Collaborative Research: Student Produced Audio Narratives (SPAN)

美国需要更多、更多样化的地球科学家作为劳动力，但招聘新的地球科学专业的学生很困难。该项目将测试简单但可能有效的大型入门课程课程改革的影响，目的是通过在课程中引入学生制作的音频叙事作业来提高非科学专业学生对STEM的参与度。学生制作的音频叙述（SPAN）是学生通过使用简单的录音和制作技术讲述科学故事来参与地球科学内容的作业。在STEM课程中使用SPAN的总体目标是开发改变学习环境的方法，使学生感受到与STEM的个人联系，特别是在地球科学方面。SPAN作业非常适合介绍性课程的挑战，例如大班，最少的实验室材料/访问，以及有限的教师支持，特别是在服务不足的项目中。这种教学方法有可能对学生对地球科学和一般科学的看法产生积极影响，并增加他们对学习环境的参与。研究小组将与区域合作伙伴学院网络和嵌入式评估一起开发一个协作和迭代的实施模型。在第一学期，合作教师（重点在大西洋中部地区）接受音频制作的技术和讲故事方面的培训，并根据自己的课程开发音频作业。合作教师将在接下来的三个学期执行这些作业。该项目探索并实施了学生音频制作工具，通过合作伙伴教师网络开发了一个实施模型，并使用混合方法测量学习成果，以研究学生对科学的感知和参与。一个由教师组成的协作区域网络将在包括两年制社区大学在内的入门级课程中设计和实施学生制作的音频叙述。这个项目创建和测试灵活的、适应性强的作业，包括学生制作的音频叙述。最后，采用新颖的教育研究方法，研究了学生制作的音频叙述对学生对学习环境的感知和对科学的态度的影响。

The U.S. needs more, and more diverse geoscientists for the workforce, but recruiting new geoscience majors is difficult. This project will test the impact of a simple but potentially effective curricular change in large, introductory courses with a goal of improving non-science major student engagement in STEM by introducing student-produced audio narrative assignments to the curriculum. Student-produced audio narratives (SPAN) are assignments in which students engage with geoscience content by telling a scientific story using simple audio recording and production techniques. The overall goal of using of SPAN in STEM courses is to develop methods that will change the learning environment so that students feel an increased personal connection to STEM, particularly in the geosciences. SPAN assignments are ideally suited to the challenges of introductory courses, such as large classes, minimal laboratory materials/access, and limited faculty support, especially in underserved programs. This pedagogical approach has the potential to positively impact students' perceptions of geosciences, and science in general, and to increase their engagement with the learning environment. The research team will develop a collaborative and iterative implementation model with a regional Partner Faculty network and embedded assessment. In the first semester, Partner Faculty (focused in the mid-Atlantic region) receive training on technical and storytelling aspects of audio production and developing audio assignments tailored to their own classes. Partner Faculty will implement the assignments over the next three semesters. This project explores and implements the tool of student audio production, develops an implementation model though a Partner Faculty network, and measures the learning outcomes using mixed methods to research students' perception of and engagement in science. A collaborative regional network of faculty will design and implement student-produced audio narratives in their introductory-level classes, including at two-year community colleges. This project creates and tests flexible, adaptable assignments incorporating student-produced audio narratives. Finally, it researches the impact of student-produced audio narratives on students' perceptions of their learning environment and attitudes toward science using novel educational research methods.