Sharing ASSETs: Expanding Science Opportunities in K-12 Classrooms

 描述(由申请者提供)：“共享资产：在K-12课堂中扩展科学机会”将建立在与美国国立卫生研究院(NIH)赞助的四膜虫库存中心建立的合作伙伴关系、广泛的教师网络和现有基础设施的基础上，通过为中小学生开发新的、创新的、经过充分评估的生物课程来扩大原始资产计划的范围。新的实验模块将以安全、容易生长的单细胞原生动物(四膜虫)为特色，这些原生动物是演示许多生物学基本原理的理想选择，而不会引起课堂上使用多细胞有机体经常引发的任何相互冲突的反应。为了确保模块满足拥有不同资源的学校的教师和学生的需求，将与来自不同学区的教师一起开发、测试和评估模块，从经济困难地区的小型农村学校到服务于资源不足社区的大型城市学校。必要时，模块的使用将得到一个小型设备借阅图书馆的支持，该图书馆是作为原始资产方案的一部分建立的，并将作为新方案的一部分加以扩大。该项目还将为高中生介绍一种新的独立探究方式。以原有的高中单元为起点，我们将利用项目工作人员在研究中使用四膜虫的专业知识，并征求四膜虫研究社区的意见，以开发一个开放式模块，为教师实施独立探究提供指导，作为其课程的一部分。为了确保设施有限、服务不足的社区的教师和学生公平使用，单元将被设计成尽可能自给自足，必要时将得到设备借阅图书馆的支持。在服务不足的社区使用资产模块将有助于激发人们对科学和科学相关职业的兴趣，特别是在传统上在STEM活动中代表性不足的学生中。除了实验模块，还将开发涉及生物学和社会交叉点的创新材料，供中小学生使用。这些互动模块将支持建立一个有科学素养、积极参与的公民群体。此外，还将举办一系列教师讲习班，以支持使用新的资产材料，对象包括小学教师(他们往往不是科学专家)和职前教师。拟议的职前教师外联活动将支持到2020年培养10万名新的K-12 STEM教师的国家目标。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): "Sharing ASSETs: Expanding Science Opportunities in K-12 Classrooms" will build upon an established partnership with the NIH (ORIP)-sponsored Tetrahymena Stock Center, an extensive teacher network, and existing infrastructure to expand the scope of the original ASSET program by developing new, innovative, fully evaluated biology curricula for elementary and middle school students. The new lab modules will feature safe, easily grown single-cell protozoa (Tetrahymena) that are ideal for demonstrating many of the basic principles of biology without engendering any of the conflicting reactions often invoked by the use of multicellular organisms in the classroom. To insure that modules meet the needs of teachers and students in schools with varying resources, the modules will be developed, tested, and evaluated in conjunction with teachers drawn from diverse school districts, ranging from small rural schools in economically depressed areas to large city schools serving under-resourced communities. When necessary, module use will be supported by a small equipment lending library that was established as part of the original ASSET program and that will be expanded as part of the new program. This project will also introduce a new approach to independent inquiry for high school students. Using the original ASSET high school modules as a starting point, we will draw upon the expertise of the program staff in the use of Tetrahymena in research, and solicit input from the Tetrahymena research community, to develop an open ended module that provides guidance for teachers in the implementation of independent inquiry as part of their curricula. To insure equitable use by teachers and students in underserved communities with limited facilities, modules will be designed to be as self-contained as possible, and when necessary, will be supported by the equipment lending library. Use of ASSET modules in underserved communities will help stimulate interest in science and science related careers, especially among students traditionally under-represented in STEM activities. In addition to the lab modules, innovative materials addressing the intersection of biology and society will also be developed for use by middle and elementary students. These interactive modules will support the establishment of a scientifically literate, engaged citizenry. In addition a series of teacher workshops will be carried out to support use of the new ASSET materials, targeting both elementary teachers, who are often not science specialists, and pre-service teachers. The proposed pre-service teacher outreach will support national goals of preparing 100,000 new K-12 STEM teachers by 2020.