Seeding the Future: Growing STEM Learning and Interest through Hydroponic Food Production

波士顿学院的这个途径项目将测试代际跨学科水培计划的有效性，该计划涉及救世军克罗克中心和STEM花园研究所为4- 6年级青年和老年人提供的课程开发和活动。 主要研究包括代际跨学科社区为基础的研究的功效检查。水耕计划的其他目标包括检查城市社区为基础的水耕计划培养动机和自我效能的方式，以及青少年和老年人对涉及技术，经济和植物生产的科学探究过程的理解。 该项目将评估教师与青年和老年人实施该方案的方式。该项目还将评估与植物生产和知识获取有关的技术在水耕法领域的有效性，从开发到提供植物产品在当地农贸市场销售。在整个项目期间，将对老年人和青年人进行访谈、焦点小组和调查。该项目将为参与非正式科学教育项目的非正式提供者和青年传播一份基于科学探究的教学指南。该指南将侧重于水培与电磁频谱，光合作用，pH值，营养素和电导率的科学概念的重点。超过120-150名青年和200名老年人将参加水培项目。 将编制关于经济和商业规划发展的补充材料，以供规划和建立农贸市场零售业务之用。这些材料将通过救世军的克罗克中心提供。克罗克中心平均每天有500-1000名访问者，除了中心的网站，平均每天有1200次独立访问。

This pathways project from Boston College will test the efficacy of an intergenerational interdisciplinary hydroponics program involving curriculum development and activities at the Salvation Army's Kroc Center and the STEM Garden Institute for 4-6th grade youths and seniors. The primary research includes an examination of the efficacy of intergenerational interdisciplinary community based research. Additional goals of the hydroponic program include the examination of the ways in which urban community-based hydroponic programs foster motivation and self-efficacy, and how well youths and seniors understand the scientific inquiry process involving technology, economics and plant production.The research design includes qualitative and quantitative methods. The project will evaluate the ways in which the instructors implement the program with youth and seniors. The project will also evaluate the effectiveness of the technologies associated with plant production and knowledge acquisition in the area of hydroponics from the development through the delivery of the plant products to sell at the local Farmer's Market. Interviews, focus groups and survey will be administered to seniors and youth throughout the project. The project will disseminate a science inquiry based instructional guide for informal providers and youth who are involved with informal science education programs. The guide will focus on hydroponics with an emphasis on the electromagnetic spectrum, photosynthesis, pH, and nutrients, and electrical conductivity science concepts. More than 120-150 youth and 200 seniors will participate in the hydroponics program. Additional materials on the development of economic and business planning will be developed for the use of planning and setting up a Farmer's Market retail business. The materials will be available through the Salvation Army's Kroc Center. The Kroc Center averages 500-1000 visitors per day in addition to the Center's website, which averages 1200 unique visits per day.