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

作为加强非正式环境中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授权拉丁x中学青年利用自己的资产和知识资金，通过工程解决社区问题。在STEM工作集群中，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，对工程岗位的需求是持续的。该项目将大大扩大拉丁x青年在职业决策的关键时刻参与工程活动的机会。Design Squad Global LatinX扩展了先前由NSF资助的测试模型，并显示出成功。它将使拉丁x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他们在科学和工程方面的技能和参与。该项目的目标是：1)为拉丁裔学生开发一种创新的、包容的非正式工程教育方法，以扩大他们和其他代表性不足的群体的工程参与；(2)激发不同地方、国家和国际利益相关者之间的合作，创建一个STEM学习生态系统；(3)推进有关STEM教学法的知识，将个人文化认同和经验与工程知识和技能联系起来。项目可交付成果包括：一个针对拉丁x青年的以实力为基础的工程教育方法的概念框架、一个以资产为基础的项目模型、一套教育资源，其中包括一份关于如何组织与文化相关的工程挑战活动的俱乐部指南、一套针对俱乐部领导人的在线培训课程，以及一套针对大学工程专业学生与中学生合作的指导策略。项目合作伙伴包括全球教育组织，iEARN，女性工程师协会和各种大学工程专业。本研究将采用实验研究设计来评估参与design Squad LatinX计划对青少年的影响。关键的研究问题是：(1)参与是否增加了学生对自己的积极看法以及对工程和全球视角的理解？(2)社区（地点）和学生特征（年龄、性别、种族）在多大程度上改变了对工程的理解？(3)教育工作者和俱乐部领导是否增加了他们对青年知识基金和他们自己对工程的理解的积极看法？(4)大学导师是否提高了他们领导中学生非正式工程/STEM教育的能力？从当地72个Design Squad LatinX俱乐部中抽取样本，共招收10-15名学生，其中一半随机分配到参与者条件，一半分配到对照组。使用的方法包括前后调查、检查项目执行情况的执行日志、实地考察、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层次线性模型来分析。此外，将利用以当地人种学为导向的观察以及在两个地点的访谈来进行定性案例研究。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。

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.