Biology Education in CRISPR-based Gene Editing Technologies for Advanced Biology Undergraduates, Pre-service Teachers, and In-service Teachers

该项目旨在通过改善本科和高中生物教育来服务于国家利益。它将通过开设一门课程来实现这一点，在这门课程中，学生将学习使用生物科学中最有前途的新实验技术之一。这项技术被称为基于CRISPR的基因编辑，正被用于从基础研究到农业综合企业的各个领域。这项技术还为治疗或治愈镰状细胞性贫血和艾滋病等疾病提供了可能性。然而，很少有美国大学提供以实验室为基础的课程，让学生发展成功使用基于CRISPR的基因编辑所需的知识和技能。该项目旨在开发和实施一门基于CRISPR的实践基因编辑课程，面向生物学专业的高级本科生，既包括那些准备从事研究职业的学生，也包括那些正在为高中教师职业生涯做准备的学生。它还将包括对在职高中教师的培训。这些小组之间的互动预计将提供一个协同学习环境，在这种环境中，每个小组将通知其他小组的学习。此外，该项目中的高中教师希望让他们的学生学习基于CRISPR的基因编辑。该项目旨在让打算从事STEM研究职业的本科生和那些寻求高中生物教师职业生涯的本科生在荣誉生物项目中与同龄人并肩学习。此外，还将挑选、培训和支持一批在职生物学教师，以成功地向学生传授基因编辑和基于CRISPR的技术。该项目旨在强调从资源不足的高中或学区招聘教师。该项目将开发一门实验室课程，该课程将被整合到分子生物科学本科课程中。在三个资助年中，预计该课程将服务于30名面向研究职业的生物专业学生、30名面向职业生涯的生物专业高中教师、15名在职生物教师和5名阿拉巴马州数学、科技倡议/阿拉巴马州科学运动生物学专家。后者的专家是阿拉巴马州教育部改善阿拉巴马州高中数学和科学教育的倡议的参与者。因此，他们的参与将为在全州范围内传播与CRISPR技术相关的项目结果、方法和培训提供网络。该项目的主要成果将是开发一个经过测试的模型，用最广泛使用的基因编辑技术教育下一代，从而帮助他们为STEM劳动力做好准备，并在他们的STEM课堂上教授高级遗传学。该项目将通过教育研究问题调查项目实施的结果及其影响，包括研究将不同职业计划的生物学学生配对如何影响学习，以及纳入在职教师对所有学生学习的影响。该项目由NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持，该计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过参与的学生学习路径，该计划支持有前景的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving undergraduate and high school biology education. It will do so by creating a course in which students will learn to use one of the most promising new experimental technologies in the biological sciences. This technology, called CRISPR-based gene editing, is being used in fields ranging from basic research to agribusiness. This technology also offers possibilities for treating or curing diseases like sickle cell anemia and AIDS. However, few U.S. colleges offer a lab-based course where students can develop the knowledge and skills needed to successfully use CRISPR-based gene editing. This project seeks to develop and implement a hands-on CRISPR-based gene editing course for advanced undergraduate biology students, both those headed to research careers and those who are preparing for careers as high school teachers. It also will include training for in-service high school teachers. The interaction among these groups is predicted to provide a synergistic learning environment in which each group will inform the learning of the others. In addition, the high school teachers in this project are expected to engage their students in learning about CRISPR-based gene editing.This project intends to enable undergraduate students destined for STEM research careers and those pursuing careers as high school biology teachers to learn side-by-side as peers in the honors biology program. In addition, a cohort of in-service biology teachers will be selected, trained, and supported to successfully teach their students about gene editing and the CRISPR-based technology. The project intends to emphasize recruitment of teachers from under resourced high schools or school districts. The project will develop a laboratory course, which will be integrated into the molecular biosciences undergraduate curriculum. Over the three funding years, it is anticipated that the course will serve 30 research career-oriented biology majors, 30 high school teacher career-oriented biology majors, 15 in-service biology teachers, and 5 Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative/Alabama Science in Motion Biology Specialists. The latter specialists are participants in the Alabama State Department of Education’s initiative to improve math and science education in Alabama high schools. As a result, their participation will provide networks for statewide dissemination of project findings, approaches, and training associated with CRISPR technologies. The major outcome of the project will be the development of a tested model to educate the next generation in the most widely used gene editing technology and thus help prepare them for the STEM workforce and to teach high level genetics in their STEM classrooms. The project will investigate the results of project implementation and its influences through educational research questions, including studies of how pairing biology students with different career plans affects learning and the impacts of inclusion of in-service teachers on the learning of all students. This project is supported by the NSF IUSE: EHR Program, which supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.