Developing A Program Model for High School Science Research, Communication and Education Experiences in Living Laboratory

作为加强非正式环境中学习的总体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划旨在推进非正式环境中STEM学习的设计和开发的新方法和基于证据的理解。这包括提供多种途径，扩大STEM学习经验的获取和参与，推进非正式环境中STEM学习的创新研究和评估，以及发展参与者对深度学习的理解。科学博物馆、波士顿（MOS）和波士顿大学（BU）将开展一项试点和可行性研究项目，利用目前的生活实验室（LL）模式，并将其扩展到让高中生（青少年）参与实验心理学研究、科学传播和科学教育活动。在LL，现在是一个由全国各地的博物馆和大学研究人员组成的广泛网络，科学家和博物馆工作人员合作，让孩子们参与博物馆地板上的研究，并教育照顾者有关研究的知识。多站点实施和评估LL也证明了对本科生研究人员的积极影响。许多网站都渴望将这些好处扩展到高中生，让他们成为模型中的实践者，并为他们提供参与当前研究、教育和交流的机会，从而帮助培养年轻人对科学及其在社会中的应用的更强的认同感。该项目扩大了教育部和波士顿大学之间为期十年的LL合作伙伴关系：1)试点一项计划，在该计划中，高中生既进行科学研究，又让公众参与科学学习；2)探索博物馆和大学合作参与、支持和指导高中生进行科学研究、交流和教育活动的策略；3)记录课程、其他规划和评价材料；4)召集专业参与者对试点材料提供反馈，并评估在其他地点实施类似项目的可行性。在发展性评价的指导下，这些活动将为该领域创造知识，并提高专业能力，以便在未来的项目中为多个LL站点的青少年整合经验。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

As part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. This includes providing multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences, advancing innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments, and developing understandings of deeper learning by participants. The Museum of Science, Boston (MOS) and Boston University (BU) will conduct a Pilot and Feasibility Study project that leverages the current Living Laboratory (LL) model and expand it to engage high school students (teens) in experimental psychology research, science communication and science education activities. In LL, which is now an extensive network of museums and university researchers across the country, scientists and museum staff collaborate to engage children in studies on the museum floor and educate caregivers about the research. Multi-site implementation and evaluation of LL has also documented positive impacts for undergraduate researchers. Many sites are eager to extend these benefits to high school students by engaging them as practitioners within the model and by providing them with opportunities to engage in current research, education and communication, thereby helping to foster stronger youth identities with science and its applications in society. This project expands a ten-year LL partnership between MOS and BU to: 1) pilot a program in which high school students both conduct scientific research and engage the public in learning about science; 2) explore strategies for museums and universities to collaboratively engage, support and mentor high school students in science research, communication and education activities; 3) document curricular, other programmatic, and evaluation materials; and 4) convene professional participants to provide feedback on pilot materials, and assess the viability of implementing similar programs at additional sites. Guided by developmental evaluation, these activities will generate knowledge for the field, and act to increase professional capacity to integrate experiences for teens at multiple LL sites in future projects.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.