The New Science Project: An Introductory Science Reform Effort

“新科学项目”是由一组教师和管理人员开发的，他们认识到，有太多来自传统上代表性不足的科学群体的学生进入格林内尔，他们希望主修科学，但最终离开了科学。这些学生在学术上很有天赋；他们毕业了，但不是理科。在发展和鼓励这些努力方面，保管委员会和前受奖人特别会长咨询委员会也提供了强有力的咨询支持。这群校董和校友都是理科生，他们积极支持这些活动，来到格林内尔，与学生交谈，并提供资金支持。董事会决定继续进行价值1530万美元的改造和扩建格林内尔的科学设施，这是董事会得到支持的一个明确指标，他们认为这是必要的，以便在物理上适应科学部门的课程和教学变化。“新科学项目”是格林内尔大学科学学院和行政部门在整个学院范围内进行的一项更大的改革努力的一个组成部分，这项改革包括对教学方法和课程进行重大改革，同时对科学设施进行翻新和扩建。更大的科学项目改革促进了协作学习，促进了对学习者社区至关重要的思想交流和交流。为了实现这一目标，格林内尔的科学教师在教学方法和内容上都进行了重大改革。通过将创造性思维与实验相结合，我们希望使科学研究成为格林内尔大学文科教育的内在组成部分。新科学项目旨在使所有学生都能学习科学，并增加他们成功的机会。虽然该项目已经并将引入的改革是面向所有学生的选择/服务，但我们针对的是那些传统上在科学领域代表性不足的学生。为了鼓励这些学生，我们制定了一个多学科项目，其中包括在所有五个科学系进行的课程改革实验，为受邀学生在大一之前提供的预培训项目，以及早期研究经验的机会。课程改革主要包括与四学分入门课程并行的一学分工作坊/实验课程。现在是该计划实施的第三个年头，对该计划的评估已经确定了进一步改进的方向。生物、化学和数学方面的讲习班和研讨会是绝对需要的，但对学生的影响不够大，需要与入门课程更好地协调；在入门课程中需要额外帮助的学生资源有限。课程改革项目，已经出现了满足这些课程需求和补充学生援助资源将提供。作为格林内尔学院新科学项目的一部分，这份提交给美国国家科学基金会的提案寻求对第二代改革的支持。我们建议对生物、化学和数学的导论课程进行全面修订。在新科学项目第一阶段引入的物理研讨会系列将贯穿整个项目。我们也建议透过一个新的科学学习中心来协调和扩展学生辅导和辅导服务。

The New Science Project was developed by a team of faculty and administrators in response to the recognition that too large a number of students from traditionally underrepresented groups in the sciences were entering Grinnell stating a desire to have science majors, but ultimately leaving science. These students were academically talented; they graduated, but not in science. There was also strong advisory support in developing and encouraging these efforts from the Trustees and a special Presidential advisory committee of alumni. This group of Trustees and alumni, who are science graduates, have actively supported these activities by coming to Grinnell and speaking with students, as well as with financial support. A clear indicator of the support received by the Trustees is their decision to go forward with the $15.3 million renovation and the expansion of Grinnell's science facilities, which they agreed was necessary in order to physically accommodate the curricular and pedagogical changes in the science division. The New Science Project is an integral part of a larger division-wide reform effort by Grinnell's science faculty and administration which includes making significant changes in teaching methodologies and the curriculum, coupled with the renovation and expansion of the science facilities. The larger science program reforms promote collaborative learning and foster the communication and the interchange of ideas central to a vital community of learners. In order to achieve this Grinnell's science faculty are introducing significant change in both pedagogy and in content. By coupling creative thought with experimentation, we hope to make the study of science an intrinsic part of the liberal arts education at Grinnell. The New Science Project seeks to make the study of science accessible to all students and to increase their chances of success. While the reforms which the Project has and will introduce are options/services available to all students, we have targeted those students who are traditionally underrepresented in the sciences. To encourage these students, we have developed a multi-disciplinary program that includes curricular reform experiments in all five science departments, a pre-orientation program for invited students prior to their freshman year, and opportunities for early research experiences. Curricular reforms consisted primarily of one-credit workshop/laboratory courses parallel to the four-credit introductory courses. Now in its third full year of operation, assessment of the program has identified directions for further improvement. Workshops and seminars in Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics were definitely needed, but were not affecting enough students, and needed better coordination with the introductory course; and students needing extra assistance in introductory courses had limited resources. Curricular reform projects, have emerged to meet these curricular needs and supplementary student assistance resources will be provided. This proposal to the NSF seeks support for the second generation of reforms as part of Grinnell College's New Science Project. We propose development of completely revised introductory courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Math. The Physics Workshop series, introduced under the first phase of the New Science Project, will continue throughout the project. We also propose the coordination and expansion of student tutoring and mentoring services through a new Science Learning Center.