Introducing Scientific Uncertainty into Undergraduate Science Education to Improve Scientific Literacy

该项目旨在通过帮助学生对科学不确定性有更复杂的理解，从而提高他们的科学素养，从而为国家利益服务。科学本质上涉及一定程度的不确定性——新的信息和数据可以改变理论，预测经常不足，测量可能不精确。在科学课上向学生介绍科学的不确定性，旨在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，可以深入了解如何在本科阶段教授科学不确定性——目前还没有任何成熟的研究。该项目最终将形成一份指南，旨在帮助全国各院校的教师在他们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，而且还有助于他们更有效地与更广泛的公众交流科学发现。因此，该项目支持了NSF促进科学进步的使命。该项目有两个研究目标：探索在现有STEM课程背景下整合科学不确定性如何影响(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STEM课程中科学不确定性的整合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任教职员工提供一个讲习班，培训他们教授科学不确定性的方法。参与的教师将设计一个不确定性模块整合到他们的课程中，突出课程材料背景下的科学不确定性。项目团队将进行模块实施前和模块实施后的调查和访谈（基于科学素养和不确定性的既定测量），以评估学生对不确定性的感知和理解的变化，以及他们交流所学知识的能力。这些模块的有效性将通过比较实验组和控制班来评估，控制班没有增加关于科学不确定性的模块。在控制外部因素（包括教师、专业、乡村性和学生性别）的同时，将考虑组内效应和组间效应。NSF IUSE:EDU项目支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。通过参与学生学习轨道，该计划支持有前途的实践和工具的创建，探索和实施。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.