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

crest资助的卓越网络共享中心（Cyber-ShARE Center of Excellence）是该项目的支柱，该中心致力于通过网络基础设施推进研究和教育，以支持跨学科的努力，该中心将利用与文化相关的沉浸式技术提高拉丁裔青年的STEM参与度和成功率。本研究的目标是研究利用与文化相关的沉浸式技术增强STEM集成学习模块的有效性，并确定其对拉丁裔中学生在STEM中的表现和学习STEM主题的动机的影响。随着美国科学家和工程师的持续短缺，迫切需要不同类型的学生进入并完成各级STEM教育。项目活动包括开发和交付综合STEM模块，将当地和文化相关的材料与史密森尼的Mi Tierra-Mi Mundo互动角色扮演探索游戏和专业培训联系起来，为Mi-Tierra-Mi Mundo和STEM模块在传统STEM环境中提供支持。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代表性不足群体学生的不同参与率和成功率。拟议的项目有两个独特而重要的特点。首先，它的目的是在综合STEM内容和活动的背景下，提高拉丁裔学生对STEM的知识和发展倾向。其次，该项目将引入基于创新技术的现实世界情境模拟，让拉丁裔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领域和教师教育项目。原型活动适用于各种教师专业发展工作，拟议的实施和教学模拟技术将广泛用于课堂和外展环境。

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.