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Undergraduate Education Research Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel Community exposure to local resilience-themed activities will develop greater STEM affinity, which will translate into measurable gains in retention and persistence, at the university level. First-year students are developing STEM findings through leading active learning projects in Science 100 and Social Science 100 … supported by upper-level undergraduate mentors, leaders, researchers. Dr. Michele Guannel, Research Lead Dr. Molly Perry, Co-Investigator 2023 R2R Annual Conference How do we transform undergraduate education? 2023 R2R Annual Conference Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research First-year student Ariel Paul, Youth Ocean Explorers graduate and mentor, conducts coral microfragmentation with the Brandt Lab (Spring 2023). First-year Jordan Wilson, current sophomore, UVI Sea Turtle Club President and Jobsis Lab volunteer, caught her first sea turtle for her Science 100 project (Fall 2022). UVI graduate George Francis II, a 2018 service learning alum, graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Communication (May 2022). Meet The Team Dr. Michele Guannel, Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Molly Perry, Assistant Professor of History & Geography Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research Dr. Lyz Jaeger Associate Professor of Social Science Tara Thompson, SCI 100 Peer Instructor Waniya Baig, SCI 100 Peer Instructor Darnilla Samuel, SCI 100 Peer Instructor Nathan Kohler, SCI 100 Peer Instructor Nikita Beck, Community Engagement Fellow Megan Anthony, Service Learning Coordinator Kaidrian Ottley, Service Learning Coordinator Shani Richardson, Service Learning Coordinator Dr. Michelle Peterson, Associate Professor of Biology Lab Instructors Vernon Callwood, Antonio Farchette, Dr. Marianne Moore, Dr. Kayla Blincow, LeeAnn Sheets 2023 R2R Annual Conference Year 1 Analysis of 2018-2020 experiential learning data Year 2 Pilot experiential learning option across Science 100 and Social Science 100, to obtain 20% participation by Year 5 Year 3 Institutional Review Board approval – new study design Publications Development of Resilience Leaders pathways Research Goals and Objectives 2023 R2R Annual Conference Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research Science 100 and Social Science 100 curricula and instruments developed and aligned Up to 29% of class chose project over paper, exceeding Year 5 goal Nine undergraduates / graduates are co-authors on 11 publications and presentations Student Instructor roles are powerful for upper-level undergraduates 2023 R2R Annual Conference Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research Research Goals and Objectives Highlights: A Cohesive First-Year Experience & Resilience Leader Pathways First-Year Experience (during / after a global pandemic) Resilience Leader Pathways Informal Learning Teacher Development Coral Restoration Mangrove Restoration Island Resilience Sea Turtle Conservation Research Interdependencies: the First-Year Experience Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research R2R-connected team members facilitated an increase in resilience-themed experiential learning with R2R researchers, in SCI 100: Year 1: 1 of 17 projects (6%) • Climate Change Year 2: 9 of 20 projects (45%) • Corals, Mangroves, Marine Debris Year 3: 24 of 44 projects (55%) • Corals, Mangroves, Marine Debris, Sea Turtles, Resilient Infrastructure, Sargassum, Water Quality, Climate Change, Recycling 2023 R2R Annual Conference Upper-Level Resilience Leaders: Undergraduate (& graduate) students are education researchers. Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research Angelisa Freeman, BS 2022 Three publications, one conference!! Liv Diana, MMES Student "Teaching SCI 100 made me want to become a teacher." [Now she is!!] Nailah Copemann, first qualitative research on lived experiences of IrMaria George Francis II and Deanna Hunt, invited speakers – 3 NASEM webinars; PKAL workshop (Hunt); both co-authors on manuscript in prep Bethany Good, preparedness research now integrated into SCI 100 2023 R2R Annual Conference Results, Outcomes & Accomplishments: Our team nurtures our undergraduates - testimonials. Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research "Science 100 will always be in my heart. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to work with the team and the students … You worked hard with me over the years and helped build me as a future communication professional. … You turned me into an outstanding individual." "From your continuous guidance, I was not only able to develop as an employee, but also as an individual because of you looking for opportunities for me”. "My project is actually my reason for joining your team such that I can be of guidance to others who may doubt themselves or shy away from such projects."​ 2023 R2R Annual Conference Diversity of disciplines & life experiences = workforce power Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research Jaresia Elliott-Hendrickson Biology Major, Resident Assistant PR Officer, PRISM LGBTQIA Club Outstanding Student Organization; M. Guannel faculty advisor Shani Richardson, Psychology Keana Jacobs and George Francis, Communication Deanna Hunt, Computer Science Cheilinett Espinosa, Nursing Kahlifah Powell Marine Biology Past and Future Brandt Lab Angelisa Freeman, Biology; Educator Tara Thompson Marine Biology Chemosynthesis Researcher, Past Grimes Lab Shamir Smith, Applied Math BS & Computer Science BS in 5 years 2023 R2R Annual Conference Multi-Year Training, Mentoring, and Cross-Training Transdisciplinary Teaching and Assessment Leveraged Funding Educators: 18 undergraduates 12 graduate / post-bac students Education researchers: 8 undergraduates 3 graduate / post-bac students Synchronized structure in SCI 100 & SSC 100 "Wicked problems“ – natural and social science perspectives Wide reach - 192 students, Fall 2023 Service learning and oral histories grants awarded to SSC 100 Lead, Dr. Molly Perry, and English faculty (National Endowment for the Humanities; Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands Impacts of this work Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research 2023 R2R Annual Conference Years 3-5 Assess STEM Affinity of first-year students and solicit feedback from focus groups Years 3-5 Integrate findings into proposals Years 4-5 Expand pathways for Resilience Leaders training and professional development Year 5 Examine retention & persistence of UVI students engaged in projects / leadership Present and Future Plans Dr. Molly Perry / Dr. Michele Guannel – Undergraduate Education Research 2023 R2R Annual Conference Image from pre- and post-surveys: how closely does student identify with being a STEM Professional? Thank you! Dr. Michele Guannel EMAIL: michele.guannel@uvi.edu PHONE: 340-693-1284 Dr. Molly Perry EMAIL: molly.perry@uvi.edu PHONE: 340-693-1279 2023 R2R Annual Conference Ms. Angelisa Freeman and Ms. Madyson Miller (also pictured!) are currently busy in their post-graduation education and marine policy work – please contact Dr. Perry or Dr. Guannel with questions!