• In the past five years of HHMI funding, the NHG program has developed an Internet genetic science curriculum that reaches a worldwide audience. Over 350,000 pages are accessed annually from individuals in 60 countries. As well as reach an online audience, this extensive curriculum feeds our intimate programs and workshops for middle and high school teachers, minority students, Native American students at a remote reservation school, and "Day in the Lab" groups of parents and kids, and kids who live with genetic disorders.
• The centerpiece of our program is the NHG/GSLC Internet website. Because of our Internet experience, we have been able to secure a Department of Energy grant to hold a international meeting for Science Education Website Developers. We expect this meeting to provide new information and insights about the development of content for presentation via the Internet and the evaluation of curriculum effectiveness as a teaching tool. We also hope to develop a core of people who are interested in forming an ongoing association for Science Education web developers.
• The NHG/GSLC genetic science curriculum helps students understand and apply genetic science concepts. Based on our work, the Utah State Office of Education contracts with the Utah Museum of Natural History and the NHG/GSLC to present a summer program to provide training for Utah science teachers.

• The main challenges we faced were a transition from the NHG to the GSLC program and an expansion of program staff. Significant time was spent in developing strategic plans for expanding our education programs and building an effective website production team. The addition of two Ph.D. scientists, a Science Education advisory board member, a website production manager, and a consultant in Science Education and Instructional Technology added needed expertise for NHG/GSLC science curriculum development and teacher training.
• Classically, lack of communication between Science departments and Education departments is a major stumbling block to educational efforts of scientists interested in developing effective outreach programs. To confront this challenge, in the past year we have formed a new collaboration with the University of Utah College of Education which brings added expertise, perspective, access, and validity to our program. U. of Utah Science Education professors serve as advisors to the NHG/GSLC program, advisors to the NHG fellow, Barbara Hug, and to other GSLC scientific staff members, co-team members in grant writing for Educational projects, and leaders of Educational Research Journal Club, a forum designed to educate NHG/GSLC science staff in the current knowledge regarding Teaching and Learning theory and practice.
• Conducting high-quality evaluation is always a challenge for education programs. Our evaluation efforts are skewed toward formative evaluation due to the nature of the Internet media. We currently conduct online reviews by scientists and teachers and hold focus group meetings with teachers to determine their needs and desires for program and curriculum support. We employed an expert consultant in Science Education and Instructional Technology, Dr. Alec Bodzin (April - May, 1999) who conducted a thorough formative evaluation of NHG website materials in anticipation of the shift to the GSLC organization website. We also are fortunate that our new Director for Education, Louisa Stark, was invited to attend the NSF Summer Institute on Evaluation , a 3-week training on Evaluation techniques in June, 1999. In the 1999-00 year, Stark's newly developed expertise was directly integrated into GSLC programs.

• The Natural History of Genes Internet website The Natural History of Genes (NHG) website is a genetic science curriculum program that emphasizes hands-on activities, encouraging a guided inquiry approach to the study of genetic science. NHG activities seek to complement textbook content with active opportunities for student-centered experimentation, developing lifelong learning skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. NHG curriculum activities include procedures for extraction and visualization of DNA, study of karyotypes, forensics mysteries, experiments addressing genetic disease, and more. NHG curriculum is designed to align with the goals of the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and is coordinated with the Utah Science Core Curriculum. As of January, 2000 most materials from the NHG website will be maintained at the Genetic Science Learning Center website (address below).
• The Genetic Science Learning Center Internet website The University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center was created in 1999 to provide genetic education for a wider range of audiences. In addition to effectively integrating the NHG precollege website into a larger GSLC Internet resource, this HHMI-sponsored program will also include in depth thematic curriculum units, an expanded Genetics in Society section, information on the Human Genome Project, and virtual tours through molecular biology laboratories. The GSLC website program debuted in January, 2000. Three in depth thematic curriculum units will be included in the new website. The first, developed through a partnership with the journal SCIENCE, examines the genetics of deafness. The second is a classroom unit that guides students through the process of analyzing and developing a public policy on newborn genetic testing. The third unit describes the human genetic disorder, Neurofibromatosis 1 and provides classroom activities on topics related to the history, cloning, and analysis of the NF 1 gene. The NHG will also collaborate with Biological Sciences Curriculum Study to produce a CD-ROM focused on Developmental Biology, an exciting area of modern research not adequately covered in high school curricula. The GSLC curriculum aligns with the goals of the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and the Utah Science Core Curriculum.

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