Build IT Underwater Robotics Scale Up for STEM Learning and Workforce Development (BISU)

这个“扩大规模”的项目利用工程和科学将工程经验带给代表性不足的社区。调查人员将建造水下机器人，创建社交网络，并制作网络直播。该项目基于先前ITEST战略拨款（ESI-0624709）获得的证据，该证据表明，水下机器人课程可以增加学生对科学和工程概念的学习，他们对21世纪技能的实践，如解决问题和协作，他们对科学的享受，以及他们的工程职业兴趣。该项目的目标是创建和评估一个可适应的扩展模型，使服务不足的受众（女性、少数民族和地位低下的青年）能够参与密集的、体验式的STEM学习，获得21世纪的技能，并提高工程职业意识和兴趣。该项目将扩展先前项目的现有设计和实施。此外，它将在新环境中对研究和基于理论的模型进行严格的测试，并将扩大创新以覆盖STEM劳动力的更多范围。该项目将在四个新的区域（中心站点）启动，与成熟的合作伙伴合作，这些合作伙伴的K-12课程吸引非正规教育环境中的女孩和得不到充分服务的青年，同时扩大校内实施模式。项目的一些改进包括增加对信息技术和网络基础设施的使用，以及扩大课程创新本身范围的高级系统工程挑战。学生和教育工作者对网络学习工具的使用将远远超出当前战略项目的范围，通过：(a)年度全国虚拟水下机器人竞赛；(b)将社交网络工具和网络广播技术纳入课程和专业发展，在青年、教育工作者和STEM研究人员之间建立一个网络学习社区；(c)通过创建数字视频图书馆，将目前学生与STEM研究人员和专业人士面对面的会议虚拟化，旨在让学生接触现实世界中令人兴奋的STEM和IT应用，并以女性和少数民族研究人员为特色，成为职业典范。

This "scale-up" project uses engineering as well as science to bring engineering experiences to underrepresented communities. The investigators will build under water robots, create social networks, and produce a webcast. This project is based on evidence gained from a previous ITEST Strategies grant (ESI-0624709) that showed that an underwater robotics curriculum can increase student learning of science and engineering concepts, their practice of 21st century skills such as problem-solving and collaboration, their enjoyment of science, and their engineering career interest. The goal of the project is to create and assess an adaptable scale-up model that enables the participation of underserved audiences (female, minority and low status youth) in intensive, experiential STEM learning, acquisition of 21st century skills, and increased engineering career awareness and interest. The project will expand the existing design and implementation of the previous project. Also, it will provide a rigorous test of the research and theory based model in new environments and will also expand the innovation to cover additional scope within STEM workforce. The project will be initiated in four new regions (hub sites) by working with well-established partners whose K-12 programming engages girls and underserved youth in informal education environments, while expanding an in-school implementation model. Some of the project enhancements include increased use of IT and cyberinfrastructure, and an advanced systems engineering challenge to expand the scope of the curricular innovation itself. Students and educators use of cyberlearning tools will be developed well beyond the scope of the current Strategies project, through: (a) an annual national virtual underwater robotics competition; (b) incorporation of social networking tools and webcasting technologies into curricula and professional development to create a cyber learning community among youth, educators, and STEM researchers; and, (c) the virtualization of current face-to-face student meetings with STEM researchers and professionals through the creation of a digital video library designed to expose students to exciting STEM and IT applications in the real world and to serve as career exemplars, featuring women and minority researchers.