A feature of student–teacher–scientist partnerships (STSPs) involves students working with scientists for the purpose of helping them learn more about how scientists work and think. Previous research on STSPs has generally focused on identifying the best practices of partnerships and on identifying challenges of these partnerships. The study reported here employed a cluster-randomized trial design to test the effectiveness of the PlantingScience STSP that combines high-quality curriculum, teacher preparation, and online mentoring by professional scientists. The results of the current study show that students who participated in the PlantingScience STSP showed significant improvements in science content knowledge and attitudes about scientists compared with students in the control group. The study sample was highly representative, demographically, to the U.S. population of high schools. These results add to the limited empirical evidence about the effectiveness of STSPs on student outcomes related to science achievement and attitudes.
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Research Article|
September 01 2023
Digging Deeper into Student–Teacher–Scientist Partnerships for Improving Students’ Achievement and Attitudes about Scientists
Anne L. Westbrook,
ANNE L. WESTBROOK is a senior science educator at BSCS Science Learning.
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Catrina T. Adams,
CATRINA T. ADAMS is the director of education at the Botanical Society of America.
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Joseph A. Taylor
JOSEPH A. TAYLOR is an associate professor of Leadership, Research, and Foundations at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
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The American Biology Teacher (2023) 85 (7): 379–389.
Citation
Anne L. Westbrook, Catrina T. Adams, Joseph A. Taylor; Digging Deeper into Student–Teacher–Scientist Partnerships for Improving Students’ Achievement and Attitudes about Scientists. The American Biology Teacher 1 September 2023; 85 (7): 379–389. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2023.85.7.379
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