Investigating Summer Bridge Programs Designed to Accelerate Mathematics Preparation for STEM Degrees

在美国国家科学基金会改善本科STEM教育项目：教育与人力资源（IUSE: EHR）的支持下，本项目旨在通过研究夏季桥梁项目在提高STEM学生学业成绩和持久性方面的有效性，为国家利益服务。该项目将着重于提高新生在进入大学一年级之前的数学准备。该项目将比较为期两周的居民夏季桥梁项目与非居民的在线项目的影响。这两个桥梁项目的学生将能够通过使用一个名为ALEKS PPL（知识空间的评估和学习，安置，准备和学习）的自适应在线测试程序来加强数学技能。该项目预计，桥梁项目将提高学生在数学课程上的成绩。因此，它有可能通过增加宣布STEM专业的学生数量和提高第一年到第二年注册STEM课程的学生的保留率，使大学的STEM专业多样化。研究结果将为大学的活动提供信息，但也有可能改善全国范围内的STEM招聘和保留活动，特别是在那些正在放弃发展数学课程以弥补缺陷的州。该项目将通过使用随机对照研究设计的经验数据来测试住宅桥梁项目与非住宅版本的影响，从而有助于STEM夏季桥梁项目的定量研究（每个项目分配30名学生，为期两年，研究中共有120名学生）。研究问题将通过分析STEM学生在两个项目中的表现来回答，考虑到ALEKS分数的平均差异，在ALEKS模块上花费的时间，第一年和第二年的保留率以及初始数学安置的改善。该项目建立在文献中描述的先前有效的桥梁项目的基础上，以及最近在北肯塔基大学成功的项目，重点是改善STEM学生的招聘和保留。这两个桥梁课程的学生都将使用ALEKS PPL，这是一种通过一门课程提高数学成绩的方法，学生在ALEKS学习模块上花费约30个小时。参加住宿计划的学生也将接触到与stem相关的研究经验，强调数学内容知识的重要性。所有学生将在第一年通过一系列研讨会得到支持，这些研讨会在北肯塔基大学的STEM项目中取得了成功。该系列研讨会将帮助学生：在课堂内外对自己的学习负责；获得在大学及以后取得成功所必需的学术、个人和社交技能；培养有效的沟通技巧；与同学建立一个相互支持的群体；为毕业制定一个四年计划。此外，这些研讨会还帮助学生探索STEM职业选择和职业准备活动。NSF IUSE: EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。通过参与学生学习轨道，该计划支持有前途的实践和工具的创建，探索和实施。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。

With support from the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Program: Education and Human Resources (IUSE: EHR), this project aims to serve the national interest by studying the effectiveness of summer bridge programs at improving academic achievement and persistence of STEM students. The project will focus on improving the mathematics preparation of incoming students before they enter their first year of college. The project will compare the impact of a two-week residential summer bridge program to a nonresidential, online version of the program. Students in both bridge programs will be able to strengthen mathematics skills by using an adaptive online testing program called ALEKS PPL (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces Placement, Preparation, and Learning). The project anticipates that the bridge programs will improve student success in mathematics courses. As a result, it has the potential to to diversify STEM majors at the University by increasing the number of students who declare a STEM major and improving first to second-year retention of students enrolled in STEM programs. Results from the research will inform activities at the University, but also have the potential to improve STEM recruitment and retention activities across the country, particularly in states that are moving away from developmental mathematics coursework to remediate deficiencies.The project will contribute to quantitative research about STEM summer bridge programs by using empirical data to test the impact of a residential bridge program compared to a nonresidential version using a randomized controlled study design (30 students assigned to each for two years for a total of 120 students in the study). Research questions will be answered by analyzing the performance of STEM students in the two programs, considering the average difference in ALEKS scores, time spent in ALEKS modules,year one and year two retention rates, and improvement of initial mathematics placement. The project builds upon previous effective bridge programs described in the literature, as well as recent successful projects at Northern Kentucky University focused on improving recruitment and retention of STEM students. Students in both bridge programs will use ALEKS PPL, an approach that has resulted in improvements in mathematics placement by one course for students who spend ~30 hours working on the ALEKS learning modules. Students participating in the residential program will also be exposed to STEM-related research experiences that highlight the importance of mathematical content knowledge. All students will be supported throughout their first year through a seminar series that has demonstrated success in STEM programs at Northern Kentucky University. The seminar series will help students: assume responsibility for their own learning both in and out of the classroom; acquire academic, personal, and social skills essential to success in college and beyond; develop effective communication skills; establish a supportive cohort with fellow students; and create a four-year plan that leads to graduation. In addition, these seminars also assist students in exploring STEM career options and career-preparation activities. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.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.