The Neuroscience of Our Senses

描述（由申请人提供）：触摸平板设备（例如 iPad）和交互式白板正在迅速被学校采用。然而，我们无法找到任何针对这些技术的中学教育材料，这些材料涉及神经生理学和所有感觉系统以及充分利用触摸界面进行学习。为了满足这一需求，犹他大学遗传科学学习中心 (GSLC) 将利用其在开发有效、交互式多媒体学习体验方面屡获殊荣的专业知识，制作专为触摸界面设备设计的有关五种感官神经生物学的教育材料。这些材料将涉及初中和高中生命科学的国家科学教育标准，包括生命系统、细胞的结构和功能以及生物体的行为。 “我们的感官神经科学”项目的目标是 (1) 对中学学生和教师进行关于五种感觉系统的神经生物学的教育，以及 (2) 通过在地方、州、地区和国家各级举办的研讨会和两个国家传播课程，让教师做好使用“我们感官的神经科学”教育材料的准备。该项目将利用 GS​​LC 团队在科学、教育、互动媒体、可视化、编程语言和评估方面的协同专业知识，建立在我们 16 年制作非常成功的在线课程材料的经验以及我们最近制作触摸界面设备材料的经验的基础上。这些材料将使用 GSLC 成熟的课程开发流程制作，该流程采用参与式设计方法，涉及中学生命科学教师、科学家和我们的项目团队。这些材料将包含多个层次的探索和互动，因此将成为专为触摸界面设计的基于探究的多媒体教育材料的创新模型。基于网络的材料将提供（a）教师资源，包括教学策略和课程计划，（b）教师专业发展材料，（c）用于举办材料培训研讨会的材料，以及（d）手语翻译资源。五个“迷你模块”总共将包含至少两周的教学。它们将适用于 iOS 设备（例如 iPad）、Android 设备（例如 Motorola Xoom）和交互式白板。小规模随机对照试验将比较这些材料与标准课程材料的功效。两个暑期传播学院将帮助教师为所在地区或州的同事举办研讨会。研讨会还将在四次地区和国家科学教师会议上举办。这些传播工作将共同帮助来自美国各地的 850 多名教师做好与学生一起使用这些材料的准备。这些材料将通过 Apple App Store 和 Android Marketplace 自由传播。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Touch tablet devices (such as the iPad) and interactive whiteboards are rapidly being adopted by schools. However, we have been unable to identify any secondary-level educational materials for these technologies that address neurophysiology and all of the sensory systems as well as fully utilize the touch interface for learning. To address this need, the Genetic Science Learning Center (GSLC) at the University of Utah will utilize its award-winning expertise in developing effective, interactive, multimedia learning experiences to produce educational materials on the neurobiology of the five senses, designed specifically for touch interface devices. The materials will address middle and high school national science education standards for life science, including structure and function in living systems, cells, and the behavior of organisms. The goals of The Neuroscience of Our Senses project are to (1) educate secondary-level students and teachers about the neurobiology of the five sensory systems, and (2) prepare teachers to use The Neuroscience of Our Senses educational materials through workshops at the local, state, regional, and national levels and two national dissemination courses. The project will take advantage of the GSLC team's synergistic expertise in science, education, interactive media, visualization, programming languages, and evaluation, building on our 16 years of experience in producing highly successful online curriculum materials, as well as our recent experience in producing materials for touch interface devices. The materials will be produced using the GSLC's proven curriculum development process, which incorporates a participatory design approach that involves secondary life science teachers, scientists, and our project team. The materials will incorporate several levels of exploration and interaction, and as such will serve as an innovative model for inquiry-based, multimedia educational materials designed for touch interfaces. Web- based materials will provide (a) teacher resources including instructional strategies and lesson plans, (b) teacher professional development materials, (c) materials for presenting training workshops on the materials, and (d) resources for sign language interpreters. Together, five "mini-modules" will comprise at least two weeks of instruction. They will be available for iOS devices (e.g., the iPad), Android devices (e.g., the Motorola Xoom), and interactive white boards. A small-scale, randomized control trial will compare the efficacy of the materials to standard curriculum materials. Two dissemination summer institutes will prepare teachers to present workshops for colleagues in their districts or states. Workshops also will be presented at four regional and national science teacher conferences. Together, these dissemination efforts will prepare over 850 teachers from across the US to use the materials with their students. The materials will be freely disseminated via the Apple App Store and the Android Marketplace.