Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Science and Mathematics Education
Chad D. Markert - Winston-Salem State University
Co-Author(s): Breonte S. Guy, Dawn X. Henderson, C. Edward Ebert, and Jill Keith, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC
Although this proposal and the new Department of Exercise Physiology at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) are two distinct initiatives, both seek to be transformative. Particularly at the graduate level, the discipline of Exercise Physiology is moving towards explaining phenomena by utilizing the same tools used at the laboratory bench in STEM areas such as chemistry, biology, and biophysics. As the discipline, and its charge of training the next generation of Exercise Physiologists, advances in this manner, new Departments of Exercise Physiology at American universities have become stand-alone, distinct from Departments of Physical Education, and have aligned within the penumbra of Medical Schools or Schools of Health Sciences. Accordingly, in July 2014, the Department of Exercise Physiology at WSSU was formed, transitioning away from its former home in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Sport Sciences. While that initiative has been accomplished, the work that remains is to improve undergraduate student learning outcomes. Specifically, this will be accomplished by enhancing cognitive and behavioral factors that predict persistence in STEM. The goal of this project is to infuse lab-bench modules into the Exercise Physiology curriculum at WSSU. Activities will include opportunities for further intensive research, and STEM career-focused colloquia. Objective 1: Improve student attitudes toward use of lab bench-based techniques: will be measured using a modified Science Attitude Inventory (SAI III), Moore and Hill Foy, 1998. Objective 2: Improve student perceptions of scientific inquiry in Exercise Physiology: will be measured with Views About Scientific Inquiry Questionnaire (VASI), Lederman J.S. et al, 2014. Objective 3: Increase student intentions to engage in undergraduate research: will be measured with Intended Research Involvement Measure, Deemer E.D. et al, 2014. Objective 4: Increase student intentions to persist in STEM-related fields: will be measured with Career Intention in Science Scale (CIS), Nassar-McMillan S.C. et al, 2012. Novel aspects of this proposal include: offering this experience to undergraduates (the graduate level may be too late); offering this experience using Exercise Physiology as a platform; infusing the lab-bench modules using a bioengineering project as a vehicle; and offering this experience at a HBCU, so that underrepresented students are funneled into STEM graduate schools and careers.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF HBCU-UP TIP
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,