Targeted Infusion Project: Creation of a for Credit Online Scientific Literacy Pre-Freshmen Summer Bridge Program

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)通过有针对性的灌输项目，支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改善HBCU本科生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读STEM研究生课程和/或职业。莫尔豪斯学院将实施一项有针对性的灌输项目，名为：为学分在线科学素养创建一个新生暑期桥计划。这一极具创新性的项目将创造一种新的以问题为基础的学习产品，旨在通过使用虚拟实验室模拟研究体验，促进学生对科学研究过程的理解。这种虚拟研究体验的预期结果包括增加学生？批判性思维能力、内在动力、自我管理能力、功利科学素养和坚持STEM职业生涯的意愿。将创建一种新的以问题为基础的学习产品，将其注入在线科学素养课程，方法是修改名为吃脑阿米巴的跨学科研究模拟案例研究(RSCS)。RSCS是一种教师指导的体验，要求学生通过承担研究科学家的角色来解决研究案例研究。RSCS大脑吃阿米巴将由一个虚拟的实体化对话代理(ECA)来促进，而不是一个实时的教员导师。这个由计算机生成的角色是从一个真实的人的脸上创造出来的，它展示了许多与人类面对面交谈相同的特性，包括产生和回应语言和非语言交流的能力。通过将ECA技术与全面的、跨学科的吃脑阿米巴RSCS相结合，将创建一个具体化的会话代理-研究模拟(ECA-RS)案例研究。将吃脑变形虫ECA-RS加入在线课程将使其能够过渡到学分课程，该课程将在学前班科学素养暑期桥计划期间免费提供，作为对学前班学生参与的激励。这一计划在莫尔豪斯学院的成功实施将提高获得STEM学位并进入国家STEM工作队伍的非裔美国学生的保留率和最终毕业率。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。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue STEM graduate programs and/or careers. Morehouse College will implement a Targeted Infusion Project entitled: Creation of a for Credit Online scientific Literacy Pre-freshmen Summer Bridge Program. This highly innovative project will create a new category of problem-based learning products designed to facilitate student understanding of the scientific research process by using a virtual laboratory to simulate a research experience. Anticipated outcomes from this virtual research experience include increasing students? critical thinking skills, intrinsic motivation, self-management skills, utilitarian scientific literacy and intent to persist in STEM careers. The new category of problem-based learning products that will be created to infuse into the online Scientific Literacy course will occur by modifying an interdisciplinary research simulation case study (RSCS) entitled Brain Eating Amoeba. The RSCS is a faculty mentored experience that requires a student to solve a research case study by assuming the role of a research scientist. The RSCS Brain Eating Amoeba will be facilitated by a virtual embodied conversational agent (ECA) instead of a live faculty mentor. This computer-generated character is created from the face of a real individual and demonstrates many of the same properties as human face-to-face conversation, including the ability to produce and respond to verbal and nonverbal communication. An embodied conversational agent-research simulation (ECA-RS) case study will be created by combining ECA technology with the comprehensive, interdisciplinary Brain Eating Amoeba RSCS. The addition of the Brain Eating Amoeba ECA-RS to the online course will enable its transition to a for-credit course that will be offered at no cost during the Pre-Freshmen Scientific Literacy Summer Bridge Program as an incentive for pre-freshmen to participate. The successful implementation of this program at Morehouse College will increase retention and ultimately graduation rates of African American students graduating with STEM degrees and entering into the national STEM workforce.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.