SBIR Phase I: XplorStem(TM): A smartphone/tablet application that enables hands-on biotech laboratory education for all students regardless of socioeconomic status

这个SBIR第一阶段项目的重点是为高中开发一个移动生物技术实验室。从实用的角度来看，生物技术教育仅限于有资金购买昂贵设备并培训教师使用设备的学校。包括设备和配套教学材料在内的成套设备在大型生物技术市场上都可以买到，但需要进行教师培训、购买材料以及检查和归还设备。在这方面，教学仅限于关键生物技术中心的几所高中。我们的目标是通过拟议的产品在他们的口袋里建立一个实验室，让全国每个学生都有平等的机会接受生物技术培训。通过使用移动设备，一台100美元的平板电脑可以取代数千美元的实验室设备。学生完成学业所需的一切都将包括在应用程序中或通过应用程序内购买。教师培训将是最少的，因为完成了对所有试剂盒和配套设备的后端验证，使其使用无缝和普遍适用。提供了教师所需的所有附带信息，包括学生表现的App内评估工具。中国的任何人都可以下载这款应用程序，然后设备/试剂就可以直接运往S老师的教室。农村社区的教师将与最富裕学区的教师享有相同的机会。该项目将专注于开发一款基于网络的应用程序，该应用程序具有后端数据库，通过基于发现的学习传授动手操作的生物技术实验室技能和概念。这款应用程序包括一个模拟高端科学设备的探索实验室模块，其中包括使用智能手机摄像头的分光光度计和显微镜。第二个单元教授学生各种实验室技能，包括显微移液器、显微镜的使用和分光光度计。学生学习背景，并通过实践和研究活动进行指导，最终形成一份报告。第三个模块使用基于发现的指导学习方法，通过科学方法将学生带到现实世界的研究问题，并遵守下一代科学标准的所有三个维度。该单位包括一项对胰腺消化牛奶的研究，其特点是分离胰腺蛋白酶、药物发现/天然产品筛选和市场上可获得的酶补充剂的质量控制测试。在这些探索中，学生们没有得到答案。他们必须制定假设，进行有指导的背景研究，并最终进行实践实验，最终得出最终报告。学生的进度被捕获在后端数据库中，并由教师监控。手机/平板电脑的微吸管和附件等硬件将通过3D打印进行设计和准备。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This SBIR Phase I project is focused on developing a mobile biotech laboratory for high schools. Education in biotech is limited from a practical point of view to schools with the funds to purchase expensive equipment and to train their teachers to use it. Kits including equipment and accompanying instructional materials are available in large biotech markets but require teacher training, purchase of materials and check-out and return of equipment. In this, instruction is limited to a few high schools in key biotech hubs. Our goal is to give every student in the country equal access to biotech training by building a laboratory in their pocket through the proposed product. Through use of mobile devices, a $100 tablet can replace thousands of dollars in laboratory equipment. Everything the student needs to complete their studies will be included in the app or through in-app purchases. Teacher training would be minimal because back-end validation of all reagent kits and accompanying gear is completed to make its use seamless and universally applicable. All accompanying information required for the teacher is provided including in-App assessment tools of student performance. The app may be downloaded by anyone in the country and gear/reagents rapidly shipped directly to the teacher?s classroom. Teachers in rural communities will have the same access as teachers in the wealthiest school districts. The project will focus on developing a web-based app with a back-end database that teaches hands-on biotech laboratory skills and concepts via discovery-based learning. The app includes an exploration lab module that simulates high-end scientific equipment, including a spectrophotometer and microscope that use the smart-phone camera. A second module takes students through various laboratory skills including micropipetting, use of microscope, and spectrophotometer. Students learn background and are led through practice and research activities resulting in a report. A third module uses guided discovery-based learning approaches to take students through the scientific method to a real-world research problem and adheres to all three dimensions of Next Generation Science Standards. Unit includes a study of milk digestion by the pancreas that features isolation of pancreatic proteases, drug discovery/natural product screening and quality control testing of commercially available enzyme supplements. In these explorations, students are not given answers. They must formulate hypothesis and do guided background research and ultimately perform hands-on experiments resulting in a final report. Student progress is captured in a back-end database and monitored by their instructor. Hardware such as micropipettes and attachments for phone/tablet will be designed and prepared through 3D printing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.