STEM RAYS Research

• STEMRAYS Program Evaluation (Peterfreund & Associates)

• Educational research (Allan and Kelly)

• After School Club science and engineering research

STEMRAYS Program Evaluation (Peterfreund & Associates)

• NSF required evaluation

• DHE required evaluation

Educational Research

Educational Research Hypotheses

Hypothesis 1: For students to take on the identity of "scientist" they must act as legitimate participants in authentic science activities.Hypothesis 2: In order for students to gain the interest in science and the motivation to pursue STEM careers, they must take on the identity of "scientist." Hypothesis 3: Participation in STEM RAYS activities will have a positive effect on students' science learning.

Educational Research Questions

1) Do students who participate in STEM RAYS programs take on the identity of "scientist?" (Hypothesis 1)

2) If the students do take on the identity of "scientist," how does this affect their interest in science and the motivation to pursue STEM careers? (Hypothesis 2)

3) Does participation in STEM RAYS have a positive effect on students’ science learning? (Hypothesis 3)

Educational Research Questions

Questions 1 and 2 are being addressed by measuring

(a) students' career interests [Career survey]*,

(b) their understanding of the nature of science [NOS survey]* and

(c) by determining any changes in their use of science language [review of student products].

* These will be replaced by theme specific pre- and post-tests.

Educational Research Questions

Question 3 will be addressed with data gathered from student course work and standardized tests [MCAS]*.

* This will be replaced by theme specific pre- and post-tests.

Educational Research Hypotheses

Hypothesis 4: For the OST activities to be authentic science, teachers and other after-school staff must take on the identity of "scientist" through their own legitimate participation in authentic science activities.

Educational Research Questions

4) Do teachers and other after-school staff take on the identity of "scientist" through their own legitimate participation in authentic science activities? (Hypothesis 4)

5) If the teachers and other after-school staff take on the identity of "scientist," how does this affect their ability to develop and implement authentic science OST activities? (Hypothesis 4)

Educational Research Questions

Questions 4 and 5 are being addressed by

(a) measuring teachers' understanding of the nature of science [VNOS/TNOS], and

(b) determining any changes in their use of science language [Observations, interviews, and written products].

After School Club science and engineering research

“A unique feature of STEMRAYS is the opportunity it will afford the students and their teachers to conduct authentic environmental research in close association with campus research communities of STEM faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates.”

Research: Creation and Dissemination of New knowledge

How is research done?

By: scientists working in industry, government labs, and universities and colleges.

Most organizations have a large number of research groups, whose members collaborate. Most groups are relatively small (< 10). Groups are dynamic. New members join; older members move on. Leadership is stable.

New members learn from the more experienced members.

Note: Slide from Prof. Julian Tyson

Research: Creation and Dissemination of New knowledge

New members need training:

Background to problem (big picture, what is already

known),

How to find out (library)

Techniques to be used,

Hypothesis to be tested,

Plan of action (experimental design)

Communication skills (written and oral)

Note: Slide from Prof. Julian Tyson

Research: Creation and Dissemination of New knowledge

Researchers write manuscripts, submit to journal editor. Editor sends to reviewers. Reviewers send back comments (anonymously). Researchers revise. Article is published and work is scrutinized.

Note: Slide from Prof. Julian Tyson

Within members of research group. Conference presentations (oral or poster). Scientific literature: reviewed journal articles.

How is new knowledge communicated?

Recent work is reviewed periodically by experts who write “review articles”. Important stuff eventually finds its way into textbooks.

What is “authentic science”?Authentic science includes• “asking questions, planning and conducting

investigations, drawing conclusions, revising theories, and communicating results.”

• investigating real-world problems -- problems that are "real in the sense that they are current, unsolved, and of consequence.”

What is “authentic science”?Authentic takes place in "mutual benefit

partnerships" that have

(a) a "real world'' community-based problem,

(b) school - community or school - business partnerships,

(c) problem-based learning, and

(d) student-developed products considered mutually beneficial to project participants.

An authentic research experience involves:

Working on a real problem, Over an extended time period, Working in a team with more experienced workers.

Note: Slide from Prof. Julian Tyson

An authentic research experience involves:

Finding out about your topic, Devising a plan of work, Conducting experiments and interpreting the results, Devising new experiments, Sharing your findings by writing and talking about what you are doing/have done.

Note: Slide from Prof. Julian Tyson

Suggested Research Timeline

October November December January February March April May June

Finding out about your theme

Devising a plan of work

Conducting experiments and interpreting the results

Devising new experiments

Sharing your findings

Theme related activitiesS

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esearch Conference

“mini” proposal