Innovative Science, Technology Engineering, & Mathematics Explore Project

该项目将推进“面向学生和教师的创新技术体验”（ITEST）计划的工作，通过参与实地实践、实验室/项目创业任务和指导经验，更好地理解和促进提高学生在科学、技术、工程或数学（STEM）领域追求职业的动机和能力的实践。莫尔豪斯学院（Morehouse College）将招收36名来自6年级至10年级的弱势群体的学生参加一个为期3年的STEM技术项目，该项目将包括为期四周的暑期项目、实地实践经验和学年期间的周六学院。该计划采用基于项目的框架，旨在为代表性不足的少数民族学生提供具有挑战性的技术学习体验。具体而言，该项目将让学生在现实世界解决问题的场景中，利用创业概念促进初中和高中的学业成功，并为学生进入学院或大学做好学术准备，从而让学生接触STEM学科的创新和创造力。该项目的目标是：1)提高学生对教育机会和STEM职业的认识和知识。2)增加学生在STEM和/或STEM劳动力中的知识、技能和实践。3)增加和扩大未被充分代表的人口对STEM的参与。该项目是科学与数学系和莫尔豪斯学院创业中心与当地学区和当地行业合作伙伴的合作项目。该项目是高等教育和行业合作的全球模式，其项目将教育与学生领导力发展和社区资源联系起来。该项目提供：(1)补充STEM教育；2)基于实验室项目的实际创业经验；3)学术界和产业界的榜样；4)父母的参与。研究问题将解决以下问题：(a)哪些因素和关键经历有效地提高了对STEM职业的认识，追求STEM职业的动机，以及坚持接受通往这些职业的教育途径，特别是在代表性不足的人群中？(b)家长、导师、照顾者和其他社区成员以何种角色和方式激励学生意识到、感兴趣并为STEM职业做好准备？研究问题将回答描述性统计和结果分析。将采取定性和定量措施。技术将包括调查、访谈、焦点小组、文件分析和参与措施。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will advance efforts of the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program to better understand and promote practices that increase students' motivations and capacities to pursue careers in fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) by engaging in hands-on field experience, laboratory/project-based entrepreneurship tasks and mentorship experiences.Morehouse College will engage 36 students from underrepresented groups in grades 6 through 10 in a 3-year STEM technology program that will include a four-week summer program, hands-on field experience, and Saturday academy during the academic year. The program utilizes a project-based framework designed to provide underrepresented minority students with challenging technological learning experiences. Specifically, the project will expose students to innovation and creativity in STEM disciplines within the context of real-world problem-solving scenarios utilizing entrepreneurial concepts in to promote academic success in middle school and high school and prepare students academically to attend a college or university. The goals of the project are: 1) Increase student awareness and knowledge of educational opportunities and STEM careers. 2) Increase student knowledge, skills and practices represented in STEM and/ or STEM workforce. 3) Increase broadening participation of underrepresented populations in STEM.This project is a collaboration of the Division of Science & Mathematics and the Morehouse College Entrepreneurship Center with local school districts and local industry partners. The project is a global model for higher education and industry collaborations with programs that connect education with student leadership development, and community-focused resources. This project provides: (1) supplemental STEM education; 2) hands-on laboratory project-based entrepreneurial experiences; 3) role models from academia and industry; and 4) parental involvement. The research questions will address the following: (a) What factors and key experiences effectively promote awareness of STEM careers, motivation to pursue a STEM career, and persistence in undertaking education pathways to those careers, particularly among students from underrepresented populations? (b) In what roles and in what ways do parents, mentors, caregivers, and other community members motivate students to become aware of, interested in, and prepared for STEM careers? Research questions will be answered with both descriptive statistics and outcome analysis. Qualitative and quantitative measures will be used. Techniques will include surveys, interviews, focus groups, document analysis, and measures of participation.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.