Using Science Academies (USA) Project

使用科学院（美国）项目

• 批准号: 1323797
• 负责人: Edwin Obergfell
• 金额: $ 25万
• 依托单位: Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-08-15 至 2015-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1323797&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Using; Science; Academies; USA; Project

Using STEM America (USA) is a two-year Pathways project designed to examine the feasibility of using informal STEM learning opportunities to improve science literacy among English Language Learner (ELL) students in Imperial County, California. Project partners include the Rueben H. Fleet Science Center and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The project's goals are to support teachers in the development of informal science education opportunities for English learners, partner with students in grades 7-12 to create activities and exhibits, deliver student-produced products to community members, and sustain and disseminate the activities through the development of web-based teacher tools. The teachers will work with informal science education experts, STEM professionals, and undergraduate students to develop and implement the program lessons with their 7-12 grade students. The activities and exhibits designed for community audiences will be used in the Imperial Valley Discovery Zone, slated for completion in fall 2013. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding English scientific word frames and science content specific vocabulary to help ELL students express complex scientific concepts in English. The project deliverables in this pilot project include a comprehensive teacher professional development strategy, student-developed informal science activities and exhibits, a project website, and multiple teacher resources (lesson plans, how-to guides, training materials, and social networking tools). Teachers will receive 45 hours of professional development during the summer with an additional 20 hours of support provided during the school year. UCSD's Jacob's School of Engineering will provide training on solar energy micro-grids using a micro-grid observatory to be located in Imperial Valley. English language development training will be provided by the University of California's Professional Development Institute (UCPDI) and address the role of language objectives in scientific conceptual knowledge and language development; using science and language to improve classroom questioning/discussion; and teaching academic language to English learners. The informal science education component of the training provided by the Fleet Science Center will address topics such as questioning strategies, scientific reasoning frameworks, communicating science to public audiences, and learning "high level" science content using hands-on approaches.The project design builds on research which supports an active learning approach that mirrors scientific practice and is one of the strengths of informal science learning environments. The question to be addressed by the USA Project is: "Can informal STEM activities with embedded English Language development strategies assist English learner students to increase their English language competency and their interest in STEM subjects?" The PI seeks to identify the impact that teachers have on guiding students in inquiry-based informal STEM education, evaluate the academic outcomes for students, and measure changes in community interest, understanding, and attitudes towards STEM and STEM occupations. The USA Project is designed to reach approximately 200 underserved students and will promote the participation of at least 400 additional students, parents, and other rural community members. It is anticipated that this project will result in the development of a model for teacher-led informal STEM education, increased STEM learning opportunities for the community, and the development of a network of educational institutions that helps to bridge formal and informal STEM learning and learning environments.

使用STEM美国(美国)是一个为期两年的路径项目，旨在研究利用非正式STEM学习机会来提高加利福尼亚州帝国郡英语学习者(ELL)学生科学素养的可行性。项目合作伙伴包括鲁本·H·舰队科学中心和加州大学圣地亚哥分校(UCSD)。该项目的目标是支持教师为英语学习者开发非正式的科学教育机会，与7-12年级的学生合作创建活动和展品，向社区成员提供学生制作的产品，并通过开发基于网络的教师工具来维持和传播这些活动。教师将与非正式的科学教育专家、STEM专业人员和本科生合作，与7-12年级的学生一起开发和实施该计划的课程。为社区观众设计的活动和展品将在帝国谷发现区使用，该区计划于2013年秋季完工。将特别强调理解英语科学词汇框架和科学内容特定词汇，以帮助ELL学生用英语表达复杂的科学概念。这一试点项目的成果包括全面的教师专业发展战略、由学生开展的非正式科学活动和展览、一个项目网站和多种教师资源(教案、操作指南、培训材料和社交网络工具)。教师将在暑假期间获得45小时的专业发展，并在学年期间提供额外的20小时支持。加州大学圣迭戈分校的雅各布工程学院将利用位于帝国谷的微电网观测站提供太阳能微电网的培训。英语语言发展培训将由加州大学专业发展研究所(UCPDI)提供，内容涉及语言目标在科学概念知识和语言发展中的作用；使用科学和语言来改善课堂提问/讨论；以及向英语学习者教授学术语言。舰队科学中心提供的培训中的非正式科学教育部分将涉及提问策略、科学推理框架、向公众传播科学以及使用动手方法学习“高级”科学内容等主题。项目设计建立在支持反映科学实践的主动学习方法的研究基础上，这是非正式科学学习环境的优势之一。美国项目要解决的问题是：“嵌入英语语言发展战略的非正式STEM活动能否帮助英语学习者提高他们的英语能力和他们对STEM科目的兴趣？”PI旨在确定教师在以探究为基础的非正式STEM教育中对指导学生的影响，评估学生的学术成果，并衡量社区对STEM和STEM职业的兴趣、理解和态度的变化。美国项目旨在帮助大约200名未得到充分服务的学生，并将促进至少400名额外的学生、家长和其他农村社区成员参与。预计该项目将形成一个教师主导的非正式STEM教育模式，增加社区的STEM学习机会，并发展一个有助于连接正式和非正式STEM学习和学习环境的教育机构网络。