Pacific Education and Research for Leadership in Science (PEARLS)

描述（由申请人提供）：太平洋科学领导力教育与研究（PEARLS）项目的目标是通过为中学生引入创新的科学课程，提高他们的科学知识和科学研究，同时提高他们对科学事业的兴趣。课程将包括改编现有的以探究为基础的最佳做法课程，重新编排以符合标准和基准，并融入文化上适当的实践活动、实地考察、科学家的课堂访问以及研究技能和行为方面的培训。课程中包含了特定项目的教师培训、科学职业资源的协调、科学中心展览以及对教师和学生的创新指导。传播计划包括将课程和培训作为推荐课程在整个太平洋地区提供，并提供科学中心外联和展览发展。通过互补的伙伴关系，包括科学中心工作人员、研究人员、保健工作者、课程专家和来自夏威夷和六个美国附属太平洋岛屿的教育工作者，PEARLS将为七年级和八年级创建一个完整的科学课程，帮助学生培养科学探究技能，更好地了解医学研究和科学职业机会。珍珠计划（第一/二期）将透过四项主要活动，影响超过10,000名学生和教师：调整现有的科学课程，纳入文化成分，研究人员与科学家接触，以及各种科学实地考察，博物馆资源和技术支持活动；为教师和学生建立一个支持网络，包括电子和近同伴指导；协调资源，让对科学感兴趣的学生与导师一起做科学展览项目、实地和实验室工作；并建立一个由研究人员、课程开发人员、教育工作者和科学中心工作人员组成的团队，继续为该地区开发资源。评估计划将包括形成性评估和总结性评估，对照组，并引入一种创新的调查工具，该工具将在全国其他环保部门进行测试。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the Pacific Education and Research for Leadership in Science (PEARLS) project is to improve knowledge of science and scientific research, while increasing interest in science careers by introducing an innovative science curriculum for middle/intermediate school students. The curriculum will consist of an adaptation of an existing inquiry-based best practices curriculum, reorganized to meet standards and benchmarks and infused with culturally appropriate hands-on activities, field trips, classroom visits by scientists and training in research skills and conduct. Built into the curriculum is program specific teacher training, coordination of science career resources, science center exhibits and innovative mentoring for teachers and students. The dissemination plan involves making the curriculum and training available across the Pacific region as a recommended curriculum and providing science center outreach and exhibit development. Through complementary partnerships including science center staff, researchers, healthcare workers, curriculum experts and educators from Hawaii and the six U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, PEARLS will create a full science curriculum for 7th and 8th grade that will help students develop scientific inquiry skills and better understand medical research and science career opportunities. The PEARLS project (phase I/II) will affect over 10,000 students and teachers through four major activities: adapting existing science curricula to include cultural components, researcher contact with scientists, and a variety of science field trips, museum resources and technology supported activities; creating a support network for teachers and students that includes electronic and near-peer mentoring; coordinating resources for science interested students to do science fair projects and field and lab work with mentors; and creating a team of researchers, curriculum developers, educators and science center staff to continue resource development for the region. The evaluation plan will include both formative and summative assessments, control groups, and introduction of an innovative survey tool that will be tested by other SEPAs across the country. The purpose of the PEARLS project is to increase science knowledge and careers interest in underrepresented minority students and those from rural and underserved areas by introducing a 7th and 8th grade inquiry-based culturally sensitive science curriculum. PEARLS students and teachers will have access to multiple forms of mentoring and resources to facilitate interest in science and success at science careers. This is relevant to public health, as these students will have a greater chance of understanding scientific research and pursuing careers in research, healthcare and public health.