A Pilot Project: Inquiry-based science learning using cultural heritage materials and other locally accessible resources

历史悠久的黑人学院和大学本科项目已将STEM教师培养确定为其优先事项之一，并致力于资助创新模式，以支持STEM教师培养和专业发展。在国家科学基金会的支持下，汉普顿大学的专业发展计划将实施旨在改变STEM教与学的综合战略，努力扩大STEM领域中代表性不足的群体的参与。这项为期一年的试点研究旨在帮助高中理科教师开展探究性学习活动，将影响到大量的少数民族学生，并为教师提供合作和职业发展的机会。该项目有可能成为增加少数民族学生攻读STEM学位课程和职业生涯的典范。该项目的目标是通过以下方式提高教师为学生提供探究性学习活动的能力：1)增加课程设置，增加教师对教学活动、材料和工具的库存；2)增加教师对STEM教育的知识；以及3)与胡教授建立合作网络。预计该项目将提高教师的学科知识，并利用与他们的生活、历史和文化有关的材料让他们和他们的学生接触到新的概念。作为这一方案的产物，以探究为基础的活动手册将广泛传播，从而使大量人口受益。

AbstractThe Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program has identified STEM teacher preparation as one of its priorities and is committed to funding innovative models to support STEM teacher preparation and professional development. With support from the National Science Foundation, the professional development program at Hampton University will implement comprehensive strategies designed to transform STEM teaching and learning in an effort to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The one-year pilot study, designed to assist high school science teachers with developing inquiry-based learning activities, will impact a large population of minority students and provide opportunities for collaboration and career advancement for teachers. This project has the potential to be a model for increasing the number of minority students pursuing STEM degree programs and careers.The goal of this project is to enhance the abilities of teachers to provide inquiry-based learning activities for their students by: 1) augmenting curriculum offerings to increase teachers' inventory of teaching activities, materials and tools; 2) increasing teachers' knowledge of STEM education; and 3) establishing collaborative networks with HU professors. It is expected that this project will enhance the teachers' content knowledge and expose them and their students to new concepts using materials related to their lives, history and culture. The inquiry-based activities manual, a product of this program, will be disseminated widely and thus benefit a large population.