Recipient Organization
WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CANYON,TX 79016
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Texas Panhandle covers 26 counties and 25,824 square miles, with a population of 434,358 (16.8 pop per sq mile). About 46.9% of the population is minority, and 50% is female. It is one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the U.S., producing one-third of the nation's beef, and contributing $5.7 billion/yr in agricultural receipts (crops and livestock). The drought- prone and semiarid region has been plagued with water shortages and diminishing groundwater in recent decades. West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) is the primary educational institution in the region. Female students are underrepresented in our STEM programs. Females account for 59% of student enrollment but only 24% of STEM enrollment. The goal of our project is to develop and deliver online K-12 educational tools that promote the importance of STEM among young girls and minorities in the rural Panhandle. The two specific aims of the project are to 1) develop an interactive tool to analyze water-related data (precipitation, groundwater depths, weather), and 2) educate students on the science of the hydrologic cycle as it pertains to macroscale agriculture (evaporation, transpiration, circulation and interchanges) and atomic scale agriculture using molecular dynamics (MD). The online tools will be targeted for use in the curriculum of K-12 teachers in rural school systems, and by county extension agents to include 4-H clubs and the National FFA Organization. The project will support one graduate student researcher. We will evaluate our effectiveness through tool usage data and quasi-experimental social science evaluation of student intrinsic motivations.?
Animal Health Component
15%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
5%
Applied
15%
Developmental
80%
Goals / Objectives
A fundamental understanding of science is necessary to comprehend the hydrologic cycle and the intricate interplay between water, plants, and soil, which underpins the success of agricultural practices. To educate the next generation about this crucial subject, we will employ a web-based toolkit designed for K-12 students as well as educators. The toolkit will provide users with access to water-related and agricultural data concerning Panhandle, Texas, in an educational interactive format. Through the toolkit, users will be able to retrieve and analyze data, allowing them to discern trends and learn how to plan for future needs effectively as well as increase their water and agricultural literacy.Followings are our specific aims:1. Developing an interactive tool to analyze water-related data of Panhandle, Texas area.2.Educating thehydrologic cyclewhich will be presented at multiple levels tailored for K-12 students and teachers.?
Project Methods
The proposed tools will be targeted at audiences in the K-12 student range. For example, the material will range from teacher led K-2 material which will be simple, concept-based ideas, to hands-on material for grades 9-12 to include conceptual, logical, and analytical approaches. Students will learn about both water quantity and water quality. They will learn about the importance of groundwater to the economic development of the Texas Panhandle from the 1920s forward. In that history, they will learn about the decline of the groundwater and how that might affect their existence in the next decades. They will learn about variations in precipitation amounts over short and long terms, and how that affects drought planning. We will utilize a "train the trainer" approach. Our tools will be 'kid friendly' for use by teachers who in turn will teach water science to hundreds and hundreds of students throughout the Texas Panhandle. And most importantly, as we develop the tools we will focus on engaging of teachers and students using a fun and interesting approach; keeping their attention by focusing on their curiosity, optimism, and passion for learning new things. As this project is to be both Education and Outreach, co- PI Parker will use his appointment with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension to coordinate with county extension agents to pilot appropriate versions of the water-based curricula in local 4-H and FFA clubs.Simple "use" of the website and tools is insufficient to promote and demonstrate change in student motivation. Dr. Garrison (co-PI) will lead out on the three basic psychological needs that foster intrinsic motivations (autonomy, relatedness, competence) for women and minorities in their approach to STEM fields. Through his leadership, we will compare non-exposed and exposed students, using a quasi-experimental design, which might be able to match students across the two conditions to control for other factors that affect STEM interest using the Science Identity (SciID) scale and similar metrics as appropriate.This approach has already been used in other interdisciplinary water education interventions.