HSI Pilot Project: Fostering Hispanic Achievement in Computer Science and Engineering with Affinity Research Group Model (Project Achieve)

在改进的本科生STEM教育：拉美裔服务机构(HSI计划)的支持下，这项Track 1：规划和试点计划拨款旨在提高学生在计算机、电气、机械工程和计算机科学(CS)专业的留住/坚持和准备，从而提高他们在布里奇波特大学的学位获得率。此外，随着教师的发展，该助学金旨在加强本科计算机科学和工程教学策略，从而提高学生的学位完成率。对于低收入、第一代和少数族裔学生来说，经济困难和缺乏研究导师等障碍阻碍了他们完成STEM学科的学士学位。此外，文化和学术障碍会降低科学家和工程师在参与研究经历时的自我效能感和自我认同感。项目实现将实施西班牙裔服务机构计算联盟(CAHSI)的亲和力研究小组模式，通过一门引人入胜的本科生研究课程--科学研究挑战导论。本课程将提供与计算机科学、计算机、电气和机械工程课程的教职员工和研究生一起参与研究经验的机会。这一途径1 PPP项目的总体目标是实施、评估和产生基于证据的方法的初步知识，以克服本科工程和计算机科学学位课程的学生进入和坚持的重大障碍。该项目将采用亲和力研究小组模式，这是一套建立在合作小组框架上的做法，以支持创建和维持动态和包容性的研究小组。它将试行一项干预措施，以减少保持参与和完成STEM专业的已知障碍，重点是学生获得与职业相关的技能，与专业人员的联系，以及建立他们完成智力要求高的课程的信心。它将解决以下研究问题。(1)亲和力研究小组模式如何在学生头两年的学习中提高学生对工程和计算机科学专业的坚持性？(2)该模式如何在学生头两年的学习中提高学生的工程自我效能感？(3)教师在实施该模式时采用了哪些方法来发展学生的研究技能(实验室研究技能随后发表)-实践社区、与学生在课堂外的互动等？该项目将为下一阶段的实施提供信息，这将产生对复制和适应有用的数据，并增加关于增加学生在工程和计算机科学专业及相关STEM职业中的代表性的知识。它还将开发一个实践社区，供教师将该模式应用于STEM中其他代表不足的本科生。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。

With support from the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program), this Track 1: Planning and Pilot Program grant aims to increase student retention/persistence and preparedness in Computer, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science (CS) majors, thereby increasing their degree attainment at the University of Bridgeport. Additionally, along with faculty development, the grant aims to enhance undergraduate CS and engineering teaching strategies that will lead to students’ higher degree completion rates. Barriers, like financial hardships and lack of research mentorship, for low-income, first-generation, and minority students prevent them from completing baccalaureate degrees in STEM disciplines. Further, cultural and academic barriers can lower self-efficacy and self-identity as a scientist and engineer when they participate in research experiences. Project ACHIEVE will implement the Affinity Research Group Model from the Computing Alliance for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI) through an engaging undergraduate research course, Introduction to Scientific Research Challenges. This course will offer an opportunity to participate in research experiences with faculty and graduate students in Computer Science, Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering programs.The overarching goal of this Track 1 PPP project is to implement, evaluate, and produce preliminary knowledge on evidence-based methods to overcome significant barriers to entry and persistence among students in undergraduate engineering and computer science degree programs. The project will adapt the Affinity Research Group Model, a set of practices built on a cooperative team framework to support the creation and maintenance of dynamic and inclusive research groups. It will pilot an intervention to mitigate known barriers to maintaining engagement in and completing STEM majors, focusing on students’ acquisition of career-related skills, connectedness to professionals, and building their confidence to complete an intellectually demanding course of study. It will address the research questions as follows. (1) How does the Affinity Research Group Model play a role in increasing students’ persistence in engineering and computer science majors during their first two years of study? (2) How does the model play a role in increasing students’ engineering self-efficacy during their first two years of study? (3) What are the approaches used by the faculty when implementing the model that leads to the development of students’ research skills (laboratory research skills followed by publication) – a community of practice, engagement with students outside the classroom, etc.? This project will inform the next phase of implementation, which will generate data useful for replication, adaptation, and increased knowledge about increasing student representation in engineering and computer science majors and associated STEM careers. It will also develop a community of practice for faculty to apply the model for other underrepresented undergraduates in STEM.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.