Air Toxics Under the Big Sky is an environmental science outreach/education program that incorporates the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) 8 Practices with the goal of promoting knowledge and understanding of authentic scientific research in high school classrooms through air quality research. A quasi-experimental design was used in order to understand: 1) how the program affects student understanding of scientific inquiry and research and 2) how the open inquiry learning opportunities provided by the program increase student interest in science as a career path. Treatment students received instruction related to air pollution (airborne particulate matter), associated health concerns, and training on how to operate air quality testing equipment. They then participated in a yearlong scientific research project in which they developed and tested hypotheses through research of their own design regarding the sources and concentrations of air pollution in their homes and communities. Results from an external evaluation revealed that treatment students developed a deeper understanding of scientific research than did comparison students, as measured by their ability to generate good hypotheses and research designs, and equally expressed an increased interest in pursuing a career in science. These results emphasize the value of and need for authentic science learning opportunities in the modern science classroom.

中文翻译：

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大天空下的空气毒物：检验真实科学研究对高中生科学技能和兴趣的有效性。


Air Toxics Under the Big Sky 是一项环境科学推广/教育计划，纳入了下一代科学标准 (NGSS) 8 项实践，旨在通过空气质量研究促进高中课堂对真实科学研究的了解和理解。使用准实验设计是为了了解：1）该计划如何影响学生对科学探究和研究的理解；2）该计划提供的开放式探究学习机会如何提高学生对科学作为职业道路的兴趣。接受治疗的学生接受了有关空气污染（空气中的颗粒物）、相关健康问题的指导，以及如何操作空气质量检测设备的培训。然后，他们参加了一项为期一年的科学研究项目，在该项目中，他们通过自己设计的研究，提出并测试了有关家庭和社区空气污染的来源和浓度的假设。外部评估的结果显示，治疗学生比对照学生对科学研究有了更深入的理解（以他们提出良好假设和研究设计的能力来衡量），并且同样表达了对从事科学事业的兴趣增加。这些结果强调了现代科学课堂中真实的科学学习机会的价值和需求。