Implementation Project: From Learning Community to Teaching Community - A Grass Roots Approach to STEM Undergraduate Teaching and Learning

实施项目支持传统黑人学院和大学(HBCU)设计、实施、研究和评估全面的机构努力，以增加获得STEM本科学位的学生数量，并通过加强STEM教育和研究提高他们的准备质量。奥尔巴尼州立大学的这个项目寻求在之前成功努力的基础上，增加非裔美国学生对STEM学科的参与。该项目的一个组成部分是学习社区即教学实验室，在那里，教师将专注于最好地帮助学生发展在STEM学科中取得成功所需的技能的教学方法。该项目将采用跨学科的方法，使用自然科学和教育的教师，他们将采用循证教学方法来加强学生的学习。该项目有四个具体目标：1)增加STEM专业的新生人数；2)提高STEM毕业率；3)发展强大的STEM技能，如解决问题的技能、批判性思维技能、研究技能，以及在把关课程的内容领域中的技能应用；以及4)在STEM教学中实施专业发展伙伴关系。这些目标将通过教师专业发展、学生支持系统、学习社区和整合的垂直排列的课程来实现。该项目旨在为对STEM感兴趣但面临表现不佳和辍学风险的学生创建一个密集的持续支持系统，为他们提供坚持STEM专业的技能和动力。通过评估计划，该项目寻求研究这些相互关联的方法的效果，以此作为其他以教学机构为主的HBCU的榜样。

Implementation Projects provide support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to design, implement, study, and assess comprehensive institutional efforts to increase the number of students receiving undergraduate degrees in STEM and enhance the quality of their preparation by strengthening STEM education and research. The project at Albany State University seeks to build on previous successful efforts to increase participation of African-American students in STEM disciplines. A component of the project is a Learning Community-as-Teaching Laboratory where faculty will focus on pedagogical approaches that best assist students to develop the skills needed for success in the STEM disciplines. The project will employ a cross-disciplinary approach, using faculty from both the natural sciences and education, who will employ evidence-based methods of teaching to enhance student learning.The project has four specific goals: 1) to increase the number of entering freshmen in STEM majors; 2) to increase the STEM graduation rate; 3) to develop strong STEM skills, such as problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, research skills, and the application of the skills in the content areas in gatekeeper courses; and 4) to implement a professional development partnership in STEM teaching. The goals will be accomplished through faculty professional development, a support system for students, a learning community, and an integrated vertically aligned curriculum. The project seeks to create an intensive Sustained Support System for Students who are interested in STEM but who are at risk of not performing well and dropping out, providing them with the skills and motivation to persist in STEM majors. Through the evaluation plan, the project seeks to study the effects of these interconnected approaches as models for other HBCUs that are predominantly teaching institutions.