The "Chemistry is in the News" Project

在1996年的报告《塑造未来——对科学、数学、工程和技术本科教育的新期望》中，美国国家科学基金会教育和人力资源理事会咨询委员会要求大学水平的科学教育者有效地利用技术来加强学习和交流，并开发充分利用现代技术的课程。“塑造未来”项目向STEM教师提出的许多关键建议都在“化学新闻”（CIITN）项目的设计中得到了解决。CIITN项目的首要目标是通过将现实世界的社会、经济和政治问题与有机化学教学联系起来，促进学习活动。这些活动包括CIITN在线项目的研究、创建和同行评审。CIITN项目包括（链接到）来自大众媒体或任何在线媒体的电子发布的新闻文章，并包括教程/社论和问题。这些活动是在小型合作小组中进行的，由同伴学习助理指导，在大型讲座环境中进行，针对的是理工科本科学生。正在开发“化学在新闻”项目的在线工具和组成部分，以便在全国范围内实施和采用。我们在密苏里-哥伦比亚大学举办教师发展研讨会，并在美国化学会会议上举办专题讨论会，以传播CIITN的新闻项目。我们希望，通过“化学上新闻”项目，我们能带来更广泛、更深入的科学素养，这是教育工作者、管理人员和政治家都渴望的系统性变革。

In its 1996 report, Shaping the Future--New Expectations for Undergraduate Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology, the Advisory Committee to the National Science Foundation Directorate of Education and Human Resources charges college-level science educators to effectively use technology to enhance learning and communication, and to develop curricula that take full advantage of modern technology. Many of the key recommendations made to STEM faculty in Shaping the Future are addressed in the design of the Chemistry is in the News (CIITN) project. The overarching goal of CIITN project is to facilitate learning activities by connecting real world social, economic, and political issues to the teaching of organic chemistry. The activities consist in the study, creation, and peer-review of CIITN projects online. A CIITN project consists of (a link to) an electronically published news article from the popular press or any online media and includes a tutorial/editorial and questions. These activities are conducted in small collaborative groups, guided by peer-learning assistants, in the context of large lecture settings and they are aimed at undergraduate students majoring in science. The online tools and components of the Chemistry is in the News project are being developed in order to enable its nationwide implementation and adoption. We hold workshops at the University of Missouri-Columbia for faculty development and symposia at American Chemical Society meetings to disseminate the CIITN news projects. We hope that with the Chemistry is in the News project we bring about broader and deeper scientific literacy, a systemic change that is so desired by educators, administrators and politicians alike.