Pivoting to a Remote-Learning Summer Student Program during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Education
• Public Health
• STEM

Background:

• Summer student programs (SSPs) are crucial for retaining students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional in-person SSPs, necessitating alternative educational models.
• Maintaining critical thinking and mentorship is vital for student progression in STEM fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a remote-learning SSP model adaptable for various programs.
• To uphold academic rigor, critical thinking, and mentorship in a virtual environment.
• To equip students with public health knowledge and communication skills.

Main Methods:

• Designed a remote SSP integrating didactic lectures with independent research projects around an anchor topic.
• Employed quantitative content assessments (pre- and post-assessments) to measure learning.
• Utilized qualitative feedback to evaluate student satisfaction, mentorship, and perceived skill development.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated significant gains in scientific literacy and critical thinking skills.
• Qualitative data indicated high student satisfaction with mentorship and program quality.
• Participants reported confidence in understanding and communicating public health information.

Conclusions:

• The developed remote SSP model effectively replicates the rigor and benefits of in-person programs.
• This adaptable model provides a viable solution for continuing STEM education during disruptions.
• The program successfully prepared students as public health ambassadors, highlighting the value of remote experiential learning.