Improving undergraduate student critical thinking and ability to solve environmental problems with fossil records through FossilSketch application

该项目旨在通过使用化石素描应用程序提高学生在地球科学课程中的学习，从而为国家利益服务。化石素描是一个基于网络的教育软件，用于教授微古生物学，培养学生使用微化石进行标本鉴定和生态解释的基础知识。这些技能对于环境影响研究、能源行业的应用以及理解海洋生态系统的过去、现在和未来都很重要。该项目的目标是改进化石素描软件的试点版本，使其能够在不同的科学课程（如生物学、地质学和环境科学）中广泛使用。该项目旨在加强学生的学术经验，提高他们对STEM职业发展轨迹的兴趣，以及利用化石记录解决环境问题的能力。化石素描为学生提供了一个灵活的实践环境，监控他们的进步，并接受个人反馈。化石素描应用程序的改进版本旨在为地球科学教育工作者提供一个协作工作环境，以上传和分享微化石收藏和不同课程的教育活动。根据自我调节学习的原则，该项目旨在通过使用化石素描应用程序增强和支持学生的学习、自我调节和知识保留。收集到的数据将有助于更深入地了解地球科学的自我调节。化石素描将在德克萨斯农工大学（Texas a&m University）进行介绍和评估，这是一所拥有多样化学生群体的HSI。化石素描在线模块将允许它集成到大规模开放在线课程。高中教师和其他教育工作者将通过外展活动受到影响。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 by improving students’ learning in geosciences classes using the FossilSketch application. FossilSketch is web-based educational software for teaching micropaleontology that trains students in the basics of specimen identification and ecological interpretations using microfossils. These skills are important for environmental impact studies, applications in energy resource industries, and as a foundation for understanding the past, present, and future of our oceanic ecosystems. The goal of the project is to improve the pilot version of FossilSketch software to make it self-sustainable for general use in different science courses (e.g., biology, geology, and environmental science). This Engaged Student Learning Level 2 project aims to strengthen student academic experiences, their interest in STEM career trajectories, and their ability to solve environmental problems with fossil records. FossilSketch provides students a flexible environment to practice, monitor their progress, and receive individual feedback. The improved version of the FossilSketch application seeks to provide geoscience educators with a collaborative working environment to upload and share microfossil collections and educational activities for different courses.Drawing on principles of self-regulated learning, this project is designed to enhance and support students’ learning, self-regulation, and knowledge retention using the FossilSketch application. The collected data will contribute to deeper understanding of self-regulation in geosciences. FossilSketch will be introduced and evaluated at Texas A&M University, an HSI with a diverse student population. The FossilSketch online module will allow for integrating it into Massive Open Online Courses. High school teachers and other educators will be affected through outreach activities. 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.