HR: 0800h
AN: ED11C-0631    [Abstracts]
TI: Watershed Watch – Student-driven Research Experiences That Attract Undeclared Undergraduate Students Into STEM Majors
AU: * Rock, B N
EM: barry.rock@unh.edu
AF: University of New Hampshire, Leitzel Center Parsons Hall, Durham, NH 03824, United States
AU: Hale, S R
EM: steve.hale@unh.edu
AF: University of New Hampshire, Leitzel Center Parsons Hall, Durham, NH 03824, United States
AU: Hayden, L B
EM: haydenl@mindspring.com
AF: Elizabeth City State University, CERSER Dixon Hall, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, United States
AU: Graham, K J
EM: karen.graham@unh.edu
AF: University of New Hampshire, Leitzel Center Parsons Hall, Durham, NH 03824, United States
AB: The NSF-sponsored partnership between the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), New Hampshire Community Technical College (NHCTC), and the College of the Albemarle (COA) has implemented a unique series of courses designed to attract undergraduate students with undeclared majors into the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. These courses incorporate student- driven research comparing the Merrimack River (NH/MA) and Pasquotank River watersheds (VA/NC). Entitled Watershed Watch (WW), the courses utilize pedagogical approaches based on hands-on, inquiry-based teaching and learning. In alternating years, a two-week WW summer institute is held in each watershed. Students conduct authentic research on various aspects of the watershed's geology, limnology, and landscape ecology. Then during the academic year, WW students enroll in a course where they are paired with faculty mentors, and engage in more in-depth research projects. Samples of student research include assessing calcium oxalate crystals as an indicator of plant stress in NH red spruce (Picea rubens) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and GIS modeling/mapping coastal NC changes resulting from postulated melting of the Greenland ice sheet. After completing the first year in a five-year funding cycle, formative/summative evaluation methods have identified the following student perceptions regarding STEM disciplines: participating students found WW to be enjoyable, exciting, and meaningful; as a result of WW, 60 percent of undeclared students from the four-year institutions (UNH/ECSU) declared a STEM major or minor; and approximately 20 percent of the two-year students (NHCTC/COA) enrolled in four-year STEM programs or are employed in STEM fields.
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting