Middle School Science Readiness Program

该项目聚焦于小学和中学之间的关键落脚点，该点通常被认为是学生在STEM取得成功和兴趣的第一个主要障碍。为了帮助小学生顺利过渡到中学科学，首席调查员将设计、实施和测试一个课后示范计划(中学科学准备计划)，旨在支持在这个关键时刻的科学教学和学习。该模型使用了真实世界科学、技术、工程和数学领域长达一年的活动，如航空航天(NASA-Johnson太空中心)、能源(石油化工)和生物技术(德克萨斯医疗中心)。来自休斯敦8所高中需要小学的16名教师和320名学生将参加这个课外项目。通过与休斯顿独立学区(HISD)的长期合作，贝勒医学院(BCM)将聘请一个跨学科的项目团队(例如，来自STEM学科的大学教员、教育心理学家、数据经理、在线教育提供商、校长、教师领导和家长)来开发该示范项目。在STEM学习经验中，该项目融入了支持STEM相关领域职业意识的语言和社交技能。PI使用准实验设计和外部评估器分别用于方法学和评估。该项目将通过BCM获奖网站、BioEd Online(www.Bioedonline.org)和K8 Science(www.k8Science ence.org)在当地和全国范围内免费传播示范课后计划。

This project focuses on the critical drop-off point between elementary and middle school, often identified as the first major roadblock to the success and interest of students in STEM. To help elementary students successfully transition to middle school science, the Principal Investigator will design, implement and test a model after-school program (Middle School Science Readiness program) aimed at supporting science teaching and learning at this critical juncture. The model uses year-long activities in real-world science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields such as aerospace (NASA-Johnson Space Center), energy (petrochemical industry), and biotechnology (Texas Medical Center). Sixteen teachers and 320 students from eight high need elementary schools in Houston will participate in this after-school program. Through a longstanding partnership with the Houston Independent School District (HISD), Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) will engage an interdisciplinary project team (e.g., university faculty members from STEM disciplines, educational psychologist, data managers, online education providers, principals, teacher leaders, and parents) to develop the model program. Within the STEM learning experiences, the project embeds language and social skills that support career awareness in STEM related fields. The PI uses a quasi-experimental design and an external evaluator for methodology and assessment, respectively. The project will disseminate the model after-school program without charge, locally and nationally via BCM award-winning websites, BioEd Online (www.bioedonline.org), and K8 Science (www.k8science.org).