Studying Technology-based Strategies for Enhancing Student Interest in STEM Careers through Algebra Curricula in Grades 5-9

哈佛大学5-9年级学生通过代数课程提高学生对STEM职业兴趣的DRL-0929575研究人员正在通过各种课堂经验，研究特定的以技术为基础的激励活动与5-9年级学生对STEM职业兴趣之间的关系。学生们将接触到STEM专业人员的工作，按照脚本上为期两天的数学课，解决代数方面的问题，并在体验后立即和六个月后回答问卷。这项研究将改变诱导体验的技术背景，并保持教学成分不变。他们将测试一系列与动机、自我效能感、STEM职业兴趣和数学学习与活动分配相关的具体假设。学生入门活动将包括观看与职业相关的视频，提供待解决问题的背景；在多用户虚拟环境(MUVE)中假设STEM专业人员的身份；或使用类似PowerPoint的演示媒体从教师那里获得解决问题背景的叙述性描述。学生将有机会根据专业人士如何使用代数的模型，探索、表现和分析涉及不同数量的现实生活情景。他们希望学生们发现这样的活动比典型的教学更具激励作用，并具有更持久的影响。

DRL - 0929575 Studying Technology-based Strategies for Enhancing Student Interest in STEM Careers through Algebra Curricula in Grades 5-9Dede, Christopher J. Harvard UniversityThe investigators seek are examining the relationship between specific technology-based motivational activities and grade 5 to 9 student interest in STEM careers through a variety of classroom-based experiences. Students will be exposed to the work of STEM professionals, take a scripted two-day mathematics lesson, solve problems in algebra, and respond to questionnaires immediately after and six months after the experience. The study will vary the technological context of the induction experiences and hold constant the instructional component. They will test a series of specific hypotheses relating motivation, self-efficacy, STEM career interest, and mathematics learning to activity assignment. Student induction activities will involve watching career-related videos that provide the context of the to-be-solved problems; assuming the identity of a STEM professional in a multi-user virtual environment (MUVE); or receiving a narrative description of the problem-solving context from the teacher using PowerPoint-like presentation media. Students will be provided opportunities to explore, represent, and analyze real-life situations which involve varying quantities based on a model of how professionals use algebra. They expect students to find such activities more motivating and have longer lasting effects than found in typical instruction.