An Interdisciplinary Approach to Foster the Next Generation of STEM Professionals

认识到美国存在增加美国科学家劳动力的既定需求，这个国家科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金(S-STEM)项目旨在提高生物、化学、环境科学和物理的留校率和毕业率，并为参与的STEM专业的研究生成功做好准备。该项目的目标是：(A)向朗伍德学院24名有学业天赋的低收入学生提供高质量的支持服务和包含循证实践的课程；(B)提供专业发展活动，为学生未来的职业生涯做好准备；(C)保持教职员工对课程和联合课程活动的高度参与；以及(D)调查学习社区和职业准备活动的实施结果。S-STEM项目将对南弗吉尼亚州朗伍德学院周围地区产生重大影响，朗伍德学院高中毕业率低，大学出勤率低，家庭收入低，失业率高。该项目借鉴了新兴的STEM专业保留研究成果，将满足学者们过渡到大学环境并在个人、学术和职业上成长的需求。学者们将通过磨练他们在定量推理、建模和模拟方面的技能来发展成为科学家，并通过早期的研究经验和随后的课程嵌入合作学习将跨学科方法应用于复杂的现实世界问题。此外，学生将沉浸在一个支持生态系统中，旨在促进强有力的群体发展，与训练有素的教师导师建立有意义的关系，并培养研究生成功的心态。在整个大学经历中，学生们将收集关键的文物，并使用电子公文包反思他们作为科学家的发展。教师导师将定期就电子档案袋的工作展开对话，并利用这些信息让学生参与到关于他们的进度的对话中。对每个项目组成部分的形成性和总结性评估将决定课程和联合课程活动在多大程度上促进学生毕业前的留存。研究将解决导师关系，因为它与学生过渡到大学和专业发展有关。PIS将在《科学教育和公民参与：国际期刊》、《Primus》、《大学科学教学杂志》、《物理教师》和《实践中的荣誉》等期刊上传播研究结果。

Recognizing that there is an established need in the United States to increase the number of American scientists in the workforce, this NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) project aims to increase retention and graduation rates in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, and physics and prepare participating STEM majors for post-graduate success. The objectives of the project are to (a) provide 24 academically talented, low income students at Longwood College with high quality support services and curricula that incorporate evidence-based practices, (b) provide professional development activities that will prepare students for future careers, (c) maintain a high level of faculty participation in curricular and co-curricular activities, and (d) investigate the outcomes of the implementation of a learning community and career-readiness activities. This S-STEM project will have a significant impact on the region surrounding Longwood College (Southern Virginia), which has a low high-school graduation rates, low college attendance, low family incomes, and a high unemployment.Drawing from emerging research on retention of STEM majors, this program will address the scholars' needs as they transition to the university environment and grow personally, academically, and professionally. Scholars will develop as scientists by honing their skills in quantitative reasoning, modeling, and simulation and learning to apply interdisciplinary approaches to complex real-world issues through an early research experience and subsequent course-embedded collaborations. Additionally, students will be immersed in an ecosystem of support designed to foster strong cohort development, build meaningful relationships with trained faculty mentors, and cultivate mindsets for postgraduate success. Throughout their college experience, students will collect key artifacts and reflect on their development as scientists using e-portfolios. Faculty mentors will initiate regular conversations about the e-portfolio work and use the information to engage the students in conversation about their progress. Formative and summative evaluation of each project component will determine the extent to which the curricular and co-curricular activities on promote students' retention to graduation. Research will address the mentoring relationship as it relates to students' transition to college and professional development. The PIs will disseminate findings, in journals such as Science Education and Civic Engagement: An International Journal, Primus, Journal of College Science Teaching, Physics Teacher, and Honors in Practice.