Sharing ASSETs: Expanding Science Opportunities in K-12 Classrooms

 描述（由申请人提供）：“共享资产：扩大K-12教室的科学机会”将建立在与NIH（ORIP）赞助的四膜虫股票中心，广泛的教师网络和现有基础设施建立的伙伴关系基础上，通过开发新的，创新的，全面评估的生物课程，为小学和中学生扩大原始资产计划的范围。新的实验室模块将采用安全，易于生长的单细胞原生动物（四膜虫），这些原生动物非常适合展示生物学的许多基本原理，而不会产生课堂上使用多细胞生物时经常引起的任何冲突反应。为了确保这些模块满足资源不同学校的教师和学生的需要，将与来自不同学区的教师一起开发、测试和评估这些模块，这些学区从经济贫困地区的小型农村学校到为资源不足社区服务的大型城市学校。在必要时，模块的使用将得到一个小型设备借阅库的支持，该图书馆是作为原始ASSET计划的一部分建立的，并将作为新计划的一部分进行扩展。该项目还将为高中学生介绍一种新的独立探究方法。使用原来的ASSET高中模块作为起点，我们将利用该计划的工作人员在研究中使用四膜虫的专业知识，并征求四膜虫研究界的意见，开发一个开放式模块，为教师提供指导，在实施独立调查作为他们的课程的一部分。为了确保教师和学生在设施有限的服务不足的社区公平使用，模块将被设计为尽可能独立，并在必要时，将由设备借阅图书馆支持。在服务不足的社区使用ASSET模块将有助于激发对科学和科学相关职业的兴趣，特别是传统上在STEM活动中代表性不足的学生。除了实验室模块外，还将开发创新材料，解决生物学和社会的交叉问题，供中小学生使用。这些互动模块将支持建立一个具有科学素养和参与的公民群体。此外，还将举办一系列教师讲习班，以支持使用新的ASSET材料，对象既包括小学教师（他们往往不是科学专家），也包括职前教师。拟议的职前教师外展将支持到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.