DEM (Informal) Science on Patrol

“巡逻中的科学”是未来学校研究所和警察运动联盟与曼哈顿抢劫小组、犯罪现场小组、纵火和爆炸小组以及纽约市警察局侦探处的其他单位合作开展的一个示范项目，选定了纽约市公立学校、社区外展组织、科学专业人员以及数据库和网页设计人员，旨在通过为青少年提供他们可以通过应用犯罪现场调查员实际使用的科学过程和技能来解决的引人注目的问题（“犯罪”）来促进对科学的兴趣和成就。这种方法利用了大众媒体、电影和当前电视节目中对高调犯罪的关注。这个非正式的科学项目旨在通过实现以下目标来提高青少年女性和其他代表性不足的少数群体的科学参与水平和成就：1.利用基于研究的战略吸引和留住代表性不足的少数群体，特别是 女性，在非正式的科学方案;2。提高他们对科学知识和技能的兴趣和成就;该项目将通过现有的结构展开，第一年在布朗克斯的PAL中心，第二年在整个纽约市的PAL中心，第三年在全国各地的PAL中心。由PAL中心的教师、教育工作者、警察侦探、教学设计者和科学家组成的跨学科小组将协同工作，以：（1）开发、实地测试和修订至少12个犯罪案例，供青少年解决;（2）开发额外的课程材料，包括辅导员指南，科学巡逻网站，学生活动包，其中包括每个'犯罪'的案例文件夹，（3）提高参与者应用科学知识和程序解决真实的世界问题的能力;和，（4）建立教师的能力，在性别中立的环境中解决紧迫和具有挑战性的问题，促进合作，鼓励解决问题，并反映研究和最佳实践，以增加科学的参与和成就-几十年来，对女性在数学、科学和技术领域代表性不足的根源和结果进行的研究充分表明，K-16学校教育的文化和背景显然是问题的核心。然而，文献显示，制约女性和其他代表性不足的少数民族在更高层次的数学和科学的参与和成就的因素是可变的。科学巡逻是一个创新的项目，将科学知识和技能与法医专家在真实的世界中的应用联系起来，为初中和高中学生提供一个高度激励性的学习课程。然而，关键因素是综合利用基于研究的结果来塑造专门设计的学习环境，以吸引和留住女性和其他代表性不足的少数群体，使其继续学习科学和从事与科学有关的职业。“科学巡逻”并没有挑出促进女性和其他代表性不足的少数群体成功的基于研究的具体因素。相反，它以综合和连贯的方式整合所有因素，以创造对目标人群友好的学习环境。有关这些学习环境的文化和背景的信息将被广泛传播，并作为其他非正式科学工作和以学校为基础的K-16教室的典范。

Science on Patrol (SOP), a demonstration project of the Institute for Schools of the Future and the Police Athletic League in collaboration with the Manhattan Robbery Squad,the Crime Scene Unit, the Arson and Explosion Squad and other units of the New York CityPolice Department Detective Division, selected New York City public schools, communityoutreach organizations, science professionals and database and Web designers, is designedto promote interest and achievement in science by providing youngsters compelling problems ('crimes') they can solve by applying the scientific processes and skillsactually used by crime scene investigators to solve crimes. This approach capitalizes on the interest in high profile crimes treated in the popular press, movies and currenttelevision programs. The informal science project is aimed squarely at raising the level ofparticipation and achievement in science for adolescent females and other members of underrepresented minority groups by achieving thee goals:1. using research-based strategies to attract and retain underrepresented minorities, particularly females, in informal science programs;2. increasing their interest and achievement in science knowledge and skills; and3. raising their awareness and interest in science-based careers.This project will roll out through an existing structure, PAL centers in the Bronx in YearOne, in PAL centers throughout New York City in Year Two and in PAL centers across the country in Year Three. Interdisciplinary teams comprising PAL center instructors,educators, police detectives, instructional designers, and scientists will work collaboratively to: (1) develop, field test and revise a minimum of 12 crime scenariosfor the youngsters to solve; (2) develop additional course materials, including aFacilitator's Guide, the Science on Patrol website, a Student Activities Kits whichinclude case folders for each of the 'crimes', and a manual for mentors and/or volunteers;(3) increase the participants' capacity to apply science knowledge and processes to solve real world problems; and, (4) build the capacity of faculty to implement compelling and challenging problems in environments that are gender-neutral, promote collaboration, encourage problem-solving and reflect both research and best practice for increasing participation and achievement in science-based areas.Decades of research on the root causes and outcomes of the under representation of females in mathematics, science and technology have amply demonstrated that the cultureand context of K-16 schooling clearly lies at the heart of the issue. Yet the literatureshows the very factors that constrain participation and achievement of females and otherunderrepresented minorities in higher levels of mathematics and science are alterable.Science on Patrol is an innovative project that links science knowledge and skills with the real world applications of forensic specialists in a highly motivating course of studyfor middle and high school students. The key element, however, is the comprehensive use of research-based findings to shape learning environments specifically designed to attract and retain females and other underrepresentedminorities to advanced study of science andscience-related careers. Science on Patrol does not single out specific research-basedfactors that promote success for female and other underrepresented minorities.Instead, it integrates all in an integrated and coherent manner to create learning environments that are friendly to the target population. Information about the cultureand context of these learning environments will be disseminated broadly and serve as a model for other informal science efforts and for school-based K-16 classrooms.