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

该项目旨在通过开发、实施和研究佐治亚州立大学周长学院两年制化学和生物专业学生早期研究经验的有效性来服务于国家利益，该学院是一所以黑人为主的机构。周边学院(PC)是佐治亚州立大学(GSU)内的一所授予副学士学位的机构，其职能类似于典型的社区学院。这一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有指导的研究活动，将化学和生物学习与学生的生活经验联系起来。重要的是，这个项目旨在使用现成的仪器和学生津贴相结合，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，并将利用大学教师的集体专业知识来指导项目。该项目团队计划测量研究经验对STEM学生身份认同和自我效能感发展的影响，旨在广泛分享项目材料和研究结果。最终，该项目将改变学校准备学生转到四年制大学的方式，并可能建立学生成功参与更严格的研究体验所需的信心。该项目的总体目标是通过让两年制大学化学和生物专业的学生在大学第一年和第二年期间参与研究体验，加强学生对STEM的认同感和对STEM职业的兴趣。该项目的具体目标是：1)利用通常在两年制院校找到的资源创造适应性研究机会；2)利用津贴激励参与STEM研究；3)提供参加本科生研究专题讨论会的资源和机会；以及4)探索参与研究如何影响来自各种背景的两年制大学生的STEM认同感。项目团队将与外部评估者合作，以捕捉学生的体验，并评估早期研究经验对学生对STEM的兴趣、他们参与其他研究经验的准备情况以及他们随着时间的推移对STEM认同感的发展的影响。该项目的结果将广泛传播到两年制大学STEM社区。NSF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教育倡议的项目。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 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.