SBIR Phase II: A web-application that enables hands-on biotech laboratory education for students regardless of socioeconomic status

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是公平获得高质量的科学教育，无论社会经济地位或地理位置如何。在全国范围内，科学文盲是一个持续存在的问题，只有30%的学生被测试为具有科学的基本知识。因此，美国没有足够的训练有素的科学家来商业或学术实验室。这种情况被认为是一场国家危机，并被认为是对美国国家安全的威胁。高质量的科学教育对学生有持久的好处，包括更有说服力和清晰的沟通技巧，以及设计和开发解决问题的关键方法的能力。该计划的长期目标是提高全国的科学素养，并为下一代科学家提供职业准备培训。该计划符合下一代科学标准的所有三个方面。该项目的一个图书版本正在向加州的独立学习特许学校推出。在线课程将在采用这些书籍的学校进行测试。 图书和在线版本将扩展到特许学校，私立学校，并最终公立学校。该计划的模块可以在没有高速互联网接入的地区采用。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目通过提供独立的研究应用程序，包括动手化学实验室的分步指导，解决了科学教育中的不公平现象。出于安全性和可及性的原因，所有动手实验室都使用家中常见的试剂。实验的目的是要做，而不需要在房间里训练有素的科学教师。研究表明，动手学习比计算机模拟更有效。低成本的科学设备也在开发中。一台手动旋转离心机正在最后设计中。在第二阶段，将开发一个药物发现模块，学生可以在自己的厨房或教室里找到潜在的疾病治疗方法。目标还包括修改在线应用程序，使其易于扩展，可扩展和长期维护。应用程序的开发包括技术优化，以便在全国范围内进行可靠的部署，以及新的界面，使教育工作者能够将内容直接上传到应用程序中。该项目还包括应用程序的安全审计，包括用户信息。财务信息将通过第三方应用程序进行管理。该产品将在教室和家庭学校进行反复测试。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 broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is equitable access to a quality science education regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location. Across the nation, science illiteracy is an ongoing issue with only 30% of students testing as having a basic knowledge of science. As a result, the U.S. does not have enough trained scientists to commercial or academic laboratories. This situation has been deemed a national crisis and is considered a risk to U.S. national security. A quality science education has lasting benefits to students including more persuasive and clear communication skills, and the ability to design and develop critical approaches to problem-solving. The long-term goal of this program is to raise science literacy across the nation and provide career readiness training for the next generation of scientists. The program meets all three dimensions of Next Generation Science Standards. A book version of the program is being rolled-out to independent study charter schools in California. The online program will be tested in schools which have adopted the books. Both book and online versions will be expanded to charter schools, private schools, and eventually public schools. Modules of the program may be adopted in areas without access to high-speed internet.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses inequities in science education by providing an independent study application that includes step-by-step instruction for a hands-on chemical laboratory. All hands-on laboratories use reagents commonly found in the home for safety and accessibility reasons. Experiments are designed to be done without the need for a trained science teacher in the room. Studies show that hands-on learning is more impactful than computer simulations. Low-cost scientific equipment is also being developed. A hand-powered spinning centrifuge is under final design. During Phase II, a drug discovery module will be developed where students can find a potential cure for a disease in their own kitchen or classroom. Aims also include modifying the online application to make it easily expandable, scalable and maintainable for the long term. The application development includes technical optimization for reliable deployment nationwide and new interfaces to allow educators to upload content directly into the application. The project also includes security audits of the application including user information. Financial information will be managed through a third-party application. The product will be iteratively tested in classrooms and homeschools.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.