Researching a Strengths-Based Approach to Engineering Education Using Design Squad LatinX

作为在非正式环境中加强学习的总体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习(AISL)计划为各种环境中使用的创新资源提供资金。这个为期三年的研究和实施项目使中学拉丁裔青年能够利用自己的资产和知识资金，通过工程解决社区问题。在STEM工作群中，只有7%的成年人是西班牙裔/拉丁裔。在我们当前和未来的经济中，仍然需要填补工程工作的空缺。该项目将极大地扩大拉美裔青年在作出职业决定的关键时刻对工程活动的参与。Design Squad Global Latinx在之前由NSF资助并被证明是成功的测试模型的基础上进行了扩展。它将使拉美裔青年能够将自己视为设计师和工程师，并利用自己的优势扩大自己的技能和参与科学和工程。该项目的目标是：1)为拉美裔学生开发一种创新的包容性非正式工程教育方法，以扩大他们和其他代表性不足群体的工程参与；(2)促进不同地方、国家和国际利益攸关方之间的合作，以创建STEM学习生态系统；以及(3)促进关于STEM教学法的知识，将个人文化认同和经验与工程学知识和技能联系起来。项目成果包括针对拉美裔青年的以实力为基础的工程教育方法的概念框架、基于资产的计划模式、教育资源集合(包括关于如何构建响应文化的工程挑战活动的俱乐部指南)、针对俱乐部领导人的在线培训课程以及面向与中学青年一起工作的大学工程专业学生的指导战略。项目合作伙伴包括全球教育组织、国际学习组织、女工程师协会和各种大学工程项目。这项研究将采用实验研究设计，以评估对参加设计小组Latinx计划的年轻人的影响。关键的研究问题是：(1)参与是否增加了学生对自己的积极认知以及对工程学和全球视角的理解？(2)不同社区(地点)和不同学生特征(年龄、性别、种族)对工程学理解的变化有多大？(3)教育工作者和俱乐部领导人是否增加了他们对青少年知识财富的积极看法和他们自己对工程学的理解？以及(4)大学导师是否提高了他们在中学青年中领导非正式工程/STEM教育的能力？从当地72个设计小队Latinx俱乐部的注册学生人数为10-15人的俱乐部中抽取样本，其中一半随机分配给参与者条件，一半分配给对照条件。使用的方法包括事前和事后调查、检查计划执行情况的实施日志、进行观察的现场访问、与学生的焦点小组和与成年领导人的访谈。数据将通过估计具有观测值的分层线性模型进行分析。此外，以民族志为导向的现场观察以及在两个地点的访谈将被用来开发定性的案例研究。这一奖项反映了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。

As a part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program funds innovative resources for use in a variety of setting. This three-year research and implementation project empowers middle school LatinX youth to employ their own assets and funds of knowledge to solve community problems through engineering. Only 7% of adults in the STEM job cluster are of Hispanic/Latino origin. There is a continuing need for filling engineering jobs in our current and future economy. This project will significantly broaden participation of LatinX youth in engineering activities at a critical point as they make career decisions. Design Squad Global LatinX expands on a tested model previously funded by NSF and shown to be successful. It will enable LatinX youth to view themselves as designers and engineers and to build from their strengths to expand their skills and participation in science and engineering. The project goals are to: 1) develop an innovative inclusive approach to informal engineering education for LatinX students that can broaden their engineering participation and that of other underrepresented groups, (2) to galvanize collaborations across diverse local, national, and international stakeholders to create a STEM learning ecosystem and (3) to advance knowledge about a STEM pedagogy that bridges personal-cultural identity and experience with engineering knowledge and skills. Project deliverables include a conceptual framework for a strength-based approach to engineering education for LatinX youth, a program model that is asset based, a collection of educational resources including a club guide for how to scaffold culturally responsive engineering challenge activities, an online training course for club leaders, and a mentoring strategy for university engineering students working with middle school youth. Project partners include the global education organization, iEARN, the Society of Women Engineers, and various University engineering programs. The research study will employ an experimental study design to evaluate the impact on youth participating in the Design Squad LatinX programs. The key research questions are (1) Does participation increase students' positive perceptions of themselves and understanding of engineering and global perspectives? (2) To what extent do changes in understanding engineering vary by community (site) and by student characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity)? (3) Do educators and club leaders increase their positive perceptions of youths' funds of knowledge and their own understanding of engineering? and (4) Do university mentors increase their ability to lead informal engineering/STEM education with middle school youth? A sample from 72 local Design Squad LatinX clubs with an enrollment of 10-15 students will be drawn with half randomly assigned to the participant condition and half to the control condition. Methods used include pre and post surveys, implementation logs for checks on program implementation, site visits to carry out observations, focus groups with students and interviews with adult leaders. Data will be analyzed by estimating hierarchical linear models with observations. In addition, in-situ ethnographically-oriented observations as well as interviews at two sites will be used to develop qualitative case studies.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.