FINAL REPORT FOR AWARD # 0407504

U of Alaska SE Juneau
Improved Online STEM Instruction For Rural Alaskan Native Students

Participant Individuals:
Technician, programmer(s) : Andy Holt; Nicole Duclos
Other -- specify(s) : Emma Walton

Partner Organizations:
University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus: Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges

The Center for Distance Education at UAF has been helpful with our planning

meeting and with providing design assistance.  Andy Holt, the project

instrcutional designer, has spent time at their site and received training

from their staff.

In addition the UAF College of Rural Alaska through the NSF Alaska Rural

Systemic Initiative Project has supported the planning process and promised

to support TCUP Project activities as needed

Other collaborators:

The first major project activity was the planning session attended by

individuals from a number of agencies.  These agencies and individuals

will continue to serve as an informal project advisory committee. (See

progress report for a complete list of planning meeting participants.)

Activities and findings:

Research and Education Activities:

Please see attached file.

Findings:

Please see file attached to Part (1) above.

Training and Development:

The project developed a strategy for the presentation of on-line, technical

courses (STEM) that can be used for the delivery of water and wastewater

content in the Environmental Technology program at the University of Alaska

Southeast.  The skills and experience gained by the faculty and instructional

development team will be used to implement the strategies in other STEM

courses.

Outreach Activities:

Through contacts with field-testers the operator community is becoming

aware of the value of this innovative format.  The University of Alaska

Southeast (UAS) Environmental Technology Program and the Alaska Training

and Technical Assistance Center at UAS have and are promoting the material

and will offer the modules for CEU credit in the future.  It is hoped

that the improved strategies will be effective in encouraging enrollment

in more courses and technical education programs.

Journal Publications:

Book(s) of other one-time publications(s):

Other Specific Products:

Software (or netware)

Six, web-based, instructional modules on specific technical topics related

to village water and wastewater utility operation.

The six modules are:

1.      Bacteriological Sampling of Potable Water Systems

        6 lessons; 70 screens

2.      Cross-Connections

        7 lessons; 115 screens

3.      Well and System Disinfection

        9 lessons; 149 screens

4.      Using pH Meters

        6 lessons; 98 screens

5.      Diaphragm Chemical Feed Pumps

        9 lessons; 124 screens

6.      Lagoons

        10 lessons; 195 screens

The availability of the modules will be advertised on the Alaska Training/Technical

Assistance Center's web-site and promoted through the University system

and the Alaska Water/Wastewater Management Association.

The availability will be communicated to water and wastewater training

center throughout the US.

The strategies used in the modules will be shared with University STEM

faculty and staff and their use encourage in other technical programs

and STEM courses.

Internet Dissemination:

http://www.uas.alaska.edu/attac/NSF/stem.html

This site is dedicated to the NSF TCUP Project. It contains the project

summary, goals and objectives, and the results of recent activities.

It can be used by staff and advisory committee members to remain current.

Contributions:

Contributions within Discipline:

 The six modules developed under this project will be used in the University

of Alaska Southeast-Sitka Environmental Technology Program.  In addition,

the web-based instructional strategies developed during the creations

of the six modules will be used to create additional modules and used

in the delivery of other STEM courses within the program.

Contributions to Other Disciplines:

 The web-based instructional strategies developed during the creations

of the six modules will be used to create additional modules and used

in the delivery of other STEM courses in other technical programs.

Contributions to Education and Human Resources:

 The use of more appropriate strategies that focus on the learning styles

of Alaska Native students will increase their success and representation

in STEM programs, specifically water and wastewater technology.  Broader

use of the developed instructional strategies will increase the success

of university students taking STEM course by distance.

Contributions to Resources for Science and Technology:

 No Institutional research or educational resources have been created.

Contributions Beyond Science and Engineering:

 If the modules contribute to the success and increased skill of Alaska

village water and wastewater operators, they will contribute to improved

quality of life for village residents through the availability of safe

drinking water.  Environmental protection and village health will be enhanced

by the safe and effective disposal of waste.

Categories for which nothing is reported:
Products: Journal Publications
Products: Book or other one-time publication