Beyond 'Train-the-Trainer:' A Preliminary Report on a New Scaffolding Strategy for Science Communication Workshop Dissemination

摘要

This paper reports on the development and results to date of a new strategy to disseminate a well-validated, successful science communication workshop program to multiple campuses hosting National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates or REU-like research programs. The REU Science Communication Workshop program (REU SCW) is based on the premise that the most effective pedagogy for science communication skills development is one in which students practice iteratively using their own research material, with expert coaching and facilitated peer feedback. After testing several models for widespread dissemination, the most promising capacity-building strategy is one that scaffolds the traditional "train-the-trainer" approach with a new "piggyback" professional development model.