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

这个职业生涯项目的重点是了解生物本科生解决问题的能力。目标是：（1）调查初级和高级生物学学生在蛋白质结构和功能以及代谢领域的问题解决步骤;（2）确定生物学学生使用特定问题解决步骤预测他们在科学方面的成功和坚持的程度;以及（3）应用这些发现来提高解决问题的能力。纵向数据是从一组生物学本科生中收集的，本科生涯。数据包括学生解决问题的步骤沿着人口统计学特征，学术特征和职业意向。对问题解决步骤进行了定性分析。分层广义线性模型和分层线性模型用于确定解决问题的技能在多大程度上预测科学的成功和持久性。本计画扩展了一个线上问题解决辅导，以提升解决蛋白质结构与功能及代谢问题的支援性问题解决技巧。此外，大学和当地高中的生物教师定期开会，就如何教授生物问题解决进行讨论、实施和反馈。这一领域的研究对于更好地了解学生如何解决问题非常重要，可以帮助教育工作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有助于学生在科学方面的成功和坚持。更广泛的成功和科学学位课程的持久性是必要的，以满足更多的工人，如医疗保健，生物医学研究和工程领域的预测需求在美利坚合众国。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数量。通过这样做，该项目将有助于美利坚合众国的科学工作队伍具有全球竞争力。此外，拟议的项目将增加我们对可能影响科学相关专业中代表性不足的群体充分参与的一些因素的理解。

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.