Integrating AI Machine Learning into the Teaching of Paleontology Using Fossil Shark Teeth in Middle Schools

鲨鱼已经统治地球海洋4亿年了，留下了广泛的化石记录。受到灭绝的65英尺长的食肉动物巨齿鲨的启发，鲨鱼牙齿化石可以激发学生对STEM（科学，技术，工程和数学）的兴趣和好奇心。机器学习（ML）是人工智能（AI）的一个分支，如今被用于各种领域，广泛适用于开发驱动研究和开发的预测模型。该项目将通过机器学习整合古生物学和计算机科学两个独立的领域。中学生将开发机器学习模型，根据鲨鱼牙齿的形状和功能对其进行分类，以测试真实的研究问题。学生将学习机器学习的基本概念，提高对21世纪职业的认识，并有机会接触到不同的科学家角色模型。该项目将记录和解决关于鲨鱼化石、古生物学和机器学习的误解。该项目团队专注于佛罗里达州城市和农村一级学校的中学教学，旨在解决STEM领域的教育差距，鼓励来自代表性不足群体的学生将科学和计算技术视为职业道路。佛罗里达每所学校的科学家基础设施将促进招聘、指导和最佳实践，例如确保科学和ML内容整合到现有课程的范围和顺序中。此外，参与者还可以访问博物馆和全球生物多样性数据库中数以千计的数字鲨鱼化石标本。这个项目将推动科学进步，促进创新学习。该项目由“面向学生和教师的创新技术体验”（ITEST）项目资助，该项目支持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）职业的知识和兴趣的实践、项目要素、背景和过程的理解。研究人员将调查一系列相互关联的问题，重点关注中学生和他们的老师如何学习机器学习，包括：(1)哪些教学成分促进了科学、计算思维和机器学习的有效和可行的综合学习？(2)教师对新课程在课堂上的价值和可用性有何看法？(3)需要什么样的学习脚手架，学生学习AI知识的程度如何？(4)误解如何影响学生和教师对人工智能和科学的理解？(5)课程如何影响科学和21世纪职业生涯中的兴趣、自我效能感和认同？总共76名教师将在连续3年的队列中被招募。每年，教师将参加专业发展，以获得必要的学科知识和技能，与科学家共同开发课程，然后在课堂上实施这些活动。教师将与科学家合作，并加入一个庞大的不断增长的学习社区，该社区在全州拥有1000多名教师和750名科学家。科学家将对教室进行访问，无论是虚拟的还是亲自的，以促进课程的实施，并提供个人榜样的例子。中学教师将主要从佛罗里达州的第一修正案学校招募。项目数据的收集和分析将采用混合方法，包括调查、访谈、观察、知识测试、项目和焦点小组。该项目将为促进对STEM整合的理解提供一个创新和未开发的背景，重点是学生和教师在从事古生物学调查时学习ML。其目标是作为一个可推广的模型，让学生参与K-12人工智能教育，提高学生对相关职业的理解和兴趣。可交付成果将包括教师的年度专业发展、全年的科学家课堂访问、经过审查的课程和课程计划（将在网上自由共享和推广）、在专业会议上的演讲以及在同行评审文献中发表的研究文章。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。

Sharks have ruled the Earth’s oceans for 400 million years, leaving behind a widespread fossil record. Inspired by the extinct 65-foot-long predator Megalodon, fossil shark teeth can spark student interest and curiosity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Machine Learning (ML), a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI), is used in a variety of fields today and is broadly applicable for developing predictive models that drive research and development. This project will integrate the previously separate domains of paleontology and computer science via ML. Middle school students will develop ML models to classify shark teeth by their form and function to test authentic research questions. Students will learn fundamental concepts about ML, increase awareness of 21st century careers, and gain access to diverse scientist role models. The project will document and address misconceptions about fossil sharks, paleontology, and ML. Focused on middle school teaching and learning in urban and rural Title I schools throughout Florida, the project team aims to address educational disparities in STEM to encourage students from underrepresented groups to consider the sciences and computational technology as a career path. The Scientist in Every Florida School infrastructure will facilitate recruitment, mentoring, and best practices, such as ensuring that the science and ML content is integrated into the scope and sequence of existing curricula. Additionally, participants will have access to thousands of digital fossil shark specimens in museum and global biodiversity databases. This project will advance the progress of science and promote innovative learning. 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.The researchers will investigate a set of interrelated questions focused on how middle schoolers and their teachers learn about ML, including: (1) What instructional components promote effective and feasible integrated learning of science, computational thinking, and ML? (2) What are teachers' perspectives on the value and usability of the new curriculum in their classrooms? (3) What learning scaffolds are needed, and to what extent will students learn AI knowledge? (4) How do misconceptions impact students' and teachers' comprehension of AI and science? (5) How does the curriculum impact interest, self-efficacy, and identity in science and 21st-century careers? A total of 76 teachers will be recruited within three successive year-long cohorts. Each year, the teachers will participate in professional development to acquire the necessary disciplinary knowledge and skills to co-develop curricula along with scientists and then implement the activities in their classrooms. Teachers will partner with scientists and join a large growing learning community, with over 1,000 teachers and 750 scientists statewide. Scientists will conduct visits to classrooms, either virtually or in-person, to facilitate curriculum implementation and provide personal examples of role models. Middle school teachers will be recruited primarily from Title I schools throughout Florida. Project data will be collected and analyzed using mixed methods including surveys, interviews, observations, knowledge tests, projects, and focus groups. This project will provide an innovative and under-explored context for advancing understanding of STEM integration with an emphasis on student and teacher learning about ML as they engage in paleontology investigations. The goal is to serve as a generalizable model for engaging students in K-12 AI education and enhancing students’ understanding and interest in relevant careers. Deliverables will include annual professional development for the teachers, year-round scientist classroom visits, vetted curricula and lesson plans that will be freely shared and promoted online, presentations at professional conferences, and research articles published in peer-reviewed literature.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.