Introducing Scientific Uncertainty into Undergraduate Science Education to Improve Scientific Literacy

该项目旨在通过帮助学生发展对科学不确定性的更复杂的理解来提高学生的科学素养，从而服务于国家利益。科学本质上涉及一定程度的不确定性--新的信息和数据可能会改变理论，预测往往不准确，测量可能不精确。在科学课堂上向学生介绍科学不确定性，有望提高学生的科学素养和理解与科学研究和知识相关的不确定性的能力。该项目将是一个重要的机会，让人们深入了解如何在本科阶段教授科学不确定性--目前还没有任何关于这方面的成熟研究。该项目将最终形成一份指南，旨在帮助全国各地机构的教职员工在自己的课程中实施类似的概念。加强对科学不确定性的理解不仅有助于学生更好地理解科学的本质，还有助于他们更有效地与更广泛的公众交流科学发现。该项目支持NSF促进科学进步的使命。该项目有两个研究目标：探索将科学不确定性整合到现有STEM课程的背景下如何影响(1)对科学不确定性的理解和(2)学生就科学不确定性进行交流的能力。预计将科学不确定性纳入STEM课程将对这两项措施产生积极影响。该项目将首先为晨兴大学的现有教职员工提供一个研讨会，培训他们教授科学不确定性的方法。参与课程的教员将设计一个不确定性模块以融入他们的课程，在课程材料的背景下突出科学的不确定性。项目组将(根据既定的科学素养和不确定性的衡量标准)进行单元实施前和单元后的调查和访谈，以评估学生对不确定性的认知和理解的变化，以及他们传达所学知识的能力。这些模块的有效性将通过将实验组与对照班进行比较来评估，在控制班中，没有增加关于科学不确定性的模块。在控制外部因素的同时，将同时考虑组内和组间的影响，包括教师、专业、乡村和学生性别。NSF IUSE：EDU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。通过参与的学生学习路径，该计划支持有前景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 through enhancing students’ scientific literacy by helping them develop a more complex understanding of scientific uncertainty. Science inherently involves a level of uncertainty – new information and data can change theories, predictions often come up short, and measurements can be imprecise. Introducing students to scientific uncertainty in science classes is expected to enhance students’ scientific literacy and ability to understand the uncertainties associated with scientific research and knowledge. The project will be an important opportunity to develop insights about how to teach scientific uncertainty at the undergraduate level–for which there is not yet any established research. The project will culminate in a guide designed to help faculty members at institutions across the country implement similar concepts in their own courses. Not only will enhanced understanding of scientific uncertainty help students to better understand the nature of science, but it will also help them communicate scientific findings more effectively with the broader public. The project thereby supports the NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science.There are two research goals of the project: exploring how the integration of scientific uncertainty within the context of existing STEM courses impacts (1) understanding of scientific uncertainty and (2) students’ ability to communicate about scientific uncertainty. It is expected that the integration of scientific uncertainty in STEM courses will positively impact both measures. The project will begin with a workshop offered to current faculty members at Morningside University which trains them in methods in teaching scientific uncertainty. Participating faculty members will design an uncertainty module to integrate into their courses which highlights scientific uncertainty in the context of the course material. The project team will conduct pre- and post-module implementation surveys and interviews (based on established measures of scientific literacy and uncertainty) to assess the changes in student perception and understanding of uncertainty as well as their ability to communicate what they have learned. The effectiveness of the modules will be evaluated by comparing the experimental group to control classes, where there is no added module about scientific uncertainty. Both within-group and between-group effects will be considered while controlling for outside factors, including instructor, major, rurality, and student gender. The NSF IUSE:EDU Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the 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.