Collaborative Research: Authentic Project-based Research in College Sciences Curricula: Assessing the Impacts on Students and Faculty

西雅图太平洋大学、奥古斯塔纳学院、亚利桑那大学和海勒姆学院的合作将正式评估在核心科学课程中真正的基于项目的研究的影响。在之前的CCLI项目中，PI团队构建了基因组学教育国家倡议（GENI门户），这是一个基于网络的项目交付系统，提供对真实研究的远程访问。GENI通过提供协议、培训材料、专家建议、网络社区和物理资源来支持这项研究的课堂实施。PI团队正在利用这些资源将真实的基于项目的研究整合到五个参与机构的课程中（上面列出的机构和威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校）。PI团队还邀请该计划的当前和未来用户参与此次评估。该项目的重点是评估学生的学习、参与、科学素养、解决问题的能力和对科学的保留，并将研究影响教师将真实研究融入课程的因素。此外，他们正在评估GENI门户网站课程交付系统的效用。本项目的智力价值在于系统地实施和评估科学课程中真实的项目研究。这些结果将增加有限的研究基础，即跨多个学科和机构整合核心科学课程的主要和非主要组成部分的真实研究的有效性。通过使用混合研究方法，包括对照研究和定性方法，正在收集有关真实的基于项目的研究对学生学习、态度、科学职业参与和保留、问题解决和合作的影响的数据。对过程和环境变量的关注提供了关于将真实研究整合到核心科学课程中的关键信息，包括教师和学生的利益和挑战，电子交付和项目管理系统的作用，以及它们在多种环境和跨学科中的使用。这一建议的更广泛影响在于综合应用基于项目的研究作为本科教育制度变革的基础。GENI门户网站所提供的资源和它所支持的社区的结合，加上跨多个教育层次的深入评估，将促进那些无法为学生提供高质量研究体验的机构的研究整合，并将允许跨课程的研究整合，使其成为接触服务不足人群和非专业的优秀工具。它还为教学人员重新融入主流研究界提供了一种途径，并为全职研究人员向任何机构或地点的各级学生传播他们的科学提供了一种途径。所产生的数据将有助于教师和管理人员在他们的机构整合本科研究。

This collaboration among Seattle Pacific University, Augustana College, the University of Arizona, and Hiram College will formally evaluate the impact of authentic project-based research in core sciences curricula. In a previous CCLI project, the PI team constructed the Genomics Education National Initiative (GENI portal), a web-based project delivery system that provides remote access to authentic research. GENI supports classroom implementation of this research by providing protocols, training materials, expert advice, a networking community, and physical resources. The PI team is using this resource to integrate authentic project-based research into the curricula of five participating institutions (those listed above and the University of Wisconsin Madison). The PI team is also inviting current and future users of the program to participate in this assessment. The project is focusing on the evaluation of student learning, engagement, scientific literacy, problem-solving, and retention in the sciences and will study factors that influence faculty integration of authentic research into courses. In addition, they are evaluating the utility of the GENI portal curricula delivery system.The Intellectual Merit of the proposed project lies in the systematic implementation and assessment of authentic project-based research in science curricula. These results will add to the limited research base on the effectiveness of integrating authentic research in major and non-major components of core science curricula across multiple disciplines and institutions. Through the use of mixed research methods, including controlled studies and qualitative approaches, data are being collected regarding the impact of authentic project-based research on student learning, attitudes, science career involvement and retention, problem solving, and collaboration. A focus on process and context variables is providing critical information regarding integration of authentic research into core science curricula including benefits and challenges for faculty and students, the role of an electronic delivery and project management system, and their use in multiple settings and across disciplines.The Broader Impacts of this proposal reside in the comprehensive application of project-based research as the foundation of institutional change in undergraduate education. The combination of the resources provided by the GENI portal and the community it supports, complemented by in-depth assessment across multiple educational levels will facilitate integration of research at institutions that were unable to offer a high-quality research experience to their students and will allow the integration of research across curricula, making it an outstanding tool for reaching underserved populations and non-majors. It also provides a way for instructional faculty to re-integrate with mainstream research communities and for full-time researchers to disseminate their science to students of all levels at any institution or location. The data produced will help faculty and administrators integrate undergraduate research at their institutions.