Collaborative Research: Evaluating the Impact of the Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) Network on Vision

本科生物学教育的愿景改变：行动呼吁提出了有效的本科生命科学教育的新愿景。Vision Change呼吁教育工作者使用循证实践来强调体验式学习，真实的研究经验和积极的学习方法，为本科生提供留在STEM学科和追求STEM领域职业所需的参与和激情。该报告已在本科生生命科学教育界在过去的十年中有影响力，但很少有研究已经进行，以确定在何种程度上V C的概念和能力已经渗透到生物教育界。该项目将利用促进主动学习和指导（PALM）网络（NSF Award #1624200），研究整个网络和参与PALM项目的专业协会的V C概念和能力的传播情况。项目团队将利用混合方法来支持结合定量调查的力量，达到所有PALM参与者与定性半结构化访谈，以进一步探索参与者的动机，实施和传播更详细的愿景改变原则。该项目旨在：1）确定在何种程度上愿景改变原则激励导师或学员加入PALM; 2）描述参与PALM网络的教师和教育工作者对愿景改变的看法，并确定该网络和指导对部门内愿景改变原则的看法，实施和传播的影响;以及3）检查PALM网络对其相关专业协会的影响，并评估愿景改变如何影响这些协会与本科生物学教育的参与。项目小组将在一个中央网站（QUBES）上、在科学会议上和通过开放式出版物传播方案、调查、培训材料和结果。创建和共享的产品将记录V C的当前覆盖范围，并有可能将V C扩展到更多的教育工作者。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。

Vision & Change (V&C) in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action proposed a new vision for effective undergraduate life science education. Vision & Change called on educators to use evidence-based practices to emphasize experiential learning, authentic research experiences, and active learning approaches for providing undergraduates with the engagement and passion necessary to remain in STEM disciplines and pursue careers in STEM fields. The report has been influential in the undergraduate life science education community over the last decade, yet few studies have been undertaken to determine the extent to which V&C concepts and competencies have penetrated the community of biology educators. This project will leverage the Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) Network (NSF Award #1624200), to study the penetrance of V&C concepts and competencies across the network and the professional societies involved in the PALM project.The project team will utilize a mixed methods approach to support combining the strength of quantitative surveys that reach all PALM participants with qualitative semi-structured interviews to further probe participants’ motivations, implementation, and dissemination of Vision & Change principles in more detail. The project aims to: 1) determine to what extent Vision & Change principles motivated mentors or mentees to join PALM; 2) characterize perceptions of Vision & Change among instructors and educators involved in the PALM Network, and determine the impact of this network and mentorship on perceptions, implementation, and dissemination of Vision & Change principles within departments; and 3) examine the impact of the PALM Network on its associated professional societies and assess how Vision & Change has influenced these societies’ engagement with undergraduate biology education While this work is instructor-focused, its impact will be multiplied by the number of undergraduate students taught by these instructors. The project team will disseminate protocols, surveys, training materials, and results on a centralized website (QUBES), at scientific conferences, and by open-access publications. The products created and shared will document the current reach of V&C and have the potential to extend V&C to an even greater number of educators.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.