Ohio Consortium for Undergraduate Research: Research Experiences to Enhance Learning (REEL)

化学部的这一奖项支持建立一个本科生研究中心（URC），作为一个涉及俄亥俄州15所高等教育机构的合作努力。俄亥俄州州立大学是牵头机构。PI是Prabir Dutta，俄亥俄州州立大学，与coPI威廉多诺万，阿克伦大学，艾伦亨特，扬斯敦州立大学，劳伦斯迈耶，哥伦布州立社区学院，和理查德泰勒，迈阿密大学。该提案将为建立俄亥俄州本科生研究联盟（OCUR）提供资金。研究经验，以提高学习（REEL）项目是由跨越俄亥俄州的15所高等教育机构。该项目的目标是：（1）将目前的第一和第二年的化学课程转变为研究密集型课程，使学生能够追求额外的科学导向培训，欣赏研究的科学和道德性质，并采用科学方法作为终身解决问题的技术;（2）提高科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）领域的保留率和毕业率;及（3）透过多地点的师生合作研究计划，将研究成果汇集于一个共同的数据库，以产生化学科学的新知识。这些目标将通过以下方式实现：（1）在本科化学课程中开发、实施和评估研究模块，这些模块以学生为导向，利用基于发现的教学，并提供基于研究的经验;（2）开发灵活的管理结构，以促进本科化学研究的沟通和协作课程规划;（3）在机构内和机构间建立学生化学学习社区;（4）通过引入采用可访问的现代仪器的研究模块，增强整个俄亥俄州的研究能力、基础设施和文化;（5）方便使用仪器，促进学生合作项目/讨论，并使用俄亥俄州的超高速电子网络连接本科化学研究成果;（6）促进学生对科学现有研究机会的认识;（7）将研究模块纳入所有合作机构的课程;（8）将STEM领域的毕业率提高至少10%，并监测人口统计和毕业趋势;（9）将学生参与传统本科研究计划的比例提高至少20%，无论其专业如何;（10）创建一个教师增强委员会，以批评和塑造该项目;（11）增加由本科生合著的出版物的数量在评审期刊，海报会议，和电子期刊;（12）进行定量和定性的纵向研究，比较学生在当前化学实验室的成果与新研究的成果-密集实验室;（13）在项目结束时，将联合会的成员增加到7个机构，特别强调社区学院;以及（14）向有关社区传播OCUR-REEL的最佳做法和材料。领导和管理计划通过由俄亥俄州所有主要机构的化学主席组成的管理委员会，为所有参与者提供持续的投入。将通过一个教师增强委员会负责：（1）批评REEL项目提供持续的反馈;（2）建议模块内容和结构的变化;（3）讨论REEL培训的本科生在教师研究计划中的表现，以及;（4）讨论本科生研究经验在教学和学习奖学金的问题。由Jane Butler Kahle博士领导的俄亥俄州数学和科学教育评估中心将担任该项目的外部评估员。数学和物理科学理事会多学科活动办公室共同资助该奖项。

This award from the Chemistry Division supports the establishment of an Undergraduate Research Center (URC) as a collaborative effort involving 15 institutions of higher education in the state of Ohio. Ohio State University is the lead institution. The PI is Prabir Dutta, Ohio State University, with coPIs William Donovan, University of Akron, Allen Hunter, Youngstown State University, Laurence Mayer, Columbus State Community College, and Richard Taylor, Miami University. This proposal will provide funding to establish the Ohio Consortium for Undergraduate Research (OCUR). The Research Experiences to Enhance Learning (REEL) project is comprised of 15 institutions of higher education spanning the state of Ohio. The Project goals are: (1) to transform the current 1st and 2nd year chemistry courses into a research-intensive program so students will pursue additional scientifically oriented training, appreciate the scientific and ethical nature of research, and adopt the scientific method as a lifelong problem-solving technique; (2) to increase the retention and graduation rates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields; and, (3) to generate new knowledge in the chemical sciences through multi-site faculty student collaborative research projects that pool their results in a common data base. These goals will be achieved by: (1) developing, implementing, and evaluating Research Modules in undergraduate chemistry courses which are student-oriented, utilize discovery-based instruction, and provide for research-based experiences; (2) developing a flexible management structure to promote communication and collaborative curricular programming for undergraduate research in chemistry; (3) building student learning communities in chemistry within and across institutions; (4) enhancing the research capacity, infrastructure, and culture throughout Ohio by introducing Research Modules that employ accessible modern instrumentation; (5) facilitating access to instruments, promoting student collaborative projects/discussions, and linking research results in undergraduate chemistry using Ohio's ultra high-speed electronic network; (6) promoting student awareness of existing research opportunities in science; (7) integrating the Research Modules into the curriculum at all the partner institutions; (8) increasing graduation rates in STEM fields by at least 10% over current levels and monitoring demographic and graduation trends; (9) increasing student participation by at least 20% in traditional undergraduate research programs, regardless of their major; (10) creating a Faculty Enhancement Committee to critique and shape the project; (11) increasing the number of publications coauthored by undergraduates in refereed journals, poster sessions, and electronic journals; (12) performing a quantitative and qualitative longitudinal study to compare student outcomes in the current chemistry labs with those from the new research-intensive labs; (13) expanding the Consortium membership by seven institutions by the end of the project, with a particular emphasis on community colleges; and, (14) disseminating OCUR-REEL's best practices and materials to relevant communities. The leadership and management plans provide for continuous input from all the participants through a governing board consisting of the chemistry chairs from all of the major institutions in the state of Ohio. Continuous feedback to the governing board will be provided through a Faculty Enhancement Committee charged with: (1) critiquing the REEL project; (2) suggesting changes in module content and structure; (3) discussing the performance of REEL-trained undergraduates in faculty research programs, and; (4) discussing issues of undergraduate research experience in the scholarship of teaching and learning. The Evaluation and Assessment Center for Mathematics and Science Education in Ohio, directed by Dr. Jane Butler Kahle, will serve as external evaluator for this project. The Office of Multidisciplinary Activities, Directorate of Mathematics and Physical Sciences co-funds this award.