BIORETS at Converse University: Science, Technology, and Research (STAR) Teachers of South Carolina

BIORETS SITE奖授予位于南卡罗来纳州斯帕坦堡的匡威大学，将支持24名教师在夏季进行为期6周的培训，在学年期间进行为期10周的培训。将招聘三批共八名教师，为期三年。根据K-12机构的数据，新冠肺炎扰乱了K-12和高等教育环境中的学习结果。平均而言，学生在数学和阅读技能上落后四到五个月。教师的培训计划和继续教育暂停，动手研究活动也是如此。这一挑战在服务不足的学校更加突出，使代表不足和低收入的学生处于更不利的地位。该计划旨在通过吸引初中和高中教师在细胞和分子生物学以及以神经生物学为重点的生物数学研究方面获得真实的研究经验来缩小差距。在资源不足的学校工作的教师将被优先考虑。教师将在制定教案和实践活动方面获得支持，让学生接触神经生物学概念，以提高学生对STEM职业生涯的准备。教师将在生物、化学、物理、数学与计算机科学和心理学系进行研究。在开始他们的研究项目之前，所有研究小组都将参加研讨会，这些研讨会将使他们熟悉必要的技能，如负责任的研究进行、实验室安全、化学卫生和专业发展研讨会，关于如何设计和实施实验、数据收集、分析和演示，以及特定于项目的内容。在南卡罗来纳州北部服务的教师将被邀请通过NSF ETAP系统申请该项目。申请者将被要求提交一份教案，回答作文问题，并与教师导师面谈。课程开发是该计划不可或缺的一部分，并将融入暑期体验。为了有效地进行课程后的过渡，PI将访问支持课程计划实施的教室。项目评估将衡量研究经验、研讨会、项目后支持的质量，以及申请和招聘过程的有效性。数据将被用来为其他PUI的BIORETS方案开发一个模型。欲了解更多信息，请访问http://www.converse.edu/biorets或联系内瓦尔·埃尔图克博士(neval.erturk@Converse.edu)。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并已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 BIORETS Site award to Converse University, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, will support the training of 24 teachers for six weeks during the summer and ten weeks during the academic year. Three cohorts of eight teachers will be recruited for three years. Based on data from K-12 institutions, COVID-19 disrupted learning outcomes in K-12 and higher education settings. Students, on average, are four to five months behind in math and reading skills. Training programs and continuing education for teachers paused, as did hands-on research activities. This challenge is heightened in underserved schools, placing underrepresented and low-income students at a greater disadvantage. This program aims to close the gap by engaging middle and high school teachers in authentic research experiences in cellular and molecular biology and biomathematics research with a focus on neurobiology. Priority will be given to teachers who work in under-resourced schools. Teachers will receive support in developing lesson plans and hands-on activities to engage their students in neurobiology concepts to improve their students' readiness for STEM careers.Teachers will conduct research in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics & Computer Science, and Psychology departments. Before starting their research projects all research teams will attend workshops that will acquaint them with the necessary skills such as responsible conduct of research, laboratory safety, chemical hygiene and professional development workshops on how to design and carry out an experiment, data collection, analysis, and presentation, and project-specific content. Teachers serving in upstate SC will be invited to apply to the program through the NSF ETAP system. Applicants will be required to submit a lesson plan, answer essay questions, and interview the faculty mentors. Curriculum development is an integral part of the program and will be integrated into the summer experience. For effective post-program transition, the PIs will visit the classrooms supporting lesson plan implementation. Program assessment will measure the quality of the research experience, workshops, post-program support, and the effectiveness of the application and recruitment process. Data will be used to develop a model for the BIORETS program at other PUIs. More information is available by visiting http://www.converse.edu/biorets or contacting Dr. Neval Erturk (neval.erturk@converse.edu).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.