BRAIN TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS

描述（由申请人提供）：明尼苏达大学神经科学系（U of MN）和明尼苏达科学博物馆（SMM）与一个教师咨询小组合作，提议开发、实施、评估和传播一个神经科学领域的示范性生物医学科学教育项目。这个名为BRAIN（将神经科学的资源、活动和探究引入中学）的项目将开发出深入的、多年的、基于探究的课程材料和教师培训计划，并由一个指导网络提供支持，这将促进对神经科学及其健康相关问题的理解和应用，并将其纳入中学科学课程。该项目的试点阶段为五至八年级的科学教师提供了为期两周的专业发展学院。在学年期间，参与的教师得到了课堂活动和资源的支持，包括集合程序、互动展示站和资源主干。虽然取得了成功，但教师们要求额外的培训和资源支持，以完善和巩固他们在神经科学和探究教学法方面的知识。因此，我们提出了一个为期三年的计划，包括暑期教师研修，与明尼苏达大学和SMM员工的团队教学，教师同伴指导，开发额外的基于探究的中学神经科学课程和资源，以及为教师和学生提供向更广泛的受众展示他们的研究的机会。在研究期间，教师与明尼苏达大学的神经科学家互动并参观实验室。参与的教师将继续与项目工作人员和同行互动，观察彼此的教室并分享实施策略。教师将在地方、区域和/或国家教育和神经科学会议上报告他们的经验。节目材料将在项目网站上提供，以便吸引更多的观众。专业评估将评估多年教师培训机构和支持网络的有效性以及教师个人的表现，并将用于完善计划和中学课程的内容。在赠款有效期内，接受培训的两批教师总数将达到22500名学生。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The University of Minnesota Department of Neuroscience (U of MN) and Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM), in conjunction with a teacher advisory group, propose to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate a model biomedical science education program in neuroscience. The project, BRAIN (Bringing Resources, Activities, & Inquiry in Neuroscience) to Middle Schools, will result in the development of in-depth, multiyear, inquiry-based curriculum materials and teacher training programs supported by a mentoring network, which will promote enhanced understanding and application of neuroscience and its health-related issues into middle school science curriculum. A pilot phase of this project produced a two-week professional development institute for grade 5 through 8 science teachers. During the school year, participating teachers were supported with classroom activities and resources including an assembly program, interactive exhibit stations, and a resource trunk. While successful, teachers requested additional years training and resource support to refine and consolidate their knowledge of neuroscience and inquiry pedagogy. Thus, a three-year sequence is proposed composed of summer teacher institutes, team teaching with U of MN and SMM staff, teacher peer mentoring, development of additional inquiry-based middle school neuroscience curriculum an resources, and opportunities for teachers and students to present their investigations to a wider audience. During the institutes, teachers interact with U of MN neuroscientists and visit laboratories. Participating teachers will continue to interact with project staff and peers, observing each other's classrooms and sharing implementation strategies. Teachers will report on their experiences at local, regional and/or national education and neuroscience conferences. Program materials will be available on the project website in order to reach a larger audience. Professional evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the multiyear teacher training institutes and support network as well as individual teacher performance and will be used to refine the contents of the program and middle school curriculum. The two cohorts of teachers to be trained will reach a total of 22,500 students over the life of the grant.