SciTrek: How Science Works

摘要 K-12学生的教育以及他们招募和留住STEM和生物医学职业的情况仍然存在 这是一个全国性的问题。SciTrek，加州大学圣诞老人分校运营的一个成功的外展项目 芭芭拉，采取了一种独特的STEM教育方法。从那时起，每年约有3000名二至八年级学生 2010年，SciTrek的核心理念是让学生沉浸在STEM的实践中，这意味着一种做和 一种思维方式。SciTrek的学生调查由一位 Lead(教师，SciTrek人员)和4-6名大学志愿者/导师，接受过SciTrek方法的培训。 这是一个发现之旅的开始，学生团体不是被动的旁观者，而是充分发挥 项目的所有权。他们制定了“可测试的问题”，并决定了一个实验计划， 分几天实施。K-12年级组基于数据分析提出了基于证据的索赔， 培养学生的算术能力。学生们展示海报，讨论他们的发现，并为他们的 结论：促进批判性思维和写作技能。SciTrek的不同志愿者为 在不同的学生中培养“自我为科学家”的信念。 在这项提案中，我们寻求将SciTrek扩展到新的学校以及合作机构(目标1 和3)总体目标是改变代表不足的少数族裔(URM)和女孩的自然减员 茎。最近的研究表明，除了缺乏对科学和工程实践的理解外， 在小学中养成的态度对选择STEM和 生物医学职业。了解这些信念(兴趣、身份、可能/可信的自我)是如何产生的，并可能 Be Shape与留住URM和女孩特别相关。SciTrek在当前组织内工作 促进与NGSS相结合的科学教育学的结构。使用SciTrek的多层次方法(1)查询- 注重科学和工程实践的基于NGSS的科学实验(2)4-6 每个教室中的大学志愿者/导师，以及(3)我们的目标是教师专业发展：a) 增加学生对科学家的工作以及知识是如何创造的理解，b)积极影响 学生对科学的态度和兴趣，以及对科学的认同，以及c)维护学生的 对STEM职业感兴趣。

Abstract The education of K-12 students and their recruitment and retention into STEM and biomedical careers remain a national problem. SciTrek, a successful outreach program run from the University of California at Santa Barbara, takes a unique approach to STEM education. Reaching ~3000 2nd-8th grade students yearly since 2010, SciTrek’s core philosophy is to immerse students in the practice of STEM, meant as a way of doing and a way of thinking. SciTrek students investigate questions prompted by an observation presented to them by a lead (teacher, SciTrek personnel) and four-six university volunteers/mentors, trained in the SciTrek method. This is the start of a journey of discovery where student groups are not passive spectators, but are given full ownership of the project. They formulate “testable questions,” and decide on an experimental plan, implemented over several days. K-12 grade groups present evidence-based claims based on data analysis, fostering student numeracy. Students present posters, discuss their findings, and provide an argument for their conclusions promoting critical thinking and writing skills. SciTrek’s diverse volunteers contribute to development of a “self as scientist” belief in diverse students. In this proposal, we seek to expand SciTrek, both to new schools, as well as partner institutions (Aims 1 and 3) with the overarching goal of altering the attrition of under-represented minorities (URMs) and girls from STEM. Recent research suggests that beyond a lack of understanding of science and engineering practices, attitudes developed in elementary school negatively impact the pipeline of students who choose STEM and biomedical careers. Understanding how these beliefs (interest, identity, possible/plausible self) arise and may be shaped is particularly relevant for retaining URMs and girls. SciTrek works within the current organizational structures to promote NGSS-aligned science pedagogy. Using SciTrek’s multilevel approach of (1) inquiry- based NGSS-aligned science experimentation focused on Science and Engineering Practices (2) four-six university volunteers/mentors in each classroom, and (3) teacher professional development we aim to: a) increase students’ understanding of what scientists do, and how knowledge is created, b) positively affect students’ attitudes towards and interest in science, as well as science identities, and c) maintain students’ interest in STEM careers.