DCL: NSF INCLUDES EAGER: A Study of Online Scientific and Scholarly Communities for Broadening Participation in STEM

本项目正在对两个现有的在线科学和学术社区（OSSCs）进行探索性研究，每个社区都是为了扩大目标社区对STEM的参与而建立的：(a) NSF INCLUDES开放论坛（NSF-1748345）；(b)聋人STEM社区联盟的聋人和听力障碍虚拟学术社区（NSF-1127955）。本研究的目标是：1)应用网络社区生命周期的信息系统理论和社会资本理论来理解两个nsf资助的以扩大STEM参与为重点的OSSCs的动态；2)利用项目的最佳实践和经验教训加强NSF INCLUDES网络活动。该项目正在对海洋生物中心进行比较分析：1)确定海洋生物中心的生命周期阶段；2)检查每个社区的社区参与经理的领导和参与活动，以及它们如何随着时间的推移而演变；3)探索社区成员的看法。本探索性研究项目是为了响应NSF INCLUDES致同事的信：扩大NSF INCLUDES国家网络的公告（NSF 17-111）而提出的。DCL指出，探索性研究的早期概念拨款（EAGER）提案应产生的发现和结果将为NSF INCLUDES国家网络带来新的见解，为参与NSF现有的扩大参与网络的活动提出潜在的策略，和/或突出吸取的经验教训，以便在发展过程中为NSF INCLUDES启动试点和联盟提供信息。NSF INCLUDES项目的重点是促进STEM企业协同工作，实现包容性变革。预计该项目的研究成果将为在线STEM社区的合作扩大参与努力提供信息，以促进包容性STEM教育、研究和劳动力发展。与其他NSF INCLUDES网络活动一起，这项研究正在为美国STEM劳动力和研究界带来积极的、变革性的变化。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。

This project is conducting exploratory research about two currently existing online scientific and scholarly communities (OSSCs), each of which was established to broaden participation in STEM in identified target communities: (a) the NSF INCLUDES Open Forum (NSF-1748345); and (b) the Deaf STEM Community Alliance's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Virtual Academic Community (NSF-1127955). The goals of the proposed study are: 1) to apply the information systems theory of the life cycle of online communities and the theory of social capital to understand the dynamics of two NSF-sponsored OSSCs that are focused on broadening participation in STEM; and 2) to strengthen NSF INCLUDES Network activities with best practices and lessons learned from the project. The project is conducting comparative analyses of the OSSCs: 1) to determine life-cycle stages of the OSSCs; 2) to examine leadership and engagement activities of community engagement managers in each community and how they evolve over time; and 3) to explore the perceptions of community members. This exploratory research project was proposed in response to the NSF INCLUDES Dear Colleague Letter: Announcement of an Effort to Expand the NSF INCLUDES National Network (NSF 17-111). The DCL states that Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals should produce findings and results that will generate new insights for the NSF INCLUDES National Network, suggest potential strategies for engaging NSF's existing broadening participation activities in the Network, and/or highlight lessons learned that could inform the NSF INCLUDES Launch Pilots and Alliances as they develop. The NSF INCLUDES program focuses on catalyzing the STEM enterprise to collaboratively work for inclusive change.It is anticipated that the research findings from this project will inform collaborative broadening participation efforts of online STEM communities to advance inclusive STEM education, research and workforce development. Together with other NSF INCLUDES Network activities, this research is contributing to positive, transformative change within the U.S. STEM workforce and research community.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.