BRAIN TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS

描述（由申请人提供）：明尼苏达大学神经科学系（明尼苏达大学）和明尼苏达科学博物馆（SMM），与教师咨询小组一起，建议开发，实施，评估和传播神经科学生物医学科学教育计划。 该项目，大脑（带来资源，活动和探究神经科学）到中学，将导致深入的，多年的，以探究为基础的课程材料和教师培训计划的发展，由指导网络支持，这将促进加强理解和应用神经科学及其健康相关问题到中学科学课程。 该项目的一个试验阶段为5至8年级的科学教师举办了为期两周的专业发展讲习班。 在学年期间，参与教师得到了课堂活动和资源的支持，包括集会计划，互动展览站和资源主干。 虽然取得了成功，教师们要求额外的培训和资源支持，以完善和巩固他们的神经科学和探究教学法的知识。 因此，提出了一个为期三年的序列组成的暑期教师学院，团队教学与MN和SMM工作人员的U，教师同行指导，开发额外的探究为基础的中学神经科学课程的资源，并为教师和学生的机会，提出他们的调查，以更广泛的观众。 在研究所期间，教师与明尼苏达大学神经科学家互动并参观实验室。 参与的教师将继续与项目工作人员和同行互动，观察彼此的课堂并分享实施策略。 教师将在当地，区域和/或国家教育和神经科学会议上报告他们的经验。 方案材料将在项目网站上提供，以便接触更多的受众。 专业评估将评估多年期教师培训机构和支助网络的有效性以及教师个人的表现，并将用于完善方案和中学课程的内容。 在补助金有效期内，将培训两批教师，共计22 500名学生。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The University of Minnesota Department of Neuroscience (U of MN) and Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM), in conjunction with a teacher advisory group, propose to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate a model biomedical science education program in neuroscience. The project, BRAIN (Bringing Resources, Activities, & Inquiry in Neuroscience) to Middle Schools, will result in the development of in-depth, multiyear, inquiry-based curriculum materials and teacher training programs supported by a mentoring network, which will promote enhanced understanding and application of neuroscience and its health-related issues into middle school science curriculum. A pilot phase of this project produced a two-week professional development institute for grade 5 through 8 science teachers. During the school year, participating teachers were supported with classroom activities and resources including an assembly program, interactive exhibit stations, and a resource trunk. While successful, teachers requested additional years training and resource support to refine and consolidate their knowledge of neuroscience and inquiry pedagogy. Thus, a three-year sequence is proposed composed of summer teacher institutes, team teaching with U of MN and SMM staff, teacher peer mentoring, development of additional inquiry-based middle school neuroscience curriculum an resources, and opportunities for teachers and students to present their investigations to a wider audience. During the institutes, teachers interact with U of MN neuroscientists and visit laboratories. Participating teachers will continue to interact with project staff and peers, observing each other's classrooms and sharing implementation strategies. Teachers will report on their experiences at local, regional and/or national education and neuroscience conferences. Program materials will be available on the project website in order to reach a larger audience. Professional evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the multiyear teacher training institutes and support network as well as individual teacher performance and will be used to refine the contents of the program and middle school curriculum. The two cohorts of teachers to be trained will reach a total of 22,500 students over the life of the grant.