SBIR Phase II: Development of a STEM Educational Platform Using Electronic Neuron Simulators

该项目旨在开发、制造和评估一种由自由连接的电子神经元模块组成的新型神经系统仿真平台。这些设备将用于中学教育和专上教育课堂，以进一步学生？对神经科学、工程和生理学的概念把握，并对科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域的职业道路产生持久的热情。根据教育部2012年的一项研究，从最初申报到毕业，本科STEM专业的保留率只有35%。研究表明，对STEM缺乏吸引力的介绍是部分原因。公司认为他们的产品？它对新知识形成和学生对STEM的热情的积极影响有能力提高这种低保留率。他们还认为，该公司将以与我们在STEM和神经科学教育领域的基准公司相似的速度增长，这些公司经过大约五年的经营，每家公司都有几十名员工，年销售额超过100万美元。我们提出的项目成果包括开发电子神经元模拟生态系统，以及开发用于NeuroBytes中学和本科教育课堂的指令、实验和课程。该项目第一阶段生产的原型适用于概念验证演示和测试，但在第二阶段结束时，要为大规模生产开发强大且学生友好的设备，还需要做很多工作。通过我们第一阶段的客户开发访谈，我们获得了许多重要的见解，了解了中学和大学教育领域所需和期望的输入/输出设备、配件和套件。这些配件和设备将是增加我们产品商业潜力的重要成果。我们将与中学、高中和大学的合作伙伴共同开发课程，以确保课程结构合理，并记录在案，为我们未来的客户带来最大可能的利益。

This project seeks to develop, manufacture, and evaluate a novel nervous system simulation platform consisting of freely connectable electronic neuron modules. These devices will be used in the secondary education and post-secondary education classroom to further students? conceptual grasp of neuroscience, engineering, and physiology, and to generate lasting enthusiasm for a career path centered on the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) sector. Per a 2012 study by the Department of Education, undergraduate STEM major retention rates are only 35% from initial declaration through graduation. Studies have shown that unengaging introductions to STEM are partially to blame. The firm believes that their product?s positive effect on new knowledge formation and student enthusiasm for STEM has the ability to increase this low retention rate. They also believe that the company will grow at a similar rate to our benchmark companies in STEM and neuroscience education which, after approximately five years in business, each have several dozen employees and annual sales greater than $1 million dollars. The outcome of our proposed project includes development of an electronic neuron simulation ecosystem, as well as development of instructions, experiments, and curricula for NeuroBytes secondary and undergraduate education classroom use. The prototypes produced during Phase I of this project were suitable for proof of concept demonstrations and testing, but much work is needed to develop robust and student-friendly devices for large scale manufacturing at the end of Phase II. Through our Phase I customer development interviews, much important insight was gained into needed and desired input/output devices, accessories, and kits in the secondary and tertiary education segment. These accessories and devices will be an important outcome for increasing the commercial potential of our products. The curricula will be developed in conjunction with partner educators at the middle school, high school, and college levels to ensure that they are properly structured and documented for the maximum possible benefit by our future customers.