Learning Analytics in STEM Education Research Institute

北卡罗来纳州立大学(NCSU)将建立STEM教育研究中的学习分析(LASeR)研究所，以建立STEM教育研究中的学习分析能力。该研究所将为职业生涯早期和中期的STEM教育研究人员提供学习分析(一种计算研究方法)的专业发展。该研究所的目标是通过使用新的数据来源和分析方法，提高研究人员了解和改善STEM学习和学习环境的能力。该研究所将以为期一周的强化培训计划为基础，该计划包括动手学习实验室、该领域专家的演讲、对研究规划和数据分析的支持以及联网和合作机会。此外，该研究所将为STEM教育研究学者做好准备：1)了解学习分析的方法、应用和伦理问题，因为这些问题与理解和改进STEM教育有关；2)熟练掌握R，这是一个应用于计算分析技术(例如，网络分析、文本挖掘、机器学习和数据仪表板)的自由软件环境，使用真实的STEM教育数据；以及3)扩大专业网络，以支持STEM教育研究工作。该研究所由ECR(教育和人力资源局的核心研究计划)资助，专门关注研究能力建设的关键方面。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。

North Carolina State University (NCSU) will establish the Learning Analytics in STEM Education Research (LASER) Institute to build learning analytics capacity in STEM education research. The institute will provide professional development for early and mid-career STEM education researchers in learning analytics, a computational research methodology. The goal of the institute is to increase the capacity of researchers to understand and improve STEM learning and learning environments through the use of new sources of data and analytical approaches. The institute will be anchored by a week-long intensive training program consisting of hands-on learning labs, presentations from experts in the field, support for research planning and data analyses, and opportunities for networking and collaboration. In addition, follow up support will occur throughout the year.The institute will prepare STEM education research scholars to: 1) understand the methodologies, applications, and ethical issues of learning analytics as these relate to understanding and improving STEM education, 2) gain proficiency in R, a free software environment applied to computational analysis techniques (e.g., network analysis, text mining, machine learning, and data dashboards) using real-world STEM education data, and 3) expand professional networks in support of STEM education research efforts. This research institute is funded by ECR (the core research program of the Education and Human Resources directorate) and attends specifically to critical aspects in research capacity building.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.