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一个行业，这要求在所有环境中采用创新的公共人工智能扫盲和教育方法。该项目将为来自田纳西州东部的高中生设计、开发和测试一系列课程，通过使用行星探索图像和新兴的生成性人工智能工具来教授他们人工智能概念，以创建视觉上吸引人的生成性艺术作品和数字故事。基于相关主题的人工智能概念，通过创造性作品的透镜吸引人，可以邀请代表性不足和资源不足的年轻人探索他们不会选择或有机会学习的领域。该项目团队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，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，创意作品和生成人工智能。由年轻人在Generative AI的帮助下创作并由行星探索和行星科学家验证的作品将在美国科学与能源博物馆和其他公共场所在线展示。该整合研究&实践项目由推进非正式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职业的发展。（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对STEM和STEM过程的参与和理解，并由学生和教师创新技术体验（ITEST）计划共同资助，该项目支持建立对实践，计划要素，背景和过程的理解，有助于增加学生对科学，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。在三年的项目期间，该项目将直接影响约360名高中青年，并将通过在线研讨会、讲习班、通讯和展览接触更多的参与者。该项目将调查四个研究问题：（1）参与跨学科的校外STEM项目如何影响高中青少年的人工智能知识和技能，STEM参与和身份，以及对科学社区的归属感？(2)青年人对他们的个人和文化知识和技能的价值了解多少（即，#21453;，为当地和更广泛的社区？(3)哪些项目挑战、功能和内容似乎对参与度、身份和归属感影响最大？(4)结果如何因青年人口统计数据（包括性别、种族和城市/农村环境）而异？研究将采用混合方法设计，将定量调查与定性书面反思以及图片与评论相结合。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为非正式STEM教育中整合AI，STEM和艺术的方法和学习设计提供新的知识。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估而被认为值得支持。

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.