Neurovisions: Teaching neuroscience with neuroimaging data

描述（由申请人提供）：此第二阶段小企业创新研究（SBIR）申请的目标是填补本科神经科学课程的主要空白：缺乏教育材料，让学生有机会通过动手学习神经科学神经成像数据。NeuroVisions：用神经成像数据教学神经科学项目将创建六个黑板课程盒，以补充本科神经科学，心理学和生物学课程中使用的课程，并作为课程实验室的替代单元。这些模块将涉及学生在发现为基础的探索神经科学主题与真实的数据提供领先的神经影像科学家。模块中引入的两个创新是：（1）决策建模教程，指导学生完成提出研究假设和选择适当研究设计的过程;（2）内置于模块结构中的图像分析工具，用于收集数据，以统计检验先前提出的假设。该项目对图像处理和图像分析的强调将为当今视觉导向的本科生提供新颖且易于获得的学习体验。NeuroVisions项目将围绕一种图像分析工具构建教学材料，该工具适用于全球生物医学研究人员使用的专业软件：WebImage。WebImage是基于Java的图像处理和分析程序，改编自Science Approach的开源ImageJ软件。WebImage将被集成到该项目制作的课程墨盒中。通过将ImageJ中丰富但复杂的选择、测量、校准和数据渲染工具集减少到仅完成特定研究任务所需的功能，NeuroVisions将大大简化数据分析过程，从而为新手用户提供第一手体验神经影像研究的机会。NeuroVisions材料将基于BSCS开发的5E模型，最近由BSCS为美国国立卫生研究院科学教育办公室进行评估。5E模式规定了一个具有以下要素的课程结构：参与;探索;解释;阐述;和评估。这些材料将由科学方法有限责任公司与四名顾问教师，六名神经科学研究人员和西德克萨斯州评估和研究办公室（WTER）合作开发。将完成以下里程碑：（1）与合作的神经科学家合作，确定NeuroVisions模块中使用的研究场景和数据;（2）对WebImage进行必要的改进和修改;（3）创建模块所需的额外数据分析，模拟和多媒体对象;（4）开发六个NeuroVisions模块用于现场测试;（5）提交试点模块进行独立审查;（6）现场测试开发中的模块;（7）使用来自所有项目阶段的形成性反馈和评估计划的结果来修订NeuroVisions模块并准备出版系列。 项目叙述/与公共卫生的相关性：拟议的NeuroVisions项目将为大学教师和本科生提供机会，以目前大多数大学课堂无法提供的方式探索神经影像学数据。不仅将拟议的教学材料突出了NIH支持的研究在改善生物医学诊断，治疗和研究中发挥的关键作用，NeuroVisions将促进科学素养的公众的发展，可以发扬科学和技术的禀赋，使美国成为生物医学领域的领导者，并为其公民提供国家享有的高标准生活。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) application is to fill a major void in the undergraduate neuroscience curriculum: A lack of educational materials that give students the opportunity to learn neuroscience by working hands-on with neuroimaging data. The NeuroVisions: Teaching neuroscience with neuroimaging data project will create six Blackboard course cartridges to supplement curricula used in undergraduate neuroscience, psychology, and biology courses and serve as replacement units for course laboratories. The modules will involve students in discovery-based explorations of neuroscience topics with real data provided by leading neuroimaging scientists. Two innovations introduced in the modules are: (1) a decision-modeling tutorial that guides students through the process of posing a research hypothesis and choosing an appropriate research design; and (2) an image analysis tool built into structure of the module that is used to gather data for statistically testing the hypothesis posed earlier. The project's emphasis on image manipulation and image analysis will afford a novel and accessible learning experience for today's visually oriented undergraduate students. The NeuroVisions project will build the instructional materials around an image analysis tool adapted for educational use from professional software employed by biomedical researchers worldwide: WebImage. WebImage is a Java-based image processing and analysis program adapted from the open-source ImageJ software by Science Approach. WebImage will be integrated into the course cartridges to be produced by the project. By reducing the rich, but complicated, set of selection, measurement, calibration, and data rendering tools available in ImageJ to only those functions needed to accomplish specific research tasks, NeuroVisions will greatly simplify the process of analyzing data and thus give novice users the opportunity to experience neuroimaging research first hand. The NeuroVisions materials will be based on the 5E model developed by BSCS and recently evaluated by BSCS for the Office of Science Education at the National Institutes of Health. The 5E model specifies a lesson structure with the following elements: engage; explore; explain; elaborate; and evaluate. The materials will be developed by Science Approach, LLC, in collaboration with four advising faculty, six neuroscience researchers, and the West Texas Office of Evaluation and Research (WTER). The following milestones will be accomplished: (1) Work with the collaborating neuroscientists to identify research scenarios and data to be used in the NeuroVisions modules; (2) Make needed improvements and modifications to WebImage; (3) Create additional data analysis, simulation, and multimedia objects needed for the modules; (4) Develop six NeuroVisions modules for field testing; (5) Submit pilot modules for independent review; (6) Field test the modules in development; and (7) Use formative feedback from all project phases and the results from the evaluation program to revise the NeuroVisions modules and prepare the series for publication. Project Narrative/Relevance to Public Health: The proposed NeuroVisions project will provide opportunities for college faculty and undergraduate students to explore neuroimaging data in a manner that is currently not available in most college classrooms. Not only will the proposed instructional materials highlight the key role that NIH-supported research plays in improving biomedical diagnoses, treatments, and research, NeuroVisions will promote development of a scientifically literate public that can carry forward the endowment of science and technology that has made the United States a leader in the field of biomedicine and provided its citizens with the high standard of living the nation enjoys.