Dataset Information

Sustaining Student Engagement - Successes and Challenges of a Virtual STEM Program for High School Students.

ABSTRACT: Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center coordinate in-depth research immersion STEM programs to engage high school students in biomedical research and encourage pursuit of careers in health-related research and clinical care. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 programs were delivered entirely virtually. Student and faculty perceptions of the virtual experience were evaluated using surveys and focus groups. Ninety percent of students felt the virtual program met expectations. Student rankings for programmatic components that could remain virtual in future years showed a preference for highly interactive activities, especially mentorship and dialogue-based activities like discussions of science in the news. Ninety-seven percent of faculty agreed students' scientific knowledge improved. Faculty commented that certain research projects (e.g., data analysis, literature reviews) were highly appropriate for a virtual program, but that the lack of hands-on laboratory activities was challenging. Increased individual attention, flexibility, and independence were hailed as strengths of the virtual program. These findings identify activities that sustain student interest in biomedical, healthcare, and cancer related research using a virtual medium and indicate mentorship and interactive discussion-based activities enhance virtual education. Moreover, the results support incorporation of interactive online pedagogical approaches to enhance student engagement virtually and in-person.

SUBMITTER: Qua K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8631310 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundVirtual patient engagement has become more common in recent years. Emerging research suggests virtual engagement can increase accessibility for patients managing long-term health conditions and those living in larger geographic areas, but it can also be challenging to establish relationships and maintain engagement over time. Little is known about virtual engagement lasting more than two years, nor about the specific contributions of patients to virtual engagement projects. Here we describe a project where virtual engagement was sustained over a long period of time (3.5 years), measure patients' contributions to the work, and describe the facilitators and challenges of the project using the Valuing All Voices (VAV) patient engagement framework.MethodsFive researchers recruited four patient partners living with persistent pain to work together virtually on a project to improve care for others with long-term pain. Researchers documented engagement activities and patient partner contributions and categorized them using Carman et al.'s 3 types of engagement. They also collected data via semi-structured group interviews with patient partners about the facilitators and challenges of the project using the VAV framework.ResultsIn 3.5 years, patient partners contributed 487 h to the project, averaging 3.0 h per month, and participated in 40 meetings. They contributed to 17 products for patients, health care teams, and researchers. Most products (12 of 17) were created using the more in-depth engagement approaches of involvement or partnership and shared leadership. The group identified facilitators of the project across the five VAV domains of relationship-building, trust, understanding & acceptance, education & communication, and self-awareness, as well as some specific challenges such as keeping track of products across virtual platforms and managing the high volume of project information.ConclusionsLong-term virtual patient engagement is feasible and can use more in-depth engagement approaches. Additionally, it can result in substantial contributions from patients in terms of time, effort, and products. These findings can inform future long-term virtual patient engagement efforts and provide insight into how researchers can structure their activities to encourage and maintain deep engagement over time.

Project description:Background A large pediatric clinic in Flint, Michigan, a low-income, urban community, implemented a fruit and vegetable prescription program for youth to address enduring challenges with food access and food insecurity. Approximately 18 months after this prescription program was introduced, the State of Michigan issued a “stay home, stay safe” executive order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective This study sought to investigate perceived changes to access and utilization of fruit and vegetable prescriptions as well as general changes in the food environment that resulted from the pandemic and related executive order. Study Design, Setting, Participants Data were collected using semi-structured telephone interviews with caregivers of children (8-18 years of age) who received at least one fruit and vegetable prescription. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim for textual analysis. Using thematic analysis, qualitative data was examined to identify patterns across transcripts and formulate common themes. Interviews concluded when data saturation was reached. Results Fifty-six caregivers participated in interviews (mean age, 41.3 ± 10.3 years). The majority were female (91%), African American (70%), and residents of Flint (75%). Four recurrent themes, centered around changes in the food environment resulting from COVID-19, emerged: produce prescription access and utilization; food access constraints; food shopping adjustments; and food insecurity stress. Conclusions The current study highlights stark ramifications of COVID-19, particularly among vulnerable families, many of whom were at elevated risk for food insecurity and hunger prior to the pandemic. Perceived consequences of COVID-19 included increased anxiety related to food shopping and food insecurity alongside challenges with access and utilization of a fruit and vegetable prescription program as pediatric clinics moved to virtual healthcare visits and farmers’ markets closed. Funding Michigan Health Endowment Fund

Dataset Information

Sustaining Student Engagement - Successes and Challenges of a Virtual STEM Program for High School Students.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets