Catalyst Project: Promoting STEM Career Readiness Through Active Learning in Cell Biology

Catalyst项目为历史上的黑人学院和大学（HBCU）提供支持，以建立教师的研究能力，以加强科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）本科教育和研究。预计该奖项将进一步提高教师的研究能力，提高学院的研究和教学水平，并让本科生参与研究经验。鲍伊州立大学旨在通过结合基于研究的教育方法，提高生物学课程本科学生的STEM教育质量。具体而言，该提案概述了实施建构主义学习理论和情境学习理论的策略，以提高学生对学科特定内容的参与度。该项目旨在提高STEM专业学生的持久性，让他们最终进入STEM劳动力市场或攻读STEM研究生学位。该项目的目标是：(1)重新设计细胞生物学和部分微生物学I课程，以便所有活跃的课堂时间都用于动手实验室经验和细胞生物学的实际应用；(2)按主题/模块划分实验室活动，每个主题/模块都是在相关问题的背景下进行的，这些问题是通过为期3-6周的探究式独立实验室小项目（如癌细胞的出现）来探索的；(3)让学生沉浸在真实的细胞生物学研究体验中，体验科学的过程，提高他们解决问题的能力、自我效能感和专业的沟通/表达能力；(4)举办为期两周的夏季细胞生物学训练营，为即将到来的STEM新生提供服务，这些新生将在资助期间接受指导。这些干预措施对学生表现的影响将定期进行评估，数据分析将有助于了解研究型教育经历如何影响科学自我效能感、STEM职业兴趣以及代表性不足的学生在STEM专业的保留率。还将对项目的执行情况以及产出和预期结果进行外部评价，以提高效率和效力。这些数据将为其他hbcu和msi实施类似的教学方法提供持续的反馈、支持和指导。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。

Catalyst Projects provide support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to work towards establishing research capacity of faculty to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate education and research. It is expected that the award will further the faculty member's research capability, improve research and teaching at the institution, and involve undergraduate students in research experiences. Bowie State University seeks to enhance the quality of STEM education for undergraduate students enrolled in the biology curriculum by incorporating research-based educational approaches. Specifically, the proposal outlines strategies to implement constructivist learning theory and situated learning theory to increase student engagement with discipline-specific content. The project aims to increase the persistence of STEM majors, who ultimately enter the STEM workforce or pursue graduate STEM degrees. The objectives of the project are (1) to redesign Cell Biology and part of Microbiology I courses, so that all active class time are devoted to hands-on laboratory experiences and real-world applications of cell biology; (2) divide laboratory activities by themes/modules with each one approached within the context of a relatable problem that is explored through inquiry-based self-contained laboratory mini-projects (such as the emergence of cancer cells) lasting a 3-6 weeks; (3) immerse students in authentic cell biology research experiences where they will experience scientific process, and refine in their problem-solving, self-efficacy and professional communication/presentation skills; (4) hold a two-week, summer Cell Biology Boot Camp that will serve incoming STEM freshmen, a cohort that will be mentored over the course of the grant period. The effect of these interventions on student performance will be assessed periodically and the data analyses will contribute to understanding how research-intensive educational experiences impact science self-efficacy, STEM career interest, and retention in STEM majors for underrepresented students. The project will also be externally evaluated for fidelity of implementation as well as outputs and intended outcomes for efficiency and efficacy. These data will provide ongoing feedback, support and guidelines for the implementation of similar instructional approaches at other HBCUs and MSIs.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.