MENTORS Project: Models of Educational Networking To Optimize Rural Science

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请涉及广泛的挑战领域（12）科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）教育，以及特定的挑战主题12-CA-104：发展新兴技术的劳动力。拟议的导师的目标（示范教育网络，以优化农村科学）项目是直接响应这一领域和主题的既定目标，因为MENTORS的目的是：“建立一个管道，服务不足的学生和调查人员在新兴和先进技术领域;““增加来自服务不足人群的科学家人数”和“加强癌症研究”，为少数族裔和得不到充分服务的学生提供更多的培训和教育机会，”以“加强未来调查员人才库的多样性。“目前，从事生物医学研究、技术开发和医疗保健服务的学生人数不足。特别令人关切的是，缺乏来自不同族裔、种族和经济背景的学生进入这些领域。专家报告说，学生对这些职业的兴趣减弱，至少部分是由于对科学和医学职业的内涵缺乏了解，以及对回报和所需能力的误解。人们普遍认为，为了有效解决科学领域缺乏多样性的问题，教育和招聘计划不能开始于大学一级，也不能完全专注于学生。解决这一迫切需要的方案不能忽视中学教育经历的影响。早期，积极的互动与科学家热情从事基础，转化和临床癌症研究可以对学生的职业选择产生重要和持久的影响。相反，高中里无趣的内容和/或糟糕的教学可能对未来的选择非常不利。因此，我们对这一挑战的回应采用了更全面的方法，包括来自各种背景的高中生的现场研究经验，以及与课堂教师的合作，以提高对研究和技术机会的认识，并提高探究式课堂教学的能力。课堂教学工作将集中在科学和职业技术教育（CTE）的整合。自然科学和CTE的整合利用科学概念与其真实的世界应用之间的联系，专门解决职业发展问题。科学课程教授学生必须了解的生物和化学概念，以获得工作成功和明智的决策。CTE通过强调职业和工作培训，清楚地展示了科学知识如何应用于各种健康，科学和技术职业。今天的CTE课程不再只专注于职业和技术培训，但现在为学生提供了参与实践经验的机会，以加强对一系列职业的准备。CTE课程越来越多地被农村、少数族裔和服务不足的学生用作确保职业成功的途径。为了满足这一迫切需要，鼓励和准备下一代的基础，转化和临床癌症研究人员，我们已经组装了一个经验丰富的和协作的团队的教师和工作人员在得克萨斯州系统的大学的五个校区参加MENTORS项目。 该项目旨在关注得克萨斯州得不到充分服务的少数民族高中学生，特别是农村学区的学生，因为农村学区往往缺乏必要的资源和机会来丰富教育。为了实现这些目标，MENTORS项目包括以下具体目标：1。为高中生提供实践，现场研究经验，以刺激对各种健康，科学和技术职业的追求。MENTORS将为高中生提供机会，参加现场实地经验和带薪研究实习，这将提供与生物医学研究科学家，技术和卫生保健专业人员进行基础，转化和临床研究，特别是那些专注于健康差异的机会。2.参与现有的高中教师和研究和实验室科学家的合作网络，他们将共同开发和传播课堂课程，活动和实地经验计划，以提高学生的准备。该项目将提供有偿的教育工作者研究金和专业发展讲习班，以支持教师参与合作开发和传播研究启发的课堂材料，旨在加强学生对科学、卫生和技术职业的准备。3.利用小额赠款计划，以支持STEM-CTE在农村服务不足和少数民族教室的整合。该项目将开发一个小额赠款计划，允许高中教师团队申请资金，以支持在他们的学校实施全面的STEM-CTE整合计划。 公共卫生相关性：MENTORS项目将为生物医学研究和公共卫生做出至关重要的贡献，通过加强招聘少数民族和服务不足的学生进入科学和临床职业。此外，德克萨斯州的许多农村地区医疗服务不足，医疗专业人员严重短缺。通过积极让学生参与促进职业发展的活动，高中毕业率将上升，更多的学生将接受中学后培训，为他们在医疗保健和研究方面的职业生涯做好准备。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application addresses broad Challenge Area (12) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education, and specific Challenge Topic 12-CA-104: Developing the Workforce in Emerging Technologies CURE. The goals of the proposed MENTORS (Model Education Networks to Optimize Rural Science) Project are directly responsive to stated goals of this area and topic, because MENTORS aims to: "create a pipeline of underserved students and investigators in the fields of emerging and advanced technologies;" "increase the number of scientists from underserved populations" and "enhance cancer research" through "increased training and educational opportunities for minority and underserved students" to "enhance the diversity of the pool of future investigators." Currently, there are insufficient numbers of students pursuing careers in biomedical research, technology development and healthcare delivery. The lack of students from diverse ethnic, racial and financial backgrounds entering these fields is particularly concerning. Experts report that waning student interest in these careers is due, at least in part, to a lack of understanding about what scientific and medical careers entail and misconceptions about the rewards and required aptitudes. There is general consensus that in order to effectively address the lack of diversity in science, educational and recruitment programs cannot begin at the college level and cannot focus entirely on students alone. Programs to address this urgent need cannot ignore the influence of educational experiences in secondary school. Early, positive interactions with scientists enthusiastically engaged in basic, translational and clinical cancer research can have important and lasting impacts on student career choices. Conversely, uninteresting content and/or poor teaching in high school can be very detrimental to future choices. Accordingly, our response to this CHALLENGE employs a more comprehensive approach that includes on-site research experiences