Activating Student Potential through Innovation and Real-World Experience

该项目将推动学生和教师创新技术体验（ITEST）计划的努力，以更好地理解和促进提高学生的动机和能力的做法，通过参与实践现场经验，追求科学，技术，工程或数学（STEM）领域的职业生涯，实验室/项目-基于创业任务和指导经验。挑战者中心将设计和开发一种新的教学模式，教师将使用这种模式来提高学生的对科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）职业的理解和兴趣。具体而言，该项目将开发和试点基于问题的，计算机驱动的，模拟STEM任务，有1,000名四年级和五年级的学生在弗吉尼亚州和华盛顿，华盛顿特区的波瓦坦县和弗雷德里克县的任务将包括海洋科学，生命科学和地球科学概念，符合下一代科学标准。学生将参与角色扮演，帮助他们发展团队合作，沟通，批判性思维和解决问题的能力。小学教师将把STEM课程与现实世界的应用和STEM职业联系起来，同时加强关键的STEM概念，使学生能够发展沟通、团队合作、批判性思维和解决问题等新技能。该使命将捕捉学生的想象力，通过他们在STEM主题的现实世界中的应用和接触相关职业的个人参与吸引学生。主要目标是为四年级和五年级的学生开发和试点基于问题的，计算机驱动的模拟STEM任务，这将增加他们的STEM参与，STEM职业和科学自我效能感。挑战者中心模式包括四个超越其他课堂模拟的创新：（1）模拟和基于问题的学习的集成;（2）在技术平台内集成对学生进步的实时评估;（3）强大的专业发展，以确保教师对内容，技术，教学法和效率的理解;（4）结合虚拟和实践经验，以加强学习。将进行形成性评价和成果评价。实施评价将评估在课堂环境中实施的可行性。这将包括通过调查和焦点小组提供的教师反馈。该项目将有助于回答以下问题：教师使用的哪些文化响应的教学和课程实践和模型可以增强学生对STEM职业的理解和兴趣，以及哪些因素会影响实践和模型的结果？该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为是值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

This project will advance efforts of the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program to better understand and promote practices that increase students' motivations and capacities to pursue careers in fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) by engaging in hands-on field experience, laboratory/project-based entrepreneurship tasks and mentorship experiences.The Challenger Center will design and develop a new instructional model that will be used by teachers to enhance student understanding of and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations. Specifically, the project will develop and pilot problem-based, computer-driven, simulated STEM missions with 1,000 fourth and fifth grade students across Powhatan and Frederick Counties in Virginia and Washington, D.C. The missions will include ocean science, life science, and Earth science concepts that align to the Next Generation Science Standards. Students will engage in role-play that helps them develop teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Elementary teachers will connect the STEM curriculum to real-world applications and STEM occupations, while also reinforcing key STEM concepts and enabling students to develop new skills like communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving. The mission will capture student imaginations, engaging students through their personal involvement in a real-world application of the STEM subject and exposure to related occupations. The primary goal is to develop and pilot problem-based, computer-driven, simulated STEM missions for fourth and fifth grade students that will increase their STEM Engagement, STEM Occupation, and Perceived Self-Efficacy in Science. The Challenger Center model encompasses four innovations beyond other classroom simulations: (1) integration of simulations and problem-based learning; (2) real-time assessment of student progress integrated within the technology platform; (3) strong professional development to ensure teacher understanding of content, technology, pedagogy, and efficacy; and (4) combined virtual and hands-on experiences to reinforce learning. Both formative evaluation and an outcome evaluation will be conducted. The implementation evaluation will assess the feasibility of implementation in a classroom setting. This will include teacher feedback through a survey and focus groups.The project will help answer the question: What culturally-responsive instructional and curricular practices and models used by teachers enhance student understanding of and interest in STEM occupations, and what factors influence the outcomes of the practices and models?This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.