Guitar, Robotics, and Rocketry Projects to Enhance Advanced Technological Education

增加STEM领域的劳动力对国家的全球竞争力非常重要。佛罗里达州圣达菲学院服务的农村社区的工业对高技能和有效技术人员的需求越来越大。为了满足这一需求，圣达菲学院将开发教育资源，通过为学生提供独特的体验，促进学生参与STEM学科，并提高对STEM职业可能性的认识。该项目将设计一门单一的多学科课程，让学生参与到用于研究和分析的科学方法中。将开发三个不同版本的课程，以包括一个实践项目，重点是吉他制造、火箭技术或机器人技术。数学、技术和科学技能将贯穿在这些学生项目中。这些课程将在三个农村教育中心向学生提供。这些学生包括那些正在从中学过渡到大专教育的学生和第一次上大学的学生。这些人群中的许多学生都不熟悉STEM技术员的工作。该项目旨在提高学生的能力并促进学生对职业机会的兴趣，这将有助于加强国家的STEM技术人员队伍。该项目的目标是：1)创建和实施基于项目的研究和分析课程，其中包括三个体验式学习项目选项：吉他制造、机器人和火箭技术；2)提供教师专业发展，以确保在三个农村教育中心一致地实施教学；3)让至少三家当地企业参与开发和实施职业探索演示和/或视频；以及4)通过测试前和测试后的研究，评估项目参与者在STEM职业态度和意图方面的变化。课程开发将使用以证据为基础的教学做法，旨在减轻陈规定型观念的威胁和提高自我效能。在其他项目工作的基础上，该项目将适应、整合和增强来自其他ATE项目的相关课程和资源，以满足圣达菲学院学生和社区的需求。由于参与教育中心的农村性质，学生将包括社会经济地位较低的学生和第一次上大学的学生的比例高于平均水平。该项目旨在强调与行业合作伙伴的合作，以更好地满足雇主对STEM技术人员的需求，并将学生与行业联系起来，使他们获得发展成功职业生涯所需的第一手知识。STEM态度的变化和对STEM职业的兴趣将使用经过验证的事后分析来衡量。该项目的结果将通过项目介绍和出版物传播，并在ATE中心网站上共享。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Increasing the workforce in STEM fields is important for the nation's global competitiveness. Industries in the rural communities served by Santa Fe College in Florida have increasing demand for highly-skilled and effective technicians. To address this need, Santa Fe College will develop educational resources to promote participation in STEM disciplines and awareness of career possibilities in STEM by providing unique experiences for students. The project will design a single multidisciplinary course to engage students in the scientific methods used for research and analysis. Three different versions of the course will be developed to include a hands-on project focused on either guitar building, rocketry, or robotics. The math, technology, and science skills will be woven throughout these student projects. The courses will be offered to students at three rural educational centers. These students include those who are transitioning from secondary to postsecondary education and first-time college students. Many students in these populations are unfamiliar with STEM technician jobs. The project aims to enhance student abilities and promote interest in career opportunities that will help strengthen the nation's STEM technician workforce.The objectives of this project will be to: 1) create and implement a project-based Research and Analysis course with three experiential learning project options: guitar building, robotics, and rocketry; 2) provide faculty professional development to ensure consistent implementation of the pedagogy at three rural educational centers; 3) engage a minimum of three local businesses in development and implementation of career exploration presentations and/or videos; and 4) evaluate the change in STEM career attitudes and intentions of program participants through a pre- and post-test research study. Curriculum development will use evidence-based pedagogical practices designed to mitigate stereotype threat and enhance self-efficacy. Building on the work of others, this project will adapt, integrate, and enhance relevant curriculum and resources from other ATE projects, to meet the needs of Santa Fe College's students and community. Because of the rural nature of the participating educational centers, students will include a higher than average percentage of low socioeconomic status students and first-time college students. The project aims to emphasize collaboration with industry partners to better meet employer needs for STEM technicians, and to connect students with industry so they obtain firsthand knowledge of requirements for developing a successful career. The change in STEM attitudes and interest in STEM careers will be measured using a validated pre-post analysis. The results of this project will be disseminated through project presentations and publications, and shared on the ATE Central website.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.