Collaborative Research: Engaging Adolescents through Collaboration on Simulated STEM Career Scenarios and Mathematics Activities

科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)领域的就业和STEM教育的成就需要更好地反映美国人口结构的多样性。这一差距尤其令人担忧，因为STEM领域的工作预计会出现熟练工人短缺的情况。该项目将创建供青少年使用的STEM领域同行协作的虚拟模拟。这些模拟的练习将帮助青少年在STEM领域建立协作技能和职业兴趣，特别是那些使用数学和需要强大团队合作的领域。通过创建一种创新的模拟来支持数学协作技能发展和STEM职业认同，并将其用于非正式学习环境，以利用年轻人的文化资产，该项目将增加在STEM职业生涯中历来代表性不足的学生继续从事STEM职业生涯的可能性。该项目的工作将产生三个模拟模块、支持它们在非正式学习环境中使用的计划材料，以及关于它们的实施和影响的初步研究证据。模拟将以STEM职业场景的真实表现为特色，并提供重复应用数学知识和协作技能的机会。模拟玩家将与虚拟合作伙伴互动，接收反馈以提高表现，并强调数学和合作在STEM职业生涯中的价值。改编自医疗培训中使用的人工智能平台，模拟的虚拟伙伴和他们的对话将基于中学课堂上数学协作的录音。模拟内容和支持将由战略合作伙伴Morehead天文馆和科学中心(MPSC)和LatinxED的工作人员提供信息，这些合作伙伴为非裔美国人、Latinx人和未来的第一代大学生提供以STEM为重点的编程。六位非裔美国人和拉丁裔STEM职业伙伴将以真实的数学和合作行业实践为基础进行模拟，以吸引学生用户。共有96名非洲裔美国人和拉丁裔青少年，以及可能成为第一代大学生的青少年将担任游戏测试员。另外80名参加战略合作伙伴计划的参与者将进行实地测试：分别进行三个模拟，生成用户数据，完成数学协作技能的转移任务，以及关于他们STEM职业兴趣和抱负的自我报告调查。现场测试数据将使用嵌套数据和重复测量的多水平模型进行分析。定性数据收集将包括对游戏和实地测试的观察，以及对项目工作人员和行业顾问的采访。主题分析将为课程支持提供信息，并提高实施的实用性和可行性。该项目由学生和教师创新技术体验计划(ITEST)资助，该计划支持建立对实践、计划要素、背景和过程的理解的项目，这些项目有助于提高学生对科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)以及信息和通信技术(ICT)职业的知识和兴趣。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Employment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and attainment in STEM education need to reflect better the diversity of US population demographics. This disparity is especially concerning given projected shortfalls in skilled workers for jobs in STEM fields. This project will lead to the creation of virtual simulations of peer collaboration in STEM fields, designed for use by adolescents. Practice with these simulations will help adolescents build collaborative skills and career interest in STEM fields, especially those that use mathematics and require strong teamwork. By creating an innovative simulation to support mathematics collaborative skills development and STEM career identities, and grounding its use in informal learning environments that capitalize on youths’ cultural assets, this project will increase the likelihood that students historically underrepresented in STEM careers will persist in the STEM career pipeline. The project’s work will result in three simulation modules, program materials supporting their use in informal learning environments, and initial research evidence about their implementation and impacts. The simulations will feature authentic performance settings of STEM career scenarios with opportunities for repeated application of mathematical knowledge and collaborative skills. Simulation players will interact with virtual partners, receiving feedback to improve performance and emphasize the value of mathematics and collaboration in STEM careers. Adapted from an artificial intelligence platform used in healthcare training, the simulations’ virtual partners and their dialog will be based on recordings of mathematics collaboration in secondary school classrooms. Simulation content and supports will be informed by staff from strategic partners, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center (MPSC) and LatinxEd, that provide STEM-focused programming to African American, Latinx, and future first-generation college students. Six African American and Latinx STEM Career Partners will ground the simulations in authentic mathematics and collaborative industry practices that appeal to student users. A total of 96 African American and Latinx adolescents, and adolescents who are potential first-generation college students will serve as play-testers. An additional 80 participants enrolled in the strategic partners’ programs will engage in field-testing: playing each of three simulations, generating user data, and completing a transfer task of collaborative skills in mathematics and self-report surveys about their STEM career interests and aspirations. Field-test data will be analyzed using multi-level models for nested data and repeated measures. Qualitative data collection will include observations of play and field testing, and interviews with program staff and industry consultants. Thematic analysis will inform curricular supports and improve implementation utility and feasibility. This project is funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers.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.