Teacher's iPod

描述(由申请人提供)：这个SBIR第二阶段项目定义并实施了一个新的以技术为基础的科学和环境健康科学(EHS)6-12年级教师支持环境。这项拟议中的创新被称为教师iPod或TIP。第二阶段TIP研究的目标是：(1)使教师在课堂上教授特定的课程、内容和/或活动时更有效、更有知识和更专业，从而改善学习结果；(2)克服教师对采用和有效使用新学习技术的残余阻力；以及(3)具有低成本、健壮和可行的商业化计划支持。对TIP的需求反映在美国科学教育正处于十字路口的事实上。国家和国际评估表明，6-12科学(包括EHS)教育提供系统存在一些薄弱环节。在历史上，课堂教师一直是主要的学习推动者，但今天许多6-12岁的科学教师在科学和技术领域，特别是EHS方面的正式培训和资格证书有限。TIP将使用一种名为播客的最新技术创新，自动提供及时专注的教学，使教师在课堂上逐节课的基础上成为更有效的学习代理。TIP播客旨在为教师提供对课堂上要呈现的主题材料的核心理解，以及建议的讲师改进、支持活动和建议的评估策略。TIP播客的按需交付是在教师控制下自动进行的，可以随时随地(例如，早上通勤)进行处理。第二阶段的TIP研究将为多门6-12门理科课程规划、设计和实施一组充满特色的课程特定播客。技巧播客将被编成脚本，以增加EHS意识来丰富整个科学学习体验。一项严格的评估计划将涉及120名奥兰治县公立学校(佛罗里达州奥兰多)和里昂县学校(佛罗里达州塔拉哈西)的科学教师，涉及约4500名学生。将测量和分析TIP的有效性、效率、可比性、所需技能集、在真实课程特定实例中的实际使用情况以及学习结果等数据。第二阶段的研究将产生一种有吸引力和可行的商业产品，并由创新的生产和营销计划提供支持。公共卫生相关性：拟议的TIP教师支持环境促进了公共卫生事业，因为它可以提高6-12科学教育的质量。该项目预计将产生更多开明的毕业生，并扩大有资格从事公共卫生事业的人的队伍。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This SBIR Phase II project defines and implements a new class of technology-enabled science and environmental health science (EHS) grade 6-12 teacher support environment. The proposed innovation is called Teacher's iPod or TiP. The goals of the Phase II TiP study are to: (1) prepare teachers to be more effective, knowledgeable, and professional in delivering specific lessons, content, and/or activities in the classroom resulting in improved learning outcomes, (2) overcome teachers' residual resistance to adopting and effectively using new learning technologies, and (3) be of low-cost, robust, and supported with a viable commercialization plan. The need for TiP is reflected in the fact that US science education is at a crossroads. National and international assessments indicate a number of systemic weaknesses in the 6-12 science (including EHS) educational delivery system. Historically, the in-class teacher has been the primary learning enabler, but today many 6-12 science teachers have limited formal training and credentials in scientific and technical fields, especially EHS. TiP will use a recent technological innovation, called podcasting, to automatically deliver just-in-time focused instruction that prepare teachers to be more effect in-class learning agents on a lesson-by-lesson basis. TiP podcasts are designed to provide teachers with a core understanding of the topical material to be presented in-class, along with suggested lecturer enhancements, supporting activities, and recommended assessment strategies. The on-demand delivery of the TiP podcasts is automated under teacher control, and can be transacted anytime and anywhere (e.g., morning commute). The Phase II TiP study will plan, design, and implement a feature-filled collection of course-specific podcasts for multiple 6-12 science courses. TiP podcasts will be scripted to enrich the entire science learning experience with an added EHS-awareness. A rigorous assessment program will involved 120 Orange County Public School (Orlando, FL) and Leon County Schools (Tallahassee, FL) science teachers, engaging around 4,500 students. Data on TiP's efficacy, efficiency, comparability, required skill set, actual usage in authentic lesson-specific instances, and learning outcomes will be measured and analyzed. The Phase II study will result in an attractive and viable commercial product that is supported with an innovative production and marketing plan. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed TiP teacher support environment advances the cause of public health in that it can improve the quality of 6-12 science education. The project is expected to result in more enlightened graduates and an expanded the pool of those qualified to pursue public health careers.