BPR: Increasing STEM Participation and Success Rates of Latino Youth Using Culturally Relevant Immersive Technologies

CREST资助的网络共享卓越中心是一个专注于通过网络基础设施推进研究和教育以支持跨学科努力的中心，该中心是该项目的锚，提高STEM参与率和拉丁美洲青年使用文化相关沉浸式技术的成功率。拟议工作的目标是研究与文化相关的沉浸式技术增强STEM集成学习模块的有效性，并确定其对拉丁美洲中学生在STEM方面的表现和学习STEM主题的动机的影响。随着国家科学家和工程师的持续短缺，迫切需要进入并完成各级STEM教育的多样化学生。项目活动包括开发和提供综合STEM模块，将当地和文化相关材料与史密森尼的Mi Tierra-Mi Mundo互动角色扮演探索性游戏和专业培训联系起来，将Mi-Tierra-Mi Mundo和STEM模块搭建在传统STEM环境中。该项目将采用纵向混合方法随机对照试验研究设计，以确定干预措施的哪些方面会影响来自代表性不足群体的学生的差异参与和成功率。首先，它的目的是提高知识和发展处置STEM在综合STEM内容和活动的背景下，拉丁美洲学生。第二，该项目将引入基于创新技术的真实情况模拟，让拉丁美洲学生参与解决与当地流域问题相关的STEM问题。这些策略可以适用于其他STEM领域和教师教育计划。原型活动是适应各种教师专业发展的努力，和拟议的技术实施和教学模拟将广泛用于课堂和推广设置。

The CREST-funded Cyber-ShARE Center of Excellence, a center focused on advancing research and education through cyberinfrastructures in support of interdisciplinary efforts, serves as the anchor for the project, Increasing STEM Participation and Success Rates of Latino Youth Using Culturally Relevant Immersive Technologies. The goal of the proposed work is to study the effectiveness of augmenting STEM-integrated learning modules with culturally relevant, immersive technologies and determine its impact on Latino middle school students' performance in STEM and motivation to study STEM topics. With the nation's continuing shortage of scientists and engineers, there is an urgent need for diverse students who enter and complete STEM education at all levels. The project activities include development and delivery of integrated STEM modules that connect locally and culturally relevant materials with the Smithsonian's Mi Tierra-Mi Mundo interactive role play exploratory game and professional training that scaffolds Mi-Tierra-Mi Mundo and STEM modules to present in traditional STEM settings. The project will use a longitudinal mixed methods randomized control trial research design to determine what aspects of the intervention affect the differential participation and success rates of students from underrepresented groups.The proposed project has two unique and important features. First, it aims to enhance knowledge and develop dispositions for STEM among Latino students in the context of integrated STEM content and activities. Second, the project will introduce innovative technology-based simulations of real-world situations that engage Latino students to address STEM issues related to local watershed problems. These strategies can be adapted for other STEM areas and teacher education programs. Prototype activities are adaptable to a variety of teacher professional development efforts, and the proposed technologies for implementing and teaching simulations will be widely available for use in the classroom and outreach settings.