RCN-UBE: Bringing CRISPR-Cas9 technologies to the undergraduate classroom: an undergraduate instructors' network

CRISPR in the Classroom Network旨在扩大目前的本科实验室课程，将CRISPR-Cas9基因编辑技术纳入其中。 在过去的十年中，CRISPR-Cas9已成为分子生物学的主流技术，对该方法的基本了解对于我们的本科生进入研究职业工作岗位至关重要。然而，与任何新技术一样，课程讲师需要获得培训，专业发展机会和支持，将CRISPR-Cas9纳入他们的课程，这并不总是容易获得的。 CRISPR in the Classroom网络将为教师和启动工具包提供灵活，易于调整的课程和指导，以克服与课堂学习和测试新课程相关的障碍。 该计划的目标包括在两年制和四年制机构中建立一个全国性的生物学教育工作者网络，致力于开发和实施以CRISPR-Cas9为中心的实验室活动，并通过NSF支持的定量本科生物学教育和合成（QUBES）中心创建跨多个模型系统的CRISPR-Cas9模块的在线存储库。将为讲师、博士后研究员和研究生提供一系列研讨会，以提供必要的培训和指导，以便在课程中轻松实施CRISPR-Cas9。 随着教师修改课程以适应他们的机构和资源，QUBES网站将提供一个中央的，可搜索的位置来分享他们的工作，其他实验室教师可以找到模块和支持社区，因为他们努力确保他们的本科课程是科学的前沿。该项目由生物科学理事会，生物基础设施司和教育和人力资源理事会（EHR），本科教育司共同资助，作为他们努力应对本科生物学教育中的愿景和变革所带来的挑战的一部分：行动呼吁（http：//visionandchange/finalreport/）。该项目还得到了NSF HSI和IUSE：EHR计划的支持。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。

The CRISPR in the Classroom Network seeks to expand current undergraduate laboratory curriculum to include CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. In the last decade, CRISPR-Cas9 has become a mainstream technique in molecular biology, and a basic understanding of the methodology is essential for our undergraduates to enter research careers workforce-ready. However, as is the case with any new technology, course instructors need access to training, professional development opportunities, and support to bring CRISPR-Cas9 into their curricula, which is not always readily available. This CRISPR in the Classroom network will provide flexible, easily adapted curriculum and mentoring to instructors and start-up kits to overcome the hurdles associated with learning and testing new curriculum in class. The objectives of the program include the development of a national network of biology educators at both two- and four-year institutions dedicated to the development and implementation of laboratory activities centered on experiential-based work with CRISPR-Cas9 and the creation of an online repository of CRISPR-Cas9 based modules across multiple model systems through the NSF-Supported Quantitative Undergraduate Biology Education and Synthesis (QUBES) Hub. A series of workshops will be offered to instructors, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students to provide the necessary training and mentoring needed to be comfortable implementing CRISPR-Cas9 into the curriculum. As instructors modify the curriculum to fit their institutions and resources, the QUBES site will provide a central, searchable location to share their work where other laboratory instructors can find modules and a community of support as they work to ensure their undergraduate curriculum is on the cutting-edge of science. This project is being jointly funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure, and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), Division of Undergraduate Education as part of their efforts to address the challenges posed in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action (http://visionandchange/finalreport/). This project is also supported by the NSF HSI and and IUSE:EHR programs.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.