LSLC: Strengthening Connections Between Scientists and Classroom Learning (Phase

描述（由申请人提供）：生命科学学习中心（LSLC）是罗切斯特大学医学中心（URMC）的一个科学教育实验室，为中学生和教师提供学习和体验动手科学探究的机会。LSLC的长期目标是为K-12教师提供资源，并创造与罗切斯特大学生物医学研究科学教师、研究生和博士后研究员互动的机会。我们建议利用SEPA第一阶段和第二阶段的资助来创建和传播直接反映在URMC进行的生物医学研究的综合课程。这个项目将把科学家和科学教育工作者聚集在一起，开发和传播四个课程模块，这些模块的重点是由国立卫生研究院资助的生物医学研究，这些研究正在由URMC科学家进行。这些模块将提供学习和教学策略，以吸引学生的兴趣，支持生物学概念的学习，并培养对生物医学研究的认识和理解。这些课程模块将以标准为基础，并将整合课堂活动、实验室活动和计算机活动。四个模块的主题将是：(1)利用神经干细胞作为基因治疗载体，(2)基因组技术鉴定霍乱弧菌大流行特异性基因，(3)脑损伤后视觉功能恢复的治疗方法和脑内分子变化，以及(4)超细空气颗粒的生理和分子效应。每个模块的“课堂就绪”版本将通过与纽约州生物化学专业发展导师网络的合作伙伴关系在纽约州各地传播。将通过讲习班、网站和供教师借用的实验室用品包，促进课程在全国的传播。该课程的本地传播将由乌市医学中心的研究生和博士后进行，他们将接受培训，领导LSLC的实验室课程。我们将采用定量和定性两种方法，实施由过程和结果措施组成的综合混合方法评估。我们会评估课程的实施情况，以及课程对学生内容知识的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Life Sciences Learning Center (LSLC), a science education laboratory at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), provides secondary school students and teachers with the opportunity to learn about and experience hands-on scientific inquiry. Our long term goals for the LSLC are to provide resources to K-12 teachers, and to create an opportunities for interaction with University of Rochester biomedical research science faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. We propose to utilize funding from a SEPA Phase I + Phase II grant to create and disseminate comprehensive curricula that directly reflect biomedical research performed at the URMC. This project will bring together scientists and science educators in developing and disseminating four curriculum modules that focus on NIH-funded biomedical research that is being undertaken by URMC scientists. These modules will provide learning and teaching strategies to engage student interest, support learning of biological concepts, and foster an awareness and understanding of biomedical research. These curriculum modules will be standards-based and will integrate classroom activities, laboratory activities, and computer activities. The topics of the four modules will be: (1) Use of neural stem cells as gene therapy vectors, (2) Genomic technologies to identify pandemic-specific genes of Vibrio cholerae, (3) Therapies and molecular changes in the brain that result in the recovery of visual functions after brain damage, and (4) Physiological and molecular effects of ultrafine air particulates. "Classroom-ready" versions of each module will be disseminated throughout New York State via a partnership with the New York State Biology-Chemistry Professional Development Mentor Network. Nationwide dissemination of the curricula will be facilitated through workshops, a website and laboratory supply kits for teachers to borrow. Local dissemination of the curricula will be facilitated by URMC graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who will be trained to lead LSLC laboratory sessions. We will implement a comprehensive mixed-methods evaluation consisting of process and outcomes measures, employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. We will assess the implementation of the curricula and the impact of the curricula on student content knowledge.