CAREER: Problem Solving Skills as Predictors of Success and Persistence in Biology

这个CAREER项目的重点是了解生物学本科生解决问题的能力。目标是：(1)研究初级和高级生物学学生在蛋白质结构、功能和代谢领域解决问题的步骤；(2)确定生物系学生对特定问题解决步骤的使用在多大程度上预示着他们在科学方面的成功和坚持；(3)运用研究结果提高解决问题的能力。从一群生物学本科生的整个本科生涯中收集纵向数据。数据包括学生解决问题的步骤以及人口特征、学术特征和职业意向。定性地分析解决问题的步骤。层次广义线性模型和层次线性模型被用来确定解决问题的能力在多大程度上预示着科学的成功和坚持。该项目扩展了一个在线问题解决教程，以提高解决蛋白质结构、功能和代谢问题的支持性问题解决技能。此外，来自大学和当地高中的生物学教师定期开会，讨论、实施和反馈如何教授解决生物学问题的方法。这一领域的研究对于更好地理解学生如何解决问题很重要，这可以帮助教育者制定有针对性的课程干预措施。有针对性的课程干预已被证明可以促进学生在科学方面的成功和坚持。为了满足美国医疗保健、生物医学研究和工程等领域对更多工人的预期需求，在科学学位课程中取得更广泛的成功和坚持是必要的。该项目为构建学习和教学工具提供了见解，以增加为科学职业道路做好准备的本科生的数量。这样，该项目将有助于在美利坚合众国建立具有全球竞争力的科学劳动力队伍。此外，拟议的项目将增加我们对一些因素的理解，这些因素可能对科学相关专业中代表性不足的群体的充分参与产生影响。

This CAREER project focuses on understanding problem-solving skills among biology undergraduates. The goals are to: (1) Investigate the problem solving steps of beginning and advanced biology students in the domains of protein structure and function and metabolism; (2) Determine the extent to which the use of particular problem-solving steps by biology students predicts their success and persistence in science; and (3) Apply the findings to enhance problem solving skills.Longitudinal data are being collected from a cohort of biology undergraduates across their undergraduate careers. Data include students' problem solving steps along with demographic characteristics, academic characteristics, and career intentions. Problem-solving steps are analyzed qualitatively. Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling and Hierarchical Linear Modeling are used to determine the extent to which problem-solving skill predicts success and persistence in science. This project expands an online problem solving tutorial to enhance supportive problem solving skills in solving protein structure and function and metabolism problems. Additionally, biology faculty from the university and local high schools are meeting regularly to engage in discussion, implementation, and feedback about how to teach problem solving in biology.Research in this area is important for greater understanding of how students solve problems which can help educators develop targeted course interventions. Targeted course interventions have been shown to facilitate student success and persistence in science. More widespread success and persistence in science degree programs is necessary to meet the predicted demand for more workers in areas such as health care, biomedical research, and engineering in the United States of America. This project provides insights for building learning and teaching tools to increase the number of undergraduates who are prepared for science career paths. In so doing, the project will contribute to a globally competitive workforce in science in the United States of America. Additionally, the proposed project will increase our understanding of some of the factors that may have impact on the full participation of groups underrepresented in science-related professions.