An Investigation of Synergistic Effects of Discipline-based Growth Mindset and Effective Learning Strategies Interventions in Gateway Chemistry Courses

该项目旨在通过提高本科生在门户化学课程中的心态信念、学习策略和坚持不懈来服务于国家利益。学生早期的成功和在科学门户课程中学到的技能是他们成功完成科学学位不可或缺的一部分。研究表明，实施成长心态(GM)或有效学习策略(ELS)干预可以改善学生在科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)课程中的学习。然而，很少有人研究这两种相关干预措施的组合。这一参与程度为1的学生学习项目将调查两个以化学为基础的在线模块(GM和ELS)在两个拉美裔服务机构的入门和普通化学课程中与学生实施的协同效应。GM和ELS模块的结合将明确教会学生如何应对化学课程特定背景下的挑战，并采取必要的有效学习策略，以提高他们的学习技能和学术成就。该项目预计将制作在线材料，包括互动视频和反思性写作活动，在化学课程中教授转基因和ELS，并增进对STEM课程中广泛耦合的GM和ELS模块的理解。该项目的长期目标包括影响学生的心态和学习技能，提高学生在入门化学课程中的成功和保持，以及提高STEM领域的多样性。该项目的目标是为两个机构的入门和普通化学课程开发两个基于化学的GM和ELS模块，并使用随机对照试验(RCT)来检验它们的有效性。学生参与者将被随机分配到四种学习条件中的一种：对照、仅使用GM(与对照)、仅使用ELS(与对照)以及使用两个模块。这些干预措施的有效性将通过以下衡量来评估：i)学生心态信念的变化，ii)使用有效学习策略的变化，iii)比较课程学习条件下的考试成绩，以及iv)在两所院校的入门和普通化学课程中对代表性不足的少数族裔学生(URM)的不同影响。将通过比较后续化学课程的完成率来检验该项目的长期影响。此外，还将进行焦点小组访谈，以探讨和解释这两个单元的协同效应。项目组将通过以下方式传播研究成果：建立一个网站，为全球机制和经济、社会和文化研究单元的潜在采用者提供培训和辅导材料；培训主办机构的教师；在区域和国家会议上组织讲习班；以及通过在化学/科学教育期刊上发表会议报告和出版物。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过其参与的学生学习跟踪，该计划支持有前途的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。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。

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving undergraduate students’ mindset beliefs, learning strategies, and persistence in gateway chemistry courses. Students’ early success and skills learned in science gateway courses are integral to their success in completing science degrees. Research has reported that implementing the Growth Mindset (GM) or Effective Learning Strategies (ELS) interventions can improve student learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses. However, very few have studied the combination of these two related interventions. This Level 1 Engaged Student Learning project will investigate the synergistic effects of two chemistry-based online modules (GM and ELS) implemented with students in introductory and general chemistry courses at two Hispanic Serving Institutions. The coupling of GM and ELS modules will explicitly teach students how to respond to challenges in specific contexts of the chemistry courses and adopt effective learning strategies necessary for improving their learning skills and academic success. The project is expected to produce online materials, including interactive videos and reflective writing activities, to teach GM and ELS in chemistry courses and advance understanding of coupling GM and ELS modules broadly in STEM curricula. The long term goals of the project include impacting students’ mindset and learning skills, improving student success and retention in gateway chemistry courses, and improving diversity in STEM fields.The goals of the project are to develop two chemistry-based GM and ELS modules for the introductory and general chemistry courses in two institutions, and to examine their effectiveness using a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Student participants will be randomly assigned to one of four study conditions: control, use of GM only (with control), use of ELS only (with control), and use of both modules. The effectiveness of these interventions will be evaluated by measuring: i) changes in students’ mindset beliefs, ii) changes in using effective learning strategies, iii) comparing exam performance between the study conditions in the courses, and iv) differential impact for underrepresented minority students (URM) in the introductory and general chemistry courses across the two institutions. The long-term impact of the project will be examined by comparing completion rates in subsequent chemistry courses. Additionally, focus group interviews will be conducted to explore and explain the synergistic effects of the two modules. The project team will disseminate findings by creating a website with training and tutorial materials for potential adopters of the GM and ELS modules, training instructors in the host institutions, organizing workshops at regional and national conferences, and through conference presentations and publications in chemistry/science education journals. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through its 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.