RCN-UBE: Promoting Concept Driven Teaching Strategies in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology through Concept Assessments

将建立一个网络来开发、测试和分发特定于生物化学和分子生物学领域的评估工具。这些工具将被用来评估来自不同背景的学生进入生物化学和分子生物学课程的先验知识。将为生物化学和分子生物学教育工作者创建一个以这些评估工具为特色的中央网络资源，以帮助促进侧重于基础概念、学科特定知识和基本研究技能的教育方法，所有这些都是为学生准备迎接21世纪的挑战所必需的。将根据经过验证的成果评估，为教学方法提供支助。该网络有四个具体目标：1)确定核心知识和基本原则、研究和技能方面的基本概念；2)创建基本概念和技能的分类，与ASBMB本科课程建议中概述的主题相联系；3)开发和评估适当的评估工具；4)创建一个便于学术界使用的工具包。该项目的更广泛影响将包括将社区大学的教员聚集在一起，主要是本科机构、服务于不同学生群体的研究机构和服务于代表性不足的少数群体的机构，组成解决具体评估问题的团队。第一个大型工作组将包括内容、概念发展、教学法和评估方面的广泛专家，将举行会议，确定概念评估网络的框架和需求。一个较小的工作组将每年举行会议，以继续提供发展评估资源。来自全国六个地区的大学生附属网络(UAN)小组将举行会议，为评估资源的开发做出贡献，并提供反馈，向较小的工作组提供信息。该项目由生物科学局和本科生教育局共同支持。

A network will be created to develop, test, and distribute assessment tools specific to the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. These tools will be used to evaluate prior knowledge of students entering biochemistry and molecular biology classes from various backgrounds. A central web-based resource for biochemistry and molecular biology educators will be created featuring these assessment tools to help facilitate educational approaches focused on foundational concepts, discipline specific knowledge, and essential research skills, all of which are necessary to prepare students to take on the challenges of the 21st century. Support will be provided for pedagogical approaches based on validated assessments of outcomes. The network has four specific aims: 1) Identification of foundational concepts in terms of core knowledge and foundational principles, research and skills, 2) Creation of a taxonomy of foundational concepts and skills, linked to topics outlined in the undergraduate curriculum recommendations of ASBMB, 3) Development and evaluation of appropriate assessment tools, and 4) Creation of a toolkit that can be easily accessed by the academic community.The broader impacts of the project will include bringing faculty from community colleges, primarily undergraduate institutions, research institutions that serve diverse populations of students and institutions serving under-represented minorities together to form teams that will address specific assessment issues. The first large working group, which will include a wide range of experts in content, concept development, pedagogy, and assessment, will meet to define the framework and needs of the concept assessment network. A smaller working group will meet each year to continue development assessment resources. Undergraduate Affiliated Network (UAN) groups from six regions in the country will meet to both contribute to the development of assessment resources and provide feedback to inform the smaller working group. This project is supported jointly by the Biological Sciences Directorate and the Division of Undergraduate Education.