Fat Dogs and Coughing Horses: Animal Contributions towards a Healthier Citizenry

描述（由申请人提供）：普渡大学、印第安纳州的公立学校和印第安纳波利斯儿童博物馆之间的长期合作目标是为K-12学生、家长、教师和公众开发、评估和传播有关保持人类健康的科学的教育计划。概念将通过强调影响印第安纳州和美国人与动物的健康问题来举例说明，包括肥胖预防、癌症预防和哮喘。SEPA将采取一种系统的方法，将健身项目、动物模型研究项目、K-12外展项目、教师专业发展研讨会和招聘工作网络化，形成一种创新的教育模式，填补目前健康科学教育的空白，激励和招募学童从事健康科学研究，并培养更健康的公民。这种系统方法将覆盖广泛的受众，包括代表性不足的人群，并允许我们对我们的教育和招聘计划对学生从三年级到大学毕业以及最终的职业选择的影响进行纵向评估。具体目标是：1)为3年级、6年级和9年级开发、交付和严格评估创新的、动手的、基于问题的学习课程模块，这些课程模块填补了目前健康科学教育的教育空白，并符合印第安纳州和国家学术标准。现有课程未涉及的概念，如卫生进步背后的科学、临床试验过程以及动物在开发新药和医疗设备中的作用，将得到讨论；2)通过为学生提供榜样，激励和招募学生从事健康科学研究。生物医学和临床研究人员将在课堂访问、营地和课后项目中与K-12学生互动，并讨论基础科学、临床前和临床健康科学方面的职业机会。学校将派发活动手册，为学生提供更多的就业资讯；3)让儿童、家长和公众参与教育健身活动和项目，这将使印第安纳州的公民更健康，做出明智的医疗保健决定，提高健康素养。狗将被纳入健身计划，作为锻炼伙伴，以鼓励参与。顶点项目是一个互动的巡回展览，突出了与保持人们健康有关的科学。第一阶段将使用系统方法在印第安纳州的学校和社区内开发和提供课程、招聘工具和健身项目的形成性评估。第二阶段将扩展系统，并使用专业发展计划、网络模块和现有的合作伙伴关系在全国范围内传播模型和材料。第二阶段将包括对项目在实现长期目标方面的有效性进行总结性评估。预期的结果包括印第安纳州公民更健康；加深对生物医学研究的理解和欣赏；而且，来自代表性不足和农村人口的更多儿童对从事生物医学和临床研究事业感兴趣。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long term objective of this cooperative effort among Purdue University, public schools in Indiana, and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, is to develop, evaluate and disseminate educational programs for K-12 students, parents, teachers, and the public about the science involved in keeping people healthy. Concepts will be exemplified by emphasizing health issues that affect both people and animals in Indiana and the U.S., including obesity prevention, cancer prevention, and asthma. This SEPA will take a systems approach in which fitness programs, research programs using animal models, K-12 outreach programs, professional development workshops for teachers, and recruiting efforts will be networked to form an innovative educational model that fills current gaps in health science education, excites and recruits schoolchildren to careers in health science research, and leads to a healthier citizenry. This systems approach will reach a broad audience, including underrepresented populations, and allow us to conduct a longitudinal assessment of the impact of our educational and recruitment programs on students from the third grade through college graduation, and eventual career choice. Specific Aims are to: 1) Develop, deliver, and rigorously assess innovative, hands on, problem-based learning curricular modules for grades 3, 6, and 9 that fill current educational gaps in health science education, and meet Indiana and national academic standards. Concepts not addressed by existing curricula, such as the science behind health advances, the clinical trials process, and the role of animals in developing new drugs and medical devices will be addressed; 2) Excite and recruit schoolchildren to careers in health science research by providing role models to students. Biomedical and clinical researchers will interact with K-12 students during classroom visits, camps, and after school programs and discuss career opportunities in basic science, pre-clinical, and clinical health science. Activity books will be distributed to provide additional career information to students; and 3) Involve and engage children, parents, and the public in educational fitness activities and programs that will lead to a healthier Indiana citizenry, informed health care decisions, and greater health literacy. Dogs will be incorporated into fitness programs as exercise companions to encourage participation. The capstone project is an interactive traveling exhibit highlighting the science involved in keeping people healthy. Phase I will use the systems approach to develop and provide formative assessment of curriculum, recruiting tools, and fitness programs within Indiana schools and communities. Phase II will extend the system and use professional development programs, web modules, and existing partnerships to disseminate the model and materials nationwide. Phase II will include a summative assessment of the effectiveness of the program in meeting long term objectives. The expected outcomes include a healthier Indiana citizenry; a greater understanding and appreciation of biomedical research; and, more children from underrepresented and rural populations interested in pursuing biomedical and clinical research careers. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE (provided by applicant): The long term objective of this cooperative effort among Purdue University, public schools in Indiana, and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, is to develop, evaluate and disseminate educational programs for K-12 students, parents, teachers, and the public about the science involved in keeping people healthy. Concepts will be exemplified by emphasizing health issues that affect both people and animals in Indiana and the U.S., including obesity prevention, cancer prevention, and asthma. This SEPA will take a systems approach in which fitness programs, research programs using animal models, K-12 outreach programs, professional development workshops for teachers, and recruiting efforts will be networked to form an innovative educational model that fills current gaps in health science education, excites and recruits schoolchildren to careers in health science research, and leads to a healthier citizenry.