The Neuroscience of Our Senses

描述（申请人提供）：触摸平板设备（如iPad）和交互式白板正在迅速被学校采用。然而，我们还不能确定任何中等水平的教育材料，这些技术涉及神经生理学和所有的感觉系统，以及充分利用触摸界面进行学习。为了满足这一需求，犹他大学的基因科学学习中心（GSLC）将利用其在开发有效、互动、多媒体学习体验方面屡获殊荣的专业知识，制作专门为触摸界面设备设计的五种感官的神经生物学教育材料。该教材将针对初高中国家生命科学教育标准，包括生命系统的结构和功能、细胞和生物体的行为。我们感官的神经科学项目的目标是：(1)教育中学水平的学生和教师关于五种感觉系统的神经生物学，(2)通过在地方、州、地区和国家层面的研讨会以及两个全国性的传播课程，让教师准备好使用我们感官的神经科学教育材料。该项目将利用GSLC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，基于我们在制作非常成功的在线课程材料方面的16年经验，以及我们最近在制作触摸界面设备材料方面的经验。这些材料将使用GSLC经过验证的课程开发过程来制作，该过程结合了一种参与式设计方法，涉及中学生命科学教师、科学家和我们的项目团队。这些材料将包含几个层次的探索和互动，因此将作为一种创新的模式，以探究为基础，为触摸界面设计多媒体教育材料。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)关于这些材料的培训研讨会的材料，以及(d)手语翻译的资源。五个“迷你模块”加在一起将包括至少两周的教学。它们将适用于iOS设备（如iPad）、Android设备（如摩托罗拉Xoom）和交互式白板。一项小规模的随机对照试验将比较这些教材与标准课程教材的效果。两个传播暑期学院将为教师准备为其所在地区或州的同事举办讲习班。讲习班也将在四个区域和国家科学教师会议上提出。这些传播工作将使来自美国各地的850多名教师准备好与学生一起使用这些材料。这些材料将通过苹果应用商店和安卓市场免费传播。

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.