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

在NSF改善本科生STEM教育计划：教育和人力资源(IUSE：EHR)的支持下，该项目旨在通过研究暑期桥计划在提高STEM学生的学业成绩和毅力方面的有效性来服务于国家利益。该项目将专注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住宅夏季桥梁项目与该项目的在线非住宅版本的影响。这两个桥项目的学生都将能够通过使用名为Aleks PPL(在知识空间放置、准备和学习中的评估和学习)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中的成功。因此，它有可能通过增加申报STEM专业的学生数量和改善STEM项目一至二年级的学生保留率，使大学STEM专业多样化。研究结果将为大学的活动提供参考，但也有可能改善全国范围内的STEM招生和保留活动，特别是在那些正在放弃发展数学课程以弥补不足的州。该项目将通过使用经验数据来测试住宅桥项目与非住宅桥项目的影响，从而为STEM夏季桥牌项目的定量研究做出贡献。该项目采用随机对照研究设计(30名学生分配到每个项目两年，共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成绩的平均差异，在Aleks模块中花费的时间，一年级和二年级的保留率，以及初始数学安置的改善。该项目建立在文献中描述的以前有效的桥梁项目以及北肯塔基大学最近专注于改善STEM学生招生和留住的成功项目的基础上。这两个桥接项目的学生都将使用Aleks PPL，这种方法已经为那些在Aleks学习模块上花费约30个小时的学生改进了一门课程的数学安置。参加寄宿计划的学生还将接触到与STEM相关的研究经验，这些经验突显了数学内容知识的重要性。所有学生在第一年都将通过一系列研讨会得到支持，该研讨会展示了北肯塔基大学STEM项目的成功。该系列研讨会将帮助学生：对自己在课堂内外的学习承担责任；获得在大学内外取得成功所必需的学术、个人和社交技能；发展有效的沟通技能；建立与同学之间的支持性队列；以及制定导致毕业的四年计划。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，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过参与的学生学习路径，该计划支持有前景的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。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。

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.