Extracurricular Instrument Training Experience for Students at a Two-Year College

该项目旨在通过开发、实施和研究乔治亚州立大学圆周学院（一个以黑人为主的机构）两年制大学化学和生物学学生早期研究经验的有效性，为国家利益服务。圆周学院（PC）是乔治亚州立大学（GSU）内的一所副学士学位授予机构，是一所典型的社区学院。新方法将具有广泛的重要性，因为它旨在让学生参与真正的指导研究活动，将化学和生物学的学习与学生的生活经验联系起来。重要的是，该项目旨在使用现成的仪器，结合学生津贴，让学生参与多年的研究经验。正在进行的研究机会将提供给学生在他们的家乡校园，并将利用学院教师的集体专业知识来指导项目。项目组计划测量研究经历对学生STEM认同感和自我效能感发展的影响，旨在广泛分享项目资料和研究成果。最终，该项目将改变该机构准备学生转入四年制大学的方式，并可能建立学生成功从事更严格的研究经验所需的信心。该项目的总体目标是通过让两年制大学化学和生物学学生在大学一年级和二年级的研究经历来增强学生的STEM身份和对STEM职业的兴趣。该项目的具体目标是：1)利用两年制院校的资源创造适应性强的研究机会；2)利用津贴来激励参与STEM研究；3)提供参与本科生研究专题讨论会的资源和机会；4)探索参与研究如何影响来自不同背景的两年制大学生的STEM认同。项目团队将与外部评估人员合作，以捕捉学生的经历，并评估早期研究经历对学生对STEM的兴趣、他们参与其他研究经历的准备程度以及随着时间的推移他们对STEM身份的发展的影响。该项目的成果将广泛传播到两年制大学STEM社区。美国国家科学基金会关于在两年制高等教育机构推进本科STEM教育的创新和影响的项目描述支持在两年制大学推进STEM教育计划的项目。该项目描述促进了两年制大学本科STEM教育的创新和循证实践。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 by developing, implementing, and studying the effectiveness of early research experiences for two-year college chemistry and biology students at Georgia State University, Perimeter College, a predominantly Black institution. Perimeter College (PC) is and an associate degree granting institution within Georgia State University (GSU) that functions as a typical community college. The new approach will be of broad importance as it is intended to engage students in authentic mentored research activities that connect chemistry and biology learning to students’ lived experiences. Importantly, this project aims to use readily available instrumentation combined with student stipends to engage students in a multi-year research experience. On-going research opportunities will be made available to students on their home campus and will utilize the collective expertise of college faculty to guide projects. The project team plans to measure the impact of the research experiences on students’ development of identity and self-efficacy in STEM and aims to widely share project materials and study results. Ultimately, the project will transform the way the institution prepares students to transfer to a four-year university and is likely to build the confidence that students need to successfully engage in more rigorous research experiences.The overall goal of this project is to strengthen student STEM identities and interest in STEM careers by engaging two-year college chemistry and biology students in research experiences during their first and second year of the college experience. The specific objectives of the project are to: 1) create adaptable research opportunities using resources typically found at two-year institutions; 2) utilize stipends to incentivize participation in STEM research; 3) provide resources and opportunities for participation in undergraduate research symposiums; and 4) explore how participation in research may impact STEM identity among two-year college students from a wide variety of backgrounds. The project team will partner with an external evaluator to capture the student experience and assess the impact of early research experiences on students’ interest in STEM, their readiness to engage in other research experiences, and their development of STEM identity over time. The results of the project will be disseminated broadly to the 2-year college STEM community. The NSF program description on Advancing Innovation and Impact in Undergraduate STEM Education at Two-year Institutions of Higher Education supports projects that advance STEM education initiatives at two-year colleges. The program description promotes innovative and evidence-based practices in undergraduate STEM education at two-year colleges.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.