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Research has shown that student achievement is influenced by their access to, or possession of, various forms of capital. These forms of capital include financial capital, academic capital (prior academic preparation and access to academic support services), cultural capital (the attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors related to education which students are exposed to by members of their family or community), and social capital (the resources students have access to as a result of being members of groups or networks). For community college students, many with high financial need and the first in their families to go to college (especially those from underrepresented minority groups), developing programs to increase access to these various forms of capital is critical to their success. This paper describes how a small federally designated Hispanic-serving community college has developed a scholarship program for financially needy community college students intending to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field. Developed through a National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) grant, the program involves a collaboration among STEM faculty, college staff, administrators, student organizations, and partners in industry, four-year institutions, local high schools, and professional organizations. In addition to providing financial support through the scholarships, student access to academic capital is increased through an intensive math review program, tutoring, study groups, supplemental instruction, and research internship opportunities. Access to cultural and social capital is increased by providing scholars with faculty mentors; engaging students with STEM faculty, university researchers, and industry professionals through field trips, summer internships, professional organizations, and student clubs; supporting student and faculty participation at professional conferences, and providing opportunities for students and their families to interact with faculty and staff. The paper details the development of the program, and its impact over the last five years on enhancing the success of STEM students as determined from data on student participation in various program activities, student attitudinal and self-efficacy surveys, and academic performance including persistence, retention, transfer and graduation.
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Supporting Autonomous Learning Skills in Developmental Mathematics Courses With Asynchronous Online Resources
Researchers have characterized the challenges many deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students face in postsecondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs to three domains: preparation, socialization, and access. Additionally, some research has found that learners who are DHH have poor autonomous learning skills. The Deaf STEM Community Alliance, a project supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF HRD-1127955), created a model virtual (online) academic community called the DHH Virtual Academic Community to directly address preparation, socialization, and access challenges with the logic that online resources provide innovative and flexible means to adapt to complex student needs and schedules. This article describes a mixed-method study regarding one instructor’s effort to supplement developmental math education with online videos for students who are DHH, addressing issues relating to the challenges of preparation and access. Data analysis used both quantitative and qualitative methods to interpret student responses ( n = 89) about viewing behaviors and perceived benefits of the videos. Analysis of viewing behaviors also incorporated aggregated user analytics generated by YouTube. An unexpected finding of the study relates to the opportunity to develop autonomous learning skills by using the videos. While previous research with this student population has frequently found that students are teacher dependent, this study suggested that providing review videos allowed students to practice and master content on their own, strengthening their autonomous study skills.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1127955
- PAR ID:
- 10149823
- Publisher / Repository:
- SAGE Publications
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- American Behavioral Scientist
- Volume:
- 64
- Issue:
- 7
- ISSN:
- 0002-7642
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 1012-1030
- Size(s):
- p. 1012-1030
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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