Examining the use of micro-internships to leverage scalable learning for STEM workforce development among people experiencing homelessness

内布拉斯加州大学奥马哈分校和南卫理公会大学的研究人员将调查工作-学习模式的有效性，该模式为无家可归的人提供技能和脚手架，使他们能够进入就业市场。研究小组将研究将微型实习与针对无家可归的成人学习者的计算机科学技能的在线课程相结合的影响，并分析群体动态与学习者成功、障碍和成功学习成果之间的相互作用。研究的重点是在线教育与就业机会之间的理论和实证联系。工作-学习模式可能会产生可扩展的在线培训，适用于以前未被充分利用的人群。该项目将推进教育理论中关于边缘化学习者与教育技术之间关系的知识状态。该研究将通过测试工作-学习模式可以将mooc转变为支持无家可归者成功的假设来扩展在线和职业技术教育的知识库。这项研究的目标参与者是在奥马哈大都会地区经历无家可归的个人。本研究的目的是测试工作学习模式在支持无家可归者完成MOOC课程并成功过渡到信息技术（IT）部门工作的能力方面的功效。为了实现这一目标，研究人员将探讨四个研究问题：(1)工作-学习模式如何激励学习者并支持他们坚持完成学习任务和挑战？(2)同侪学习结构对无家可归者是否像对传统MOOC学生一样有效？(3)哪些学习者属性和经验与成功有关？(4)业界伙伴关系如何支援无家可归人士再培训，让他们从事资讯科技工作？研究团队将在同侪学习环境中开发和实施课程模块，解决计算思维、COBOL和Python问题，使学习者能够在MOOC环境中通过实践学习。他们将与无家可归者收容所的工作人员和私营部门合作伙伴合作，支持技能发展和有偿微型实习安排。该团队将调查这些伙伴关系如何发挥作用，以支持这些学习者群体，以及学习者的福祉如何受到影响。研究设计将解决研究问题，并通过访谈和焦点小组产生形成性和总结性数据。研究人员将收集文物来阐明住房政策和一般的住房文化。该团队将使用R和描述性统计来分析和报告调查数据、工件和MOOC完成数据。研究结果将为采用可扩展技术的干预措施提供信息，以重新培训或提高成年人的技能，这些成年人无法获得针对高需求和经济稳定的技术工作和职业的劳动力培训。该项目由EHR核心研究计划支持，该计划资助STEM教育研究项目，重点关注STEM学习和学习环境，扩大STEM领域的参与，以及STEM劳动力发展。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。

Researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Southern Methodist University will investigate the efficacy of a Work-Learn model for providing individuals experiencing homelessness with the skills and scaffolding that will enable them to enter the job market. The research team will examine the impact of integrating micro-internships with online courses targeting computer science skills for homeless adult learners and analyze the interaction among group dynamics and learner success and barriers and successful learning outcomes. The research focuses on theoretical and empirical connections between online education and job opportunities. The Work-Learn model could potentially produce scalable online training that is adaptable for previously underreached populations. The project will advance the state of knowledge in educational theory regarding the nexus between marginalized learners and educational technology. The research will extend the knowledge base about online and career technical education by testing the hypothesis that the Work-Learn model can transform MOOCS to support the success of homeless populations.The target participants for the study are individuals experiencing homelessness in the Omaha metropolitan area. The research goal is to test the efficacy of the Work-Learn model in supporting the ability of homeless persons to complete a MOOC and successfully transition to information technology (IT) sector jobs. To achieve this goal, the researchers will investigate four research questions: (1) How can the Work-Learn model incentivize learners and support persistence in completing learning tasks and challenges? (2) Do peer learning structures work as effectively with persons experiencing homelessness as with traditional MOOC students? (3) What learner attributes and experiences are associated with success? and (4) How does industry partnership support re-training of persons experiencing homelessness for IT jobs? The research team will develop and implement course modules, in a peer learning context, addressing computational thinking, COBOL, and Python that enable learners to learn by doing in a MOOC environment. They will engage homeless shelter staff and private-sector partners to support skills development and paid micro-internship placement. The team will investigate how these partnerships function to support this population of learners and how learners’ well-being is impacted. The research design will address the research questions and generate formative and summative data through interviews and focus groups. The researchers will collect artifacts to illuminate shelter policies and general shelter culture. The team will use R and descriptive statistics to analyze and report the survey data, artifacts, and MOOC completion data. The research results will inform interventions that employ scalable technology to re-skill or up-skill adults who do not have access to workforce training tailored to high-demand and financially stable technology jobs and careers. The project is supported by the EHR Core Research Program that funds STEM education research projects focused on STEM learning and learning environments, broadening participation in STEM fields, and STEM workforce development.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.