Enhancing STEM Education with Research-Based Environmental Experiments: A Multi-Institution, Cross-Curricular, and Cross-Disciplinary Initiative

该项目正在创建一个合作机构网络，通过跨学科和垂直课程实施环境，基于研究的实验来改造本科化学和生物学课程，使学生考虑各种观点来应对环境挑战。该合作包括研究密集型的中密歇根大学，以本科为主的萨吉诺谷州立大学和社区学院三角洲学院，并利用教师和区域社区合作伙伴之间的现有研究伙伴关系，如密歇根州环境质量部和海湾县卫生部。通过他们的研究项目，在三个机构的学生通过提供当地水和土壤资源的环境质量数据，为他们的社区作出贡献。该项目的目标是1）提高学生对化学和生物学的兴趣和技能，2）增加课程的现实世界相关性，3）确定垂直课程和跨学科设计对学生成绩的影响，4）通过促进学生与四年制机构的互动来加强两年制社区学院课程，5）改善本科环境，化学，通过额外的仪器和培训，重点是教授学生适当的取样方法和标准分析技术，6）增加周围社区和地区的数据和环境信息，以及7）通过建立院校协作网络，为其他希望类似地改革其课程的院校提供一个可转让的模式。项目评估人员正在审查这些目标的实现程度，以及将这一模式有效地转移到其他机构的促进和阻碍因素。

This project is creating a network of partner institutions to transform undergraduate chemistry and biology courses by implementing environmental, research-based experiments both across the disciplines and vertically through the curricula, such that students consider a variety of viewpoints to address environmental challenges. The collaboration includes research-intensive Central Michigan University, the predominantly undergraduate Saginaw Valley State University, and the community college Delta College, and leverages existing research partnerships between faculty and regional community partners such as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Bay County Health Department. Through their research projects, students at the three institutions contribute to their communities by providing environmental quality data for local water and soil resources. The goals of the project are to 1) increase interest and skills of students in chemistry and biology, 2) increase real-world relevancy in courses, 3) determine the effects of the vertical curricula and across-discipline design on student outcomes, 4) enhance a two-year community college program by fostering student interactions with four-year institutions, 5) improve undergraduate environmental, chemical, and toxicology research by additional instrumentation and training where emphasis will be placed on teaching students proper sampling methodology and standard analytical techniques, 6) increase data and environmental information for the surrounding communities and areas, and 7) provide a transferable model for other institutions wishing to similarly transform their curricula by creating collaborative networks of institutions. Project evaluators are examining the extent to which these goals are achieved, as well as the facilitating and impeding factors for effective transfer of this model to other institutions.