Conference: Equity, Innovation, and STEAM - Strengthening the R&D Connections

会议：公平、创新和 STEAM - 加强 R

• 批准号: 2314092
• 负责人: Lillian Poats
• 金额: $ 23.66万
• 依托单位: Texas Southern University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2025-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2314092&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Conference; Equity; Innovation; STEAM; Strengthening

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math) continues to grow in the informal science learning field, with a wide variety of findings from researchers and practitioners. There is a significant need to assess where this nascent field is in relation to equity and what are the critical next steps that should be taken. Research shows: (1) a need to develop more mutually supportive links in this work between researchers and practitioners; (2) a need to address equitable access, framing, and design in STEAM informal science learning; and additionally, (3) that STEAM engages underserved populations in STEM. This can, potentially, help provide needed diversity in the STEM workforce, along with creative and innovative thinking skills essential to success. Texas Southern University, in partnership with the Innovation Collaborative, will convene a two-year five-phase working conference project to address these issues. This conference project is housed on an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) campus that has a museum studies program and a university museum. A core group of diverse leading STEAM informal science learning researchers and practitioners will help lead the project. They will assemble diverse teams representing the broad spectrum of informal science learning institutions. During the two years, these participants will immerse themselves in equity, choose and frame the six most important topics to address, and investigate these topics through virtual and in-person components. This conference project can serve as a model for other fields to develop an approach and next steps relating to equity, especially as it integrates research and practice.The goals of this research are to develop: 1) a cohesive approach, integrating research and practice, to the most salient issues regarding equity in STEAM informal science learning; and 2) an effective model for a STEAM informal science learning conference project to address equity. All targeted outcomes will be iteratively measured using equitable, culturally responsive evaluation techniques. The project findings will be disseminated through traditional and nontraditional means with a focus on reaching a wide variety of diverse audiences. At the conclusion of this process, there will be a more cohesive view of where the STEAM informal science learning field is in relation to equity that will inform next steps that will benefit a broad spectrum of underserved populations. This conference project is funded by the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program, which supports projects that: (a) contribute to research and practice that considers informal STEM learning's role in equity and belonging in STEM; (b) promote personal and educational success in STEM; (c) advance public engagement in scientific discovery; (d) foster interest in STEM careers; (e) create and enhance the theoretical and empirical foundations for effective informal STEM learning; (f) improve community vibrancy; and/or (g) enhance science communication and the public's engagement in and understanding of STEM and STEM processes.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.

STEAM（科学，技术，工程，艺术和数学）在非正式的科学学习领域继续增长，研究人员和实践者的研究结果多种多样。非常有必要评估这一新生领域与公平的关系，以及下一步应采取哪些关键步骤。研究表明：（1）需要在研究人员和实践者之间的这项工作中建立更多相互支持的联系;（2）需要解决STEAM非正式科学学习中的公平获取，框架和设计问题;此外，（3）STEAM使STEM中服务不足的人群参与其中。这可能有助于为STEM劳动力提供所需的多样性，沿着成功所必需的创造性和创新思维技能。德克萨斯南方大学与创新合作组织合作，将召开为期两年的五阶段工作会议项目，以解决这些问题。该会议项目位于HBCU（历史上的黑人学院和大学）校园内，该校园设有博物馆研究项目和大学博物馆。一个由各种领先的STEAM非正式科学学习研究人员和实践者组成的核心小组将帮助领导该项目。他们将组建代表广泛的非正式科学学习机构的不同团队。在两年的时间里，这些参与者将沉浸在公平中，选择和确定要解决的六个最重要的主题，并通过虚拟和面对面的组件来调查这些主题。本研究的目标是：1）针对STEAM非正式科学学习中最突出的公平问题，建立一种研究与实践相结合的方法; 2）在STEAM非正式科学学习中，建立一种研究与实践相结合的方法; 3）在STEAM非正式科学学习中，建立一种研究与实践相结合的方法。和2）STEAM非正式科学学习会议项目的有效模式，以解决公平问题。所有目标成果都将使用公平、文化上敏感的评价技术反复衡量。将通过传统和非传统手段传播项目的调查结果，重点是接触各种各样的受众。在这一过程结束时，将有一个更有凝聚力的观点，即STEAM非正式科学学习领域与公平的关系，这将为未来的步骤提供信息，这将使广泛的服务不足人群受益。该会议项目由推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划资助，该计划支持以下项目：（a）促进研究和实践，考虑非正式STEM学习在STEM中的公平和归属感中的作用;（B）促进STEM中的个人和教育成功;（c）推动公众参与科学发现;（d）培养对STEM职业的兴趣;（e）促进STEM的发展。（e）为有效的非正式STEM学习建立和加强理论和经验基础;（f）提高社区活力;和/或（g）加强科学传播和公众参与和理解STEM和STEM过程。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学术价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。