Astrobiology in the Secondary Classroom Project: An interdisciplinary curriculum developed by a collaboration of scientists and educators from three different minority communities.

这个田纳西州立大学的建议是一个为期3年的探索性研究的支持，重点是内容，文化意义，并为提高生活在城市社区或部落保留地的不同学生的科学素养的建议的请求。具体来说，这项建议旨在加强现有的跨学科高中科学课程-中学课堂天体生物学（ASC），由少数民族机构天体生物学合作（MIAC）的大学教授，课堂教师，并以创新的方式与美国宇航局戈达德的科学家合作，进行研究，以确定这些材料在三个不同的代表性不足的学生中的有效性。非裔美国人、西班牙裔美国人和美洲原住民在5个地点的STEM领域存在成就差距。这些网站包括美国宇航局科学，工程，数学和航空航天学院（SEMAA）（1）在佛罗里达州的迈阿密戴德县公立学校系统;（2）在田纳西州立大学，在纳什维尔的HBCU;（3）在新墨西哥州的拉斯克鲁塞斯公立学校系统沿着两个方案在美洲印第安人保留地;（4）在欧文斯谷的大松树派尤特部落放学后方案;和（5）纳瓦霍民族的Chinle联合学区第24号。五个地点各有两名教师和40名学生参加，共计10名教师和约200名学生。将开发经过大量研究的模块，并支持这一领域的研究。改进的重点将是方案的协调一致和增加使用研究科学家提供的数据集。目标和目的是：（1）测试、验证和修改中学天体生物学课程，让那些在STEM活动中代表性不足的高中生参加;（2）培训和支持实施中学天体生物学课程的教师;（3）通过分析包括文化差异在内的真实的科学数据，检查学生的参与和学习情况;以及（4）确定ASC材料在培养探究、批判性思维、解决问题、决策、设计和沟通方面的成功，这些材料的复杂性越来越高，学生群体在STEM领域的成就差距越来越大。

This Tennessee State University proposal is a request for support for a 3-year exploratory research study focused on the content, cultural significance, and recommendations for increasing scientific literacy in diverse students living in either urban communities or on tribal reservations. Specifically, this proposal is designed to enhance an existing interdisciplinary high school science curriculum -Astrobiology in the Secondary Classroom (ASC), developed by university professors from the Minority Institution Astrobiology Collaborative (MIAC), classroom teachers, and partnership with scientists from NASA Goddard in an innovative way and conduct research to determine the effectiveness of these materials in three different underrepresented student populations African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americas experiencing an achievement gap in STEM areas at 5 sites. These sites include the NASA Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Aerospace Academics (SEMAA) (1) in the Miami Dade County Public School System in Florida; (2) at Tennessee State University, an HBCU in Nashville; (3) in the Las Cruces Public School System in New Mexico along with two programs on America Indian Reservations; (4) at Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley after school program; and (5) The Chinle Unified School District No. 24 in the Navajo Nation. Two teachers and up to 40 students will participate at each of the five sites, totaling 10 teachers and approximately 200 students. Modules will be developed that have been heavily researched and support the research in this area. Improvements will focus on program alignment and increased use of data sets made available by research scientists. The goals and objectives are (1) to test, validate, and modify the Astrobiology in Secondary Classroom (ASC) curriculum with high school students who are underrepresented in STEM activities; (2) train and support teachers who implement the ASC Curriculum; (3) examine the students' involvement and learning through analysis of real scientific data including cultural differences; and (4) determine the success of the ASC materials in fostering inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making, design, and communication at increasing levels of complexity with student populations experiencing an achievement gap in STEM areas.