Improving Students’ Data Literacy in Environmental Science

提高学生环境科学数据素养

• 批准号: 2120998
• 负责人: Gregory Teegarden
• 金额: $ 25.88万
• 依托单位: Saint Joseph's College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-10-01 至 2025-09-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2120998&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Improving; Students; Data; Literacy; Environmental

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving students’ data literacy in environmental science through the creation and evaluation of a minor in environmental technology and data literacy at St. Joseph’s College of Maine, a small, private, liberal arts college. The addition of this minor is expected to improve students’ understanding and use of technology and data for the purpose of solving problems in environmental science. Environmental scientists need to have the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret large data sets to help make informed decisions related to ecosystems. Active learning techniques have been shown to be effective in engaging students in courses and helping students learn important concepts and skills. This project will build on partnerships with public- and private-sector institutions to aid in the development of a curriculum in environmental data literacy skills at the undergraduate level that will be taught using active learning techniques. The impact of the new curriculum on student learning will be assessed by investigating changes in students' data literacy skill competencies and self-efficacy. This minor can serve as a model for other undergraduate institutions, which could help increase the number of students with the data literacy skills that are needed in the environmental science workforce.The objectives of this project are to (1) develop courses to improve students’ data literacy skills and (2) provide students with field experiences and research opportunities in a community-based learning format so that students can practice their skills. This project will develop four new courses including Environmental Sensors and Networking, Statistics of Large Data Sets, Interpretation and Application of Environmental Data, and Technical Communication for Environmental Science. An existing capstone course will be modified to focus on integrative environmental data literacy skills using research projects from regional public and private institutions. The project will address two research questions: (1) How does an environmental technology and data literacy minor affect data literacy skill competencies and self-efficacy? (2) How do data literacy and self-efficacy correlate to completion of the minor and post-graduation environmental science related employment or postgraduate education? The study will use a mixed methods approach that will include assessing student learning using a pre- and post-inventory of data literacy skills and assessing self-efficacy using a self-efficacy survey instrument and focus groups. Project results will be disseminated through conference posters, publications, and the creation and implementation of a workshop. 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.

该项目旨在通过在缅因州圣约瑟夫学院（一所小型私立文理学院）创建和评估环境技术和数据素养辅修课程，提高学生在环境科学方面的数据素养，从而为国家利益服务。该未成年人的增加预计将提高学生的理解和技术和数据的使用，以解决环境科学中的问题。环境科学家需要具备收集、分析和解释大型数据集的能力，以帮助做出与生态系统相关的明智决策。主动学习技术已被证明是有效的，在吸引学生的课程，并帮助学生学习重要的概念和技能。该项目将利用与公共和私营部门机构的伙伴关系，协助编制本科生环境数据扫盲技能课程，采用主动学习方法教授。新课程对学生学习的影响将通过调查学生的数据读写技能能力和自我效能的变化来评估。这个未成年人可以作为其他本科院校的典范，该项目的目标是：（1）开发课程，提高学生的数据素养技能;（2）为学生提供实地经验和研究机会，在一个社区-基于学习格式，使学生可以练习他们的技能。该项目将开发四门新课程，包括环境传感器和网络，大数据集统计，环境数据的解释和应用，以及环境科学技术交流。将修改现有的顶点课程，利用区域公共和私营机构的研究项目，侧重于综合环境数据扫盲技能。该项目将解决两个研究问题：（1）环境技术和数据素养未成年人如何影响数据素养技能能力和自我效能？(2)数据素养和自我效能如何与完成未成年人和毕业后环境科学相关的就业或研究生教育相关？该研究将采用混合方法，包括使用数据素养技能的前后清单评估学生的学习情况，并使用自我效能调查工具和焦点小组评估自我效能。项目成果将通过会议海报、出版物以及设立和举办讲习班加以传播。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。该奖项反映了NSF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。