Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Gene Editing Technology Toolkit for Undergraduate Education

该项目旨在通过教育生物学学生了解新型基因编辑技术的应用，使用和伦理来服务于国家利益。 CRISPR技术已经成为一种快速且易于使用的基因编辑技术。 CRISPR技术在2020年获得诺贝尔奖，正在医学、农业、食品生产、公共政策和商业以及大众媒体中产生影响。 鉴于CRISPR的广泛应用，本科生学习和考虑如何适当使用该技术的需求和紧迫性越来越大。 该项目计划为入门级和高级生物学学生构建CRISPR技术的教学模块。 这些模块将被设计为创造课程体验，是新颖的，相关的，并为学生提供，以及增加教师对CRISPR技术的理解。 通过在STEM和非STEM专业实施这些模块，这项工作应该有助于培养能够面对CRISPR和其他基因编辑技术的社会影响的知情公民。 该项目的总体目标是开发、实施和评估围绕使用CRISPR进行基因编辑的干实验室和湿实验室教育经验。 该项目开发的工具包将包括一系列基于案例的学习模块，这些模块专注于CRISPR基因编辑，并将通过基于计算机的DNA序列分析，操作和建模来吸引学生。 湿实验室的经验将包括一个基于课程的本科生研究经验，这是围绕使用CRISPR技术在画夫人蝴蝶研究蝴蝶翅膀和身体的图案和发展。 生物伦理培训将纳入两个课程活动，以促进学生对基因编辑的社会影响的理解。 项目小组将评估新课程对学生学习、科学设计和过程技能、道德推理以及课后态度和活动的影响。 该项目旨在为教育工作者提供广泛的培训和支持，通过虚拟教学研讨会、会议演示、出版物传播课程材料和方法，并为CRISPR技术教育工作者建立一个实践社区。 NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。 该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by educating biology students in the application, use, and ethics of a novel gene editing technology. Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology has emerged as a rapid and easy to use gene editing technique. CRISPR technology, which was recognized with a Nobel Prize in 2020, is making an impact in medicine, agriculture, food production, public policy, and business, as well as in popular media. Given the broad reach of CRISPR, there is an increased need and urgency for undergraduate students to learn about and consider how to use the technology appropriately. The project plans to build instructional modules on CRISPR technology for both introductory and advanced biology students. These modules will be designed to create curricular experiences that are novel, relevant, and accessible for students as well as to increase faculty understanding of CRISPR technology. By implementing these modules with both STEM and non-STEM majors, this work should help develop informed citizens who can confront the societal implications of CRISPR and other gene editing technologies. The overall goal of the proposed project is to develop, implement, and evaluate both dry-lab and wet-lab educational experiences framed around gene editing using CRISPR. The toolkit to be developed in the project will include a series of dry-lab Case-Based Learning modules that focus on CRISPR editing of genes and that will engage students through computer-based DNA sequence analysis, manipulation, and modeling. Wet-lab experiences will include a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience that is framed around using CRISPR technology in painted lady butterflies to study butterfly wing and body patterning and development. Bioethical training will be built into both curricular activities to promote the students’ understanding of the societal implications of gene editing. The project team will evaluate the impacts of the new curricula on student learning, scientific design and process skills, ethical reasoning, and post-course attitudes and activities. The project is intended to provide broad training and support of educators by disseminating curricular materials and approaches through virtual instructional workshops, conference presentations, publications, and the development of a community of practice for CRISPR technology educators. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.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.