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

这个项目旨在通过教育生物学学生应用、使用和伦理一种新的基因编辑技术来服务于国家利益。簇状规则散布短回文重复序列(CRISPR)技术是一种快速、易用的基因编辑技术。2020年获得诺贝尔奖的CRISPR技术正在对医药、农业、食品生产、公共政策和商业以及流行媒体产生影响。鉴于CRISPR的广泛覆盖范围，本科生学习和考虑如何适当使用这项技术的必要性和紧迫性越来越大。该项目计划为初级和高级生物学学生建立CRISPR技术教学模块。这些模块将被设计成为学生创造新颖、相关和可访问的课程体验，并增加教师对CRISPR技术的理解。通过在STEM和非STEM专业中实施这些模块，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有见识的公民。拟议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的教育经验。将在该项目中开发的工具包将包括一系列基于干实验室案例的学习模块，这些模块侧重于基因的CRISPR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。湿实验室体验将包括基于课程的本科生研究体验，该体验围绕着在彩绘蝴蝶中使用CRISPR技术来研究蝴蝶翅膀和身体的模式和发育。生物伦理培训将被纳入两门课程活动，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、伦理推理以及课程后态度和活动的影响。该项目旨在通过虚拟教学讲习班、会议介绍、出版物和为CRISPR技术教育工作者建立实践社区来传播课程材料和方法，从而为教育工作者提供广泛的培训和支持。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过参与的学生学习路径，该计划支持有前景的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。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 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.