Investigating Summer Bridge Programs Designed to Accelerate Mathematics Preparation for STEM Degrees

在NSF改善本科STEM教育计划：教育和人力资源（IUSE：EHR）的支持下，该项目旨在通过研究夏桥计划在提高STEM学生的学业成绩和持久性方面的有效性来服务于国家利益。 该项目将侧重于提高入学学生在进入大学一年级之前的数学准备。该项目将比较为期两周的住宅夏桥计划的影响，以非住宅，在线版本的计划。这两个桥梁课程的学生将能够通过使用自适应在线测试程序来加强数学技能，该程序称为ALEKS PPL（知识空间放置，准备和学习中的评估和学习）。该项目预计，桥梁计划将提高学生在数学课程的成功。 因此，它有可能通过增加宣布STEM专业的学生人数和提高STEM课程学生的第一至第二年保留率来实现大学STEM专业的多样化。研究结果将为大学的活动提供信息，但也有可能改善全国STEM的招聘和保留活动，特别是在那些正在放弃发展数学课程以弥补不足的州。该项目将有助于对STEM夏桥计划进行定量研究，方法是使用经验数据来测试住宅桥梁计划与非住宅桥梁计划相比的影响。使用随机对照研究设计（30名学生被分配到每个研究两年，总共120名学生参与研究）。研究问题将通过分析STEM学生在两个项目中的表现来回答，考虑ALEKS分数的平均差异，在ALEKS模块中花费的时间，第一年和第二年的保留率以及初始数学位置的改进。该项目建立在文献中描述的以前有效的桥梁计划，以及北方肯塔基州大学最近成功的项目，重点是提高STEM学生的招聘和保留。学生在这两个桥梁计划将使用ALEKS PPL，一种方法，已导致在数学安置由一门课程谁花了约30小时的工作在ALEKS学习模块的学生改进。参加住宿计划的学生还将接触到STEM相关的研究经验，突出数学内容知识的重要性。所有学生将通过一系列研讨会在他们的第一年得到支持，该系列研讨会已经证明了北方肯塔基州大学STEM项目的成功。该系列研讨会将帮助学生：承担起自己在课堂内外学习的责任;获得在大学及以后取得成功所必需的学术，个人和社交技能;发展有效的沟通技巧;与同学建立一个支持性的队列;并创建一个四年计划，导致毕业。此外，这些研讨会还帮助学生探索STEM职业选择和职业准备活动。 NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。 该奖项反映了NSF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。

With support from the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Program: Education and Human Resources (IUSE: EHR), this project aims to serve the national interest by studying the effectiveness of summer bridge programs at improving academic achievement and persistence of STEM students. The project will focus on improving the mathematics preparation of incoming students before they enter their first year of college. The project will compare the impact of a two-week residential summer bridge program to a nonresidential, online version of the program. Students in both bridge programs will be able to strengthen mathematics skills by using an adaptive online testing program called ALEKS PPL (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces Placement, Preparation, and Learning). The project anticipates that the bridge programs will improve student success in mathematics courses. As a result, it has the potential to to diversify STEM majors at the University by increasing the number of students who declare a STEM major and improving first to second-year retention of students enrolled in STEM programs. Results from the research will inform activities at the University, but also have the potential to improve STEM recruitment and retention activities across the country, particularly in states that are moving away from developmental mathematics coursework to remediate deficiencies.The project will contribute to quantitative research about STEM summer bridge programs by using empirical data to test the impact of a residential bridge program compared to a nonresidential version using a randomized controlled study design (30 students assigned to each for two years for a total of 120 students in the study). Research questions will be answered by analyzing the performance of STEM students in the two programs, considering the average difference in ALEKS scores, time spent in ALEKS modules,year one and year two retention rates, and improvement of initial mathematics placement. The project builds upon previous effective bridge programs described in the literature, as well as recent successful projects at Northern Kentucky University focused on improving recruitment and retention of STEM students. Students in both bridge programs will use ALEKS PPL, an approach that has resulted in improvements in mathematics placement by one course for students who spend ~30 hours working on the ALEKS learning modules. Students participating in the residential program will also be exposed to STEM-related research experiences that highlight the importance of mathematical content knowledge. All students will be supported throughout their first year through a seminar series that has demonstrated success in STEM programs at Northern Kentucky University. The seminar series will help students: assume responsibility for their own learning both in and out of the classroom; acquire academic, personal, and social skills essential to success in college and beyond; develop effective communication skills; establish a supportive cohort with fellow students; and create a four-year plan that leads to graduation. In addition, these seminars also assist students in exploring STEM career options and career-preparation activities. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.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.