Opening the Genetics Gateway with Automated Support for Student Thinking

遗传学是生物学的基本统一主题。人类基因组计划以及遗传学和生物技术的进步正在彻底改变生物学、医学和工业。然而，遗传学是一个令人生畏的挑战，为大学生在整个范围内的高等教育机构和遗传学教育的需求不断增长超过了合格的教师供应。我们正在开发一个遗传学认知导师，以支持积极的问题，认知导师是一种教育技术，通过为学生提供“及时”解决问题的帮助，与传统教学相比，它可以加速学习并产生巨大的成果。认知导师数学课程目前在700多所初中和高中的125,000多名学生中使用。遗传学认知导师是建立在过去的成功直观定量推理和使用认知辅导技术在科学推理和实验设计的新领域。我们正在试点测试和评估认知导师课程在六所大学代表不同的学生群体，包括大型公立大学，私立研究型大学，一个小的文科大学和历史上的黑人大学。试点测试包括形成性评估导师的有效性和学生的学习率。卡耐基梅隆大学教育技术办公室和埃伯利教学中心正在对教学成果进行总结性评估。认知导师传播活动的重点是夏季讲习班和会议讲习班，并由项目指导委员会和卡内基梅隆大学创新转移办公室提供便利。

Genetics is a fundamental unifying theme of biology. The Human Genome Project andadvances in genetics and biotechnology are revolutionizing biology, medicine and industry.However, genetics is an intimidating challenge for college students across the full range of post-secondary institutions and the growing demand for genetics education outstrips the supply ofqualified teachers.We are developing a genetics cognitive tutor to support active problem-basedlearning in undergraduate genetics courses and make genetics accessible to more students.Cognitive tutors are an educational technology that speeds learning and yields large achievementgains compared to conventional instruction by providing students "just-in-time" problem-solvinghelp. Cognitive Tutor mathematics courses are currently in use by more than 125,000 students inover 700 middle and high schools. The genetics cognitive tutor is building on past successes intutoring quantitative reasoning and using the cognitive tutoring technology in novel realms ofscientific inference and experimental design.We are pilot testing and evaluating cognitive tutor lessons in six universities representing adiverse student population, and including large public universities, private research universities, asmall liberal arts university and an historically black university. Pilot testing includes formativeevaluations of tutor effectiveness and student learning rates. Summative evaluations ofachievement outcomes are being conducted by Carnegie Mellon's Office of Technology forEducation and Eberly Teaching Center. Cognitive tutor dissemination activities are focusing onsummer workshops and conference workshops, and are facilitated by a project advisoryboard and Carnegie Mellon's Office of Innovation Transfer.