Collaborative Research: Evaluation of Biology REU Site Programs

圣何塞州立大学、威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校和博尔德的科罗拉多大学获得了一项奖励，以试行一种经过验证的评估工具，从而共同评估生物学研究经验对本科生（生物REU）计划的影响。 生物REU计划已经暴露了有才华的本科生科学研究超过20年。 网站由NSF资助，以支持8-12周的夏季课程，最终在科学研讨会上，学生提出他们的发现。现场特定的评估数据由现场项目负责人收集，然后通过年度进度报告提交给NSF。 这些数据不能用于确定生物可再生能源项目作为一个整体的有效性和影响，因为每个项目都使用自己特定的评估工具。该项目将采用本科研究生自我评估（URSSA）平台调整和测试一个经过验证的在线评估工具。该项目将：（1）在参加2010年夏季进行的REU现场项目的一部分学生中对经过调整的仪器进行试点测试;（2）在2011年夏季对仪器进行修订、重新测试并部署到更大的REU项目参与者群体中;（3）在2011年将管理工具和数据的责任移交给生物REU领导理事会（LC）;以及（4）从2012年夏季开始，向所有生物可再生能源项目提供该仪器。本项目的PI和Co-PI是Bio REU LC的成员，并担任Bio REU评估小组委员会的联合主席。这些人将主要负责与URSSA团队合作交付产品。预计至少有50个REU项目将参与2010年的试点研究，预计到2012年将有另外100个项目参与。 REU试点代表了各种REU计划，具有不同的科学重点和目标参与者群体。2010年夏季的试点研究将提供数据，使核心问题集得以完善，并更适用于方案的多样性（例如机构类型、生物学分支学科、所服务的学生群体）。 有兴趣参与试点评估的Bio REU研究中心负责人应联系Julio G. Soto（圣何塞州立大学）在Julio.Soto@ sjsu.edu，或Janet Branchaw博士（威斯康星州麦迪逊大学）在branchaw@wisconsin.edu。关于这个项目的信息可以在生物REU网站上找到：http://www.bioreu.org/。

An award has been made to San José State University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Colorado at Boulder to pilot a validated assessment instrument in order to collectively assess the impacts of the Biology Research Experience for Undergraduates (Bio REU) Program. The Bio REU Program has exposed talented undergraduates to scientific research for more than 20 years. Sites are funded by NSF to support 8-12 week summer programs that culminate in a scientific symposium where students present their findings. Site-specific assessment data are collected by Site program directors and then submitted to NSF through annual progress reports. These data cannot be used to determine the effectiveness and impact of the Bio REU Program as a whole, because each program uses its own specific assessment instrument. This project will adapt and test a validated, on-line assessment tool using the Undergraduate Research Student Self-Assessment (URSSA) platform. The project will: (1) pilot test an adapted instrument on a subset of students participating in the REU site programs being conducted in summer 2010; (2) revise, retest and deploy the instrument to a larger group of REU program participants in summer 2011; (3) transfer responsibility for managing the tool and data to the Bio REU Leadership Council (LC) in 2011; and (4) make the instrument available to all Bio REU programs starting summer 2012. The PI and Co-PI of this project are members of the Bio REU LC and serve as co-chairs of the Bio REU Assessment sub-committee. These individuals will take primary responsibility for working with the URSSA team to deliver the products. At least 50 REU programs are anticipated to participate in the 2010 pilot study, and an additional 100 programs are expected to participate by 2012. The pilot group of REU sites represents a variety of REU programs, with varying scientific focus and targeted participant groups. The pilot study in summer 2010 will provide data to allow the core set of questions to be refined and be more applicable to the diversity of programs (e.g. types of institutions, sub-disciplines of biology, student populations served). Bio REU Site directors interested in participating in the pilot assessment should contact Dr. Julio G. Soto (San Jose State University) at Julio.Soto@sjsu.edu, or Dr. Janet Branchaw (University of Wisconsin Madison) at branchaw@wisconsin.edu. Information about this project can found in the Bio REU web site: http://www.bioreu.org/.