HSI Pilot Project: Experiential Learning STEM Opportunity for Latinos (ELSOL)

在改善本科STEM教育的支持下：西班牙裔服务机构（HSI计划），这个轨道1试点项目旨在提高有关如何增加生活在高度贫困的城市和农村地区的少数民族个人参与STEM职业的知识寻求与科学学位的副学士学位转移到4年制大学。这一目标将通过使用两种关键方法来实现，以促进数学和科学身份在STEM中的保留。这些方法包括：1）在数学课程中实施教学实践，以提高学生的自我效能和成长心态，以及2）通过体验式学习，让学生参与本科研究。这项工作的预期成果是：1）提高学生对自己在数学和科学方面的能力和归属感的看法，2）提高学生在转学后在STEM课程中的保留率，以及3）开发一个在其他社区学院实施该课程的模式。该项目将解决STEM工作者中西班牙裔代表性不足以及全国STEM专业人员严重短缺的问题。参加这个项目的学生将获得重要的知识和技能，这将使他们准备成功地转移到学士学位课程。通过该项目收集的数据将有助于为STEM环境中代表性不足的群体的学生提供最佳实践知识。研究表明，生活在服务不足社区的少数群体的个人不容易在STEM职业道路上保持身份，因此Dona Ana社区学院将实施一项计划，以加强STEM教育并扩大STEM的参与。该项目的STEM教育研究将利用混合方法设计来回答以下问题：体验式学习机会是否能加强学生的数学和科学身份以及STEM职业道路的保留？研究的定量调查方面将确定每项活动对数学和科学身份的影响。案例研究的方法将审查定性方面的队列经验，促进身份和保留。学生也将被跟踪，以确定该计划对保留在干的影响。STEM教育研究的结果将通过区域和国家会议以及在专业期刊上发表来传播。HSI计划旨在加强本科STEM教育，并建立HSI的能力。HSI计划支持的项目也将产生关于如何实现这些目标的新知识。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。

With support from the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program), this Track 1 Pilot Project aims to improve knowledge about how to increase participation in STEM careers for minoritized individuals living in high poverty urban and rural areas seeking to transfer with an Associates of Science degree to a 4-year university. This goal will be achieved by using two key methods to promote mathematical and science identities toward retention in STEM. These methods include: 1) implementing teaching practices in mathematics courses to improve student self-efficacy and a growth mindset, and 2) engagement through experiential learning in which students will participate in undergraduate research. The expected outcomes of this work are: 1) to improve students’ perceptions on their abilities and sense of belonging in mathematics and science, 2) to improve student retention in STEM programs upon transfer, and 3) to develop a model for implementation of the program at other community colleges. This project will address the underrepresentation of Hispanics among STEM workers and the critical shortage of STEM professionals nationwide. Students participating in this project will gain important knowledge and skills that will prepare them to transfer successfully to a bachelor’s program. Data collected through this project will contribute the knowledge on best practices for students from groups that are underrepresented in STEM environments.Research suggests that minoritized individuals living in underserved communities do not easily sustain an identity in STEM career pathways, thus Dona Ana Community College will implement a program to enhance STEM education and broaden participation in STEM. The project’s STEM education research will utilize a mixed methods design to answer the following question: Does experiential learning opportunities strengthen student mathematical and science identity and retention in STEM career pathways? The quantitative survey aspect of the research will ascertain the impact of each activity on math and science identity. The case study approach will examine qualitative aspects of the cohort experience that promote identity and retention. Students will also be tracked to determine the impact of the program on retention in STEM. The results of the STEM educational research will be disseminated through regional and national conferences, and through publication in professional journals. The HSI Program aims to enhance undergraduate STEM education and build capacity at HSIs. Projects supported by the HSI Program will also generate new knowledge on how to achieve these aims.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.