Collaborative Research: Cultivating Tomorrow's Innovators Through Exploring Planetary Images with Artificial Intelligence

人工智能迅速渗透到几乎各行各业和每个职业，要求在所有环境下对公共人工智能素养和教育进行创新。该项目将为田纳西州东部的高中生设计、开发和测试一系列课程，通过使用行星探索的图像和新兴的生成性人工智能工具来创建视觉吸引力的生成性艺术品和数字故事，向他们传授人工智能概念。人工智能概念植根于与创作作品相关并通过创意作品的镜头吸引人的主题，可以邀请代表不足和资源不足的年轻人探索他们本来不会选择或没有机会了解的领域。包括人工智能研究人员和教育工作者、STEM学科专家和更广泛的创意作品社区在内的项目团队将采用校外和在线活动的混合，整合行星科学、行星探索、大数据、创意作品和生成性人工智能。这些由年轻人在生成性人工智能的帮助下创作并得到行星探索和行星科学科学家验证的作品将在网上、美国科学与能源博物馆和其他公共场所展出。这一综合研究与实践项目由推进非正式STEM学习方案(AISL)资助，该方案支持以下项目：(A)促进关于STEM非正式学习在公平和归属STEM中的作用的研究和实践；(B)促进STEM个人和教育的成功；(C)促进公众对科学发现的参与；(D)培养对STEM职业的兴趣；(E)为有效的STEM非正式学习创造和加强理论和经验基础；(F)提高社区活力；和/或(G)加强科学交流和公众对STEM和STEM过程的参与和了解，并由学生和教师创新技术体验(ITEST)计划共同资助，该计划支持有助于提高学生对科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)和信息和通信技术(ICT)职业的知识和兴趣的项目，这些项目有助于提高学生对科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)以及信息和通信技术(ICT)职业的知识和兴趣。在为期三年的项目持续时间内，该项目将直接影响约360名高中青年，并将通过在线网络研讨会、研讨会、时事通讯和展览接触到更多的参与者。该项目将调查四个研究问题：(1)参加跨学科校外STEM项目如何影响高中青年的人工智能知识和技能、STEM参与度和认同感以及对科学社区的归属感？(2)关于他们的个人和文化知识和技能(即资产)对当地和更广泛社区的价值，青年了解到什么？(3)哪些项目挑战、特征和内容似乎对参与度、认同感和归属感影响最大？(4)结果如何因青年人口统计数据而变化，包括性别、种族和城乡环境？研究将采用混合方法设计，将定量调查与定性书面反思相结合，将图片与评论相结合。在项目的最后一年，专业发展讲习班将培训教育工作者使用项目产生的学习材料。通过这项工作产生的研究成果将在整合人工智能、STEM和ART用于非正式STEM教育的方法和学习设计方面贡献新的知识。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。

The rapid permeation of AI into nearly all walks of life and every profession calls for innovative approaches of public AI literacy and education in all settings. This project will design, develop, and test a sequence of lessons for high school aged youth from east Tennessee that will teach them artificial intelligence concepts by using images from planetary exploration and emerging Generative AI tools to create visually appealing generative artworks and digital stories. AI concepts grounded in topics that are relevant and engaging through the lens of creative works can serve as an invitation for underrepresented and under-resourced youths to explore fields that they would not otherwise choose or have the opportunity to learn about. The project team including AI researchers and educators, STEM disciplinary experts and the broader creative works community will employ a mixture of out-of-school and online activities, integrating Planetary Science, planetary exploration, big data, creative works, and Generative AI. The works created by youths with the assistance of Generative AI and validated by scientists on planetary exploration and Planetary Science will be showcased online, at the American Museum of Science and Energy, and other public places. This Integrating Research & Practice 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, and co-funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers.Over the three-year project duration, the project will directly impact approximately 360 high school youth and will reach out to a much larger number of participants through online webinars, workshops, newsletters, and exhibits. The project will investigate four research questions: (1) How does participation in an interdisciplinary out-of-school STEM program influence high school youths' AI knowledge and skills, STEM engagement and identity, and sense of belonging to a scientific community? (2) What do youths learn about the value of their personal and cultural knowledge and skills (i.e., assets) to the local and broader community? (3) What program challenges, features, and content appear to have the greatest influence on engagement, identity, and belonging? (4) How do outcomes vary by youth demographics including gender, ethnicity, and urban/rural environment? The research will use a mixed-methods design, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative written reflections and pictures with commentary. In the final year of the project, professional development workshops will train educators to use learning materials generated from the project. Research findings produced through this work will contribute new knowledge on methods and learning designs in integrating AI, STEM and art for informal STEM education.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.