An interactive, digital platform to transform biological learning

摘要： 下一代卫生保健专业人员将需要了解生物学的基本原理。 科学教科书在支持学校对生物学的理解方面起着至关重要的作用，但这些书并不是 旨在满足当今教室中学生多样化的学习需求。从本质上讲，科学 教科书假定了一种一刀切的学习方法。由于这个问题，教师们花费了大量的资金 课外时间查找和改编课文以支持正在学习英语的学生， 阅读水平低于年级的学生和有学习障碍的学生。拟议的快速通道项目 寻求解决当前生命科学教科书的局限性，并用适应性阅读来革命性地阅读 短信。SquidBooks改变了学习过程，通过在不同的位置提供数字文本，使文本变得灵活 具有嵌入式语言支持的难度级别，可创建个性化阅读体验，优化两者 学习和参与。特别是，该项目将支持ELL学生和无法阅读的学生 他们的年级水平。因为科学教科书通常比预期的年级高出3到5年，所以它是 初级和中级英语阅读技能的学生几乎不可能理解和学习 来自传统的科学书籍。第一阶段项目包括三个目标：翻译与NGSS对齐的继承 (NGSS LS3A)将内容翻译成西班牙语(目标1)；设计、开发和测试应用程序以使其正常运行 通过网络浏览器(目标2)；与学生和教师进行用户测试(目标3)。第二阶段 项目将有3个目标，包括创建内容，以满足12个额外的NGSS标准的英文和 西班牙语(目标4)；设计、开发和测试改进的软件功能(目标5)；开发教育者 资源，并与学生和教师进行用户测试(目标6)。圆满完成 提议的项目将创造关于学科文本处理和自适应阅读技术的知识 并将支持历史上被STEM领域边缘化的学生，特别是有 阅读成绩低和英语学习成绩差的学生。反过来，该项目将加强和多样化STEM和 医疗保健领域。

Abstract: The next generation of health care professionals will need to understand the foundational principles of biology. Science textbooks play a critical role in supporting biological understanding in school, yet these books are not designed to meet the diverse learning needs of students in today’s classrooms. By their nature, science textbooks assume a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. Because of this problem, teachers spend substantial time outside of the classroom locating and adapting texts to support students who are learning English, students who read below grade level, and students with learning disabilities. The proposed Fast-Track project seeks to address the limitations of current Life Science textbooks and to revolutionize reading with adaptable texts. Transforming the learning process, SquidBooks makes texts flexible by offering digital texts at different difficulty levels with embedded language support to create a personalized reading experience, optimizing both learning and engagement. In particular, the project will support ELL students and students unable to read at their grade level. Because science textbooks are often written 3 to 5 years above the intended grade level, it is almost impossible for students with emerging and intermediate English reading skills to comprehend and learn from traditional science books. The Phase I project includes 3 aims: translating NGSS-aligned inheritance (NGSS LS3A) content into Spanish (Aim 1); designing, developing, and testing the application to function through a web browser (Aim 2); and conducting user testing with students and teachers (Aim 3). The Phase II project will have 3 aims, including creating content to address 12 additional NGSS standards in English and Spanish (Aim 4); designing, developing, and testing improved software features (Aim 5); developing educator resources and conducting user testing with students and teachers (Aim 6). Successful completion of the proposed project will create knowledge about disciplinary textual processing and adaptive reading technologies and will support students who have historically been marginalized from STEM fields, especially students with low reading achievement and ELL students. In turn, this project will enhance and diversify the STEM and health care fields.