Teaching Science with Minnows and Liverworts: Integration of Faculty Research and Science Education

用鲦鱼和地钱进行科学教学：教师研究与科学教育的整合

• 批准号: 0736872
• 负责人: Linda Fuselier
• 金额: $ 14.81万
• 依托单位: Minnesota State University Moorhead
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-04-15 至 2011-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0736872&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Teaching; Science; Minnows; Liverworts; Integration

Biological Sciences (61). This project involves a retooling of an undergraduate curriculum with the goals of increasing scientific literacy by integrating cross-disciplinary faculty research into science education in a small public university. A student-directed open-inquiry (SDOI) master curriculum is being developed and implemented that formally links a series of core courses and integrates molecular biology into a curriculum emphasizing ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB). Within this core, students are building basic scientific knowledge, developing research questions, using information technology resources, forming testable hypotheses, becoming proficient in basic research design, using statistical methods for assessment and interpretation, gaining skill in weighing evidence and synthesizing understandings, and communicating results to broad audiences. The study systems (fish and liverworts) that are being integrated into the core curriculum provide convenient, charismatic models that span the plant-animal spectrum and are highly amenable to the involvement of undergraduates. Students are addressing real-world questions in EEB with state-of-the-art molecular analyses. Assessment of the program includes both formative and summative components and is incorporating university-sanctioned assessment instruments. Engaging and preparing cohorts of trained students is invigorating faculty research programs that in turn are providing future opportunities for infusing research into the core biology curriculum. Two series of SDOI laboratory exercises are being assessed, modified and disseminated. One series includes innovative laboratory experiences in chemical behavioral ecology, and a second series details the integration of molecular techniques into ecology curricula. A controlled study approach is being used to test explicitly the efficacy of SDOI versus guided-inquiry in introductory biology labs.Broader impacts include exposure of over 200 students, from 14 different majors, to an SDOI experience each year in the enhanced core curriculum. Approximately two-thirds of these students are women, a group traditionally underrepresented in ecology and other STEM areas. Results from this study are contributing to the literature on scientific inquiry in undergraduate curricula. Students and faculty are presenting their research in local, regional and national forums, including both scientific and education professional meetings, and participating in professional development workshops for local in-service teachers.

生物科学(61)。该项目涉及一项本科课程的重组，目标是通过将跨学科的教员研究整合到一所小型公立大学的科学教育中来提高科学素养。正在开发和实施以学生为导向的开放探究(SDOI)硕士课程，正式将一系列核心课程联系起来，并将分子生物学整合为强调生态学和进化生物学(EEB)的课程。在这一核心中，学生正在建立基本的科学知识，开发研究问题，利用信息技术资源，形成可检验的假设，熟练掌握基础研究设计，使用统计方法进行评估和解释，获得权衡证据和综合理解的技能，并与广大受众交流结果。正在被整合到核心课程中的学习系统(鱼和苔草)提供了方便、有魅力的模型，这些模型跨越了动植物光谱，并且非常适合本科生的参与。学生们在EEB中用最先进的分子分析解决现实世界的问题。对该计划的评估包括形成性和终结性两个部分，并纳入了大学批准的评估工具。参与和准备一批训练有素的学生正在为教师的研究项目注入活力，这些项目反过来又为将研究注入核心生物学课程提供了未来的机会。正在评估、修改和分发两个系列的SDOI实验室练习。一个系列包括化学行为生态学方面的创新实验室经验，第二个系列详细说明了将分子技术整合到生态学课程中。一种对照研究方法被用来在生物实验室入门课程中明确测试SDOI和引导式提问的有效性。广泛的影响包括每年有来自14个不同专业的200多名学生在增强的核心课程中接触SDOI体验。这些学生中约有三分之二是女性，这一群体在生态学和其他STEM领域传统上代表性较低。这项研究的结果有助于在本科生课程中进行科学探究的文献。学生和教职员工在地方、区域和国家论坛上介绍他们的研究，包括科学和教育专业会议，并参加当地在职教师的专业发展讲习班。