Targeted Infusion Project: Nurturing Science Identity through Culturally Relevant Organic Chemistry Laboratories

历史上的黑人学院和大学本科生计划（HBCU-UP）通过有针对性的输液项目支持开发，实施和基于证据的创新模式和方法的研究，以提高HBCU本科生的准备和成功，使他们可以追求STEM研究生课程和/或职业。斯佩尔曼学院的这个项目将通过提供一种促进黑人女性科学身份的学习体验来改变有机实验室课程。该课程将提供指导探究实验，辅以文化相关活动和教学材料，以参与，激励和改善与身份发展过程和学业成绩相关的学生成果。该项目的总体目标是提高学生的学习成绩，同时赋予和肯定他们作为科学家的作用。具体目标是：1）通过开发和实施包含文化相关教学材料的引导探究模块来修改第一学期的有机化学实验室，2）描述模块对学生科学信念，科学家角色信念，学习化学动机的影响，以及他们对实验技术和概念的掌握程度; 3）根据教师和学生的反馈评估模块的实施情况。这些模块将由一个由有机化学和社会科学系组成的教师工作组开发。该项目将影响来自斯佩尔曼学院的350多名学生，从该项目开发的材料将允许超越斯佩尔曼的适应。这项工作的结果将有助于理解STEM领域的多样性举措，并作为一个包容性的课程模式，为妇女和少数民族进入研究生院或STEM工作队伍做好准备。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue STEM graduate programs and/or careers. This project at Spelman College will transform the organic lab curriculum by providing a learning experience that fosters science identity in black women. This curriculum will provide guided inquiry experiments supplemented by culturally relevant activities and instructional materials to engage, motivate, and improve student outcomes related to identity development processes and academic performance. The overall goal of this project is to improve the academic performance of students while simultaneously empowering and affirming their role as scientists. The specific aims are to: 1) revise the first semester organic chemistry laboratory by developing and implementing guided inquiry modules that contain culturally relevant instructional materials, 2) characterize the impact of the modules on students beliefs about science, beliefs about their role as a scientist, their motivation to study chemistry, and their mastery of experimental techniques and concepts and 3) assess the implementation of the modules based on faculty and student feedback. The modules will be developed by a faculty working group consisting of organic chemistry and social science faculty. This project will impact over 350 students from Spelman College and the materials developed from the project will allow for adaptation beyond Spelman. The findings from this work will contribute to the understanding of diversity initiatives in STEM and serve as an inclusive curricular model to prepare women and minorities that go on to graduate school or the STEM workforce.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.