for high school students from a variety of backgrounds, as well as collaboration with classroom teachers to increase awareness of the opportunities in research and technology and improve the capacity for inquiry-based classroom instruction. The classroom instructional efforts will be focused on the integration of science and Career and Technology Education (CTE). The integration of natural science and CTE specifically addresses career development by making use of the connection between science concepts and their real world application. Science classes teach the biological and chemical concepts that students must understand for job success and informed decision-making. CTE, through an emphasis on career and job training, provides a clear demonstration of how science knowledge is applied to a variety of heath, science and technical careers. Today's CTE classes are no longer focused exclusively on vocational and technical training, but now provide an opportunity for students to participate in hands-on experiences to enhance preparation for a range of careers. CTE classes are increasingly utilized by rural, minority and underserved students as a pathway to ensure career success. To address this urgent need to encourage and prepare the next generation of basic, translational and clinical cancer researchers, we have assembled an experienced and collaborative team of faculty and staff on five campuses of the University of Texas system to participate in the MENTORS Project. The Project is designed to focus underserved and minority high school students in TX, particularly those in rural school districts, where there is often a lack necessary resources and opportunities for educational enrichment. To accomplish these goals, the MENTORS Project includes the following Specific Aims: 1. To provide hands-on, onsite research experiences for high school students to stimulate pursuit of a broad variety of health, science and technology careers. MENTORS will provide opportunities for high school students to participate in onsite field experiences and paid Research Internships that will provide the opportunity to interact with biomedical research scientists, technical and health care professionals engaged in basic, translational and clinical research, particularly those focusing on health disparities. 2. To engage an existing collaborative network of high school teachers and research and laboratory scientists who will work together to develop and disseminate classroom lesson, activity and field experience plans that enhance student preparation. The Project will provide paid Educator Fellowships and professional development workshops to support teacher participation in the collaborative development and dissemination of research-inspired classroom materials, designed to enhance preparation of students for science, health and technology careers. 3. To utilize a mini-grant program to support STEM-CTE integration in rural underserved and minority classrooms. The Project will develop a mini-grant program that will allow high school teacher teams to apply for funds to support implementation of a comprehensive STEM-CTE integration program in their schools. Public Health Relevance: The MENTORS project will make a crucial contribution to biomedical research and public health by enhancing recruitment of minority and underserved students into scientific and clinical careers. Furthermore, many rural areas in Texas are medically underserved and have critical shortages of healthcare professionals. By actively engaging students in activities that stimulate career development, high school graduation rates will rise and more students will pursue post secondary training to prepare them for careers in health care delivery and research.