaJam metrics, post Jam surveys, and follow-up interviews to determine whether the approach is suitable and effective as a dissemination tool for the STEM education community. The project's broader impacts include a low-cost, effective mechanism for strengthening the STEM education community and enhancing dissemination of innovative educational approaches in a way that allows full participation of under-resourced colleges and universities.