REU Site: The RISE Program - Research in Interdisciplinary STEM Education

美国在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域拥有庞大而多样化的劳动力。2012年，据预测，为了保持全球竞争力，美国在未来十年内将需要额外的100万STEM大学毕业生。然而，大多数打算进入大学主修STEM学科的学生实际上并没有完成STEM学位。因此，提高STEM专业本科生的保留率是国家的一项重要优先事项。这个本科生研究经验（REU）项目将通过在华盛顿州立大学主持跨学科STEM教育研究（RISE）项目来解决这一需求。在三年的时间里，RISE将在每年夏天让10名不同的本科生参与专注于STEM劳动力发展的真实研究。虽然大多数本科STEM教育改革的努力都集中在本科阶段的教与学，但理解与K-12和非正式教育环境的联系，并将STEM学习视为一种终身的、终身的现象也很重要。RISE学者将通过调查与STEM途径、非正式STEM教育和真实STEM学科实践相关的关键研究问题，推进STEM的包容性和多样性。RISE REU项目将主要从非博士学位授予机构招收本科生，特别注重从STEM领域代表性不足的群体中招收学生。RISE学者将参与教师、研究生和同行的广泛指导；一系列专业技能工作坊；以及队伍建设活动，以增加归属感和STEM身份。RISE的参与者将了解STEM合作的重要性、教育研究在改善STEM教育中的作用以及STEM职业道路。一项全面的纵向评估计划将检查RISE学者对STEM和STEM教育研究中职业可能性的理解、欣赏和追求的变化。最终，REU RISE项目有望在推进STEM教育研究的同时，为更具活力和包容性的STEM劳动力做出贡献。本科生研究经验（REU）计划支持本科生在NSF资助的研究领域积极参与研究。该REU项目由美国国家科学基金会教育与人力资源理事会核心研究（ECR）项目和改善本科STEM教育（IUSE）项目支持。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。

The United States depends on a large and diverse workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. In 2012, it was forecast that the US would need an additional 1 million STEM college graduates over a decade to remain globally competitive. Yet, the majority of students who enter college with intentions to major in a STEM discipline do not actually complete a STEM degree. Improving the retention of undergraduate students in STEM is thus a critical national priority. This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) project will address this need by hosting the Research in Interdisciplinary STEM Education (RISE) program at Washington State University. Over the course of three years, RISE will immerse diverse cohorts of 10 undergraduate students each summer in authentic research focused on STEM workforce development. While most undergraduate STEM education reform efforts have focused on teaching and learning at the undergraduate level, it is also important to understand the connections to K-12 and informal education settings, and to view STEM learning as a lifelong, life-wide phenomenon. The RISE scholars will advance STEM inclusion and diversity by investigating critical research questions related to STEM pathways, informal STEM education, and authentic STEM disciplinary practices. The RISE REU program will recruit undergraduate students from primarily non-PhD-granting institutions, with a particular focus on recruiting students from groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields. RISE scholars will participate in extensive mentoring by faculty, graduate students, and peers; a series of professional skills workshops; and cohort-building activities to increase a sense of belonging and STEM identity. RISE participants will gain understandings of the importance of collaboration in STEM, the role of educational research in improving STEM education, and STEM career pathways. A comprehensive longitudinal evaluation plan will examine changes in the RISE scholars' understanding of, appreciation for, and pursuit of career possibilities in STEM and STEM education research. Ultimately, the REU RISE project is expected to contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive STEM workforce while advancing research in STEM education.The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in areas of research funded by NSF. This REU project is supported by NSF's Education & Human Resources Directorate Core Research (ECR) Program and its Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Program.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.