Pacific Education and Research for Leadership in Science (PEARLS)

描述（由申请人提供）：太平洋教育和科学领导研究（PEARLS）项目的目标是提高科学和科学研究的知识，同时通过为初中/初中学生引入创新的科学课程来增加对科学职业的兴趣。该课程将包括改编现有的以调查为基础的最佳做法课程，重新编排以符合标准和基准，并融入文化上适当的实践活动、实地考察、科学家的课堂访问以及研究技能和行为培训。内置到课程是具体计划的教师培训，科学职业资源的协调，科学中心的展品和创新的指导教师和学生。传播计划包括在整个太平洋地区提供课程和培训，作为推荐课程，并提供科学中心外联和展览开发。通过互补的合作伙伴关系，包括科学中心的工作人员，研究人员，医疗保健工作者，课程专家和教育工作者从夏威夷和六个美国附属太平洋岛屿，珍珠将创建一个完整的科学课程，为7日和8日年级，将帮助学生发展科学探究技能，更好地了解医学研究和科学的职业机会。珍珠项目（第一/第二阶段）将通过四项主要活动影响10，000多名学生和教师：调整现有的科学课程，使其包括文化内容、研究人员与科学家的接触、各种科学实地考察、博物馆资源和技术支持的活动;为教师和学生建立一个支持网络，包括电子和近同行指导;为对科学感兴趣的学生协调资源，与导师一起进行科学展览项目和实地及实验室工作;并建立一个由研究人员、课程开发人员、教育工作者和科学中心工作人员组成的团队，继续为该地区开发资源。评估计划将包括形成性和总结性评估、对照组以及采用一种创新的调查工具，该工具将由全国其他SEPA进行测试。 PEARLS项目的目的是通过引入基于探究的七年级和八年级文化敏感科学课程，提高代表性不足的少数民族学生以及来自农村和服务不足地区的学生的科学知识和职业兴趣。PEARLS的学生和教师将有机会获得多种形式的指导和资源，以促进对科学的兴趣和科学事业的成功。这与公共卫生有关，因为这些学生将有更大的机会了解科学研究并从事研究，医疗保健和公共卫生事业。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the Pacific Education and Research for Leadership in Science (PEARLS) project is to improve knowledge of science and scientific research, while increasing interest in science careers by introducing an innovative science curriculum for middle/intermediate school students. The curriculum will consist of an adaptation of an existing inquiry-based best practices curriculum, reorganized to meet standards and benchmarks and infused with culturally appropriate hands-on activities, field trips, classroom visits by scientists and training in research skills and conduct. Built into the curriculum is program specific teacher training, coordination of science career resources, science center exhibits and innovative mentoring for teachers and students. The dissemination plan involves making the curriculum and training available across the Pacific region as a recommended curriculum and providing science center outreach and exhibit development. Through complementary partnerships including science center staff, researchers, healthcare workers, curriculum experts and educators from Hawaii and the six U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, PEARLS will create a full science curriculum for 7th and 8th grade that will help students develop scientific inquiry skills and better understand medical research and science career opportunities. The PEARLS project (phase I/II) will affect over 10,000 students and teachers through four major activities: adapting existing science curricula to include cultural components, researcher contact with scientists, and a variety of science field trips, museum resources and technology supported activities; creating a support network for teachers and students that includes electronic and near-peer mentoring; coordinating resources for science interested students to do science fair projects and field and lab work with mentors; and creating a team of researchers, curriculum developers, educators and science center staff to continue resource development for the region. The evaluation plan will include both formative and summative assessments, control groups, and introduction of an innovative survey tool that will be tested by other SEPAs across the country. The purpose of the PEARLS project is to increase science knowledge and careers interest in underrepresented minority students and those from rural and underserved areas by introducing a 7th and 8th grade inquiry-based culturally sensitive science curriculum. PEARLS students and teachers will have access to multiple forms of mentoring and resources to facilitate interest in science and success at science careers. This is relevant to public health, as these students will have a greater chance of understanding scientific research and pursuing careers in research, healthcare and public health.