Impacting K-12 Learning Environments - Phase II

描述（由申请人提供）：该教育研究申请是一项为期两年的传播计划的第二阶段申请，该计划继续收集有关NIH SEPA资助的多媒体FoodMASTER材料促进科学教育的影响的研究，同时收集有关在K-12系统中传播这些材料的最佳方式的物流信息。FoodMASTER计划是一个项目汇编，旨在利用食物作为工具，向K-12学生教授基础研究方法，包括科学和数学概念。拟议的研究项目侧重于使多媒体资源材料达到商业质量，向两个州的教师分发材料以进行比较分析，并在全国传播。该项目将通过实施程序来影响科学学习环境，这些程序将提供有关FoodMASTER方法如何使幼儿了解生命系统的性质和行为以及如何应用知识来延长健康生命的基线数据，所有这些都在基础研究环境的背景下进行。调查的本质是为北卡罗来纳州，俄亥俄州和全国K-12教师和学生提供持续的数据，为未来的工作奠定基础。该项目将证明，如果K-12学生参与动手探究性学习活动，以食物为工具，教授基本的科学研究概念，那么学生将更好地准备展示和应用科学知识，并理解临床和基础研究，以延长健康生命。选择食物作为教学工具是因为学生每天都会遇到食物；因此，他们有预先存在的背景经验，为学习新的科学材料和研究方法创造相关性。此外，食物作为一种教学工具有利于实践，探究性课程，并允许跨学科的方法来学习微生物学，化学，生物学，营养学和健康科学-以及数学和其他与科学相关的学科。这种方法所能激发的知识和技能发展是无限的。测量和工具、数据收集、应用和概括、分类和组织、比较分析、数据解释、化学和物理变化、成分的功能、控制变量、批判性思维、自主学习和团队建设只是K-12学生使用这种方法的潜在知识和技能发展领域的一小部分。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This educational research application is a Phase II request for a two-year dissemination plan that continues to collect research on the impact of NIH SEPA funded multi-media FoodMASTER materials promoting science education along with collecting information about the logistics of the best way to disseminate materials such as these in the K-12 systems. The FoodMASTER initiative is a compilation of programs aimed at using food as a tool to teach basic research methods, including science and math concepts to K-12 students. The proposed research project focuses on bringing multimedia resource materials to commercial quality, disseminating materials to teacher in two states for comparative analysis purposes, and national dissemination. This project will impact science-learning environments by implementing programming that will provide baseline data about how the FoodMASTER approach can prepare young children to understand the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of knowledge to extend healthy life, all within a context of a basic research environment. The nature of the investigation is to produce continued data from K-12 teachers and students in North Carolina, Ohio, and nationally that will lay the foundation for future work. The project will demonstrate that if K-12 students are engaged in hands-on, inquiry-based learning activities using food as a tool to teach basic scientific research concepts, then students will be better prepared to demonstrate and apply scientific knowledge and understand clinical and basic research to extend healthy life. Food was chosen as a teaching tool because students encounter food on a daily basis; therefore, they have preexisting contextual experience to create relevance for learning new science material and research methods. Additionally, food as a teaching tool is conducive to hands-on, inquiry-based lessons and allows for an interdisciplinary approach to learning microbiology, chemistry, biology, nutrition, and health science-along with math and other science-related subjects. The knowledge and skill development that can be inspired by this approach is limitless. Measurement and tools, data collection, application and generalizing, classifying and organization, comparative analysis, interpretation of data, chemical and physical change, functions of ingredients, controlling variables, critical thinking, self-directed learning, and team building are just a few of the potential knowledge and skill development areas for K-12 students using this method. The purpose of this educational research proposal is to request continued funding to provide a seamless transition into a Phase II dissemination plan that continues to collect research on the impact of NIH SEPA funded multi-media FoodMASTER materials promoting science education along with collecting information about the logistics of the best way to disseminate materials such as these in the K-12 systems. While the Phase I project will produce results on how these materials impact third grade students in Southeast Ohio, it is likely that the NIH-SEPA funded FoodMASTER curricular materials for third grade could command national attention and impact numerous K-12 learning environments.