Collaborative Research: Scientific Data in Schools: Measuring the efficacy of an innovative approach to integrating quantitative reasoning in secondary science

探索研究K-12计划(DRK-12)旨在通过研究和开发创新资源、模型和工具(RMT)，显著提高K-12学龄前学生和教师在科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)方面的学习和教学。DRK-12计划中的项目建立在STEM教育的基础研究和先前的研究和开发工作的基础上，这些研究和开发工作为拟议的项目提供了理论和实证证明。该项目的目标是调查在6-10年级课堂上整合来自尖端科学研究的真实数据是否会提高在科学背景下的定量推理能力。数据块是基于活动的资源，旨在满足STEM教育的当前需求，由密歇根州立大学的科学研究生和科学教师通过NSF GK-12计划和Beacon在行动中的进化研究中心的先前支持开发。数据掘金的目标是通过一种创新的方法，将真实研究的科学内容与定量推理中的关键概念相结合，让学生参与到科学实践中来。来自密歇根州立大学和BSC的合作伙伴将调整材料以满足当前的科学和数学标准，为教师创建专业发展计划，并通过在密歇根州、科罗拉多州和加利福尼亚州的30名教师的课堂上进行整群随机试验来测试材料的有效性。该项目将研究嵌入到典型课程中的简短、有针对性的课堂活动干预是否会影响学生的结果。在学习之前，教师将参与专业发展。研究中教师的教室将被随机分配到治疗或比较条件下。学生结果测量将包括对科学背景下的定量推理的理解，对科学实践和过程的理解，学生的参与和动机，以及对科学的兴趣。为了充分培训下一代公民和科学家，需要研究定量推理技能如何在整个K-16科学教育中相互建立，学生需要体验强调科学如何进行的活动，并应用他们对科学家如何进行定量推理的理解。确定数据块的有效性可以为该领域提供信息，说明如何通过针对特定科学实践的简短干预来补充现有课程。通过促进学生接触正宗科学，数据块弥合了科学家和公众之间的鸿沟。创造数据掘金的科学家练习他们的沟通技能，与K-12学生(也许还有他们的家人)、本科生和老师分享科学和研究成果的过程，提高社会对科学的理解。

The Discovery Research K-12 program (DRK-12) seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers, through research and development of innovative resources, models and tools (RMTs). Projects in the DRK-12 program build on fundamental research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects.The goal of this project is to investigate whether the integration of real data from cutting-edge scientific research in grade 6-10 classrooms will increase quantitative reasoning ability in the context of science. Data Nuggets are activity-based resources that address current needs in STEM education and were developed by science graduate students and science teachers at Michigan State University through prior support from the NSF GK-12 program and the BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action. The goal of Data Nuggets is to engage students in the practices of science through an innovative approach that combines scientific content from authentic research with key concepts in quantitative reasoning. Partners from Michigan State University and BSCS will adapt the materials to address current science and mathematics standards, create a professional development program for teachers, and test the efficacy of the materials through a cluster-randomized trial in the classrooms of 30 teachers in Michigan, Colorado, and California. The project will study whether short, targeted interventions of classroom activities embedded within a typical curriculum can impact student outcomes. Prior to the study teachers will participate in professional development. Classrooms of the teachers in the study will be randomly assigned to either a treatment or comparison condition. Student outcome measures will include understanding of quantitative reasoning in the context of science, understanding of the practices and processes of science, student engagement and motivation, and interest in science.In order to adequately train the next generation of citizens and scientists, research is needed on how quantitative reasoning skills build upon each other throughout K-16 science education Students need to experience activities that emphasize how science is conducted, and apply their understandings of how scientists reason quantitatively. Establishing the efficacy of Data Nuggets could provide the field with information about supplementing existing curriculum with short interventions targeted at particular scientific practices. By facilitating student access to authentic science, Data Nuggets bridge the gap between scientists and the public. Scientists who create Data Nuggets practice their communication skills and share both the process of science and research findings with K-12 students (and perhaps their families), undergraduates, and teachers, improving the understanding of science in society.