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The "Genetics for Your Life" project will develop educational materials that prepare today's tech-savvy students - and adults - for life in this genomic age. The inquiry-based materials will include: (1) highly-visual, online materials with interactive, animated components, (2) hands-on integrative and investigative classroom learning experiences, and (3) extensive teacher support and professional development materials. The curricula will follow a learning progression from upper elementary (grades 5/6), through middle school (grades 7/8) and into high school (grades 9/10). While addressing national and state science education standards, the curricula will expand beyond them to address contemporary genetics/genomics topics such as the polygenic, multifactorial nature of most traits as well as the role and function of proteins. Examples relevant to 21st century students' lives will be used as the basis for learning each concept. Some examples will be used across grade bands to scaffold and build students' understanding; such examples will focus on traits common to all students rather than on diseases. The materials will be widely-disseminated via the free, award-winning Learn.Genetics website (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu), developed by the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah. In addition to classroom use, the online portion of the materials will be available for students to use on their own as well as for use by interested adults.
The project will carried out by the Genetic Science Learning Center (GSLC), utilizing its 13 years of synergistic expertise in education, science and technology. The online materials will utilize the Center's innovative Exploragraphic Web Design, which is based on research on how teens use the web. All materials will be developed using its Exploragraphic Curriculum Development Process which involves multiple stakeholders. A group of master teachers from across the US, representing each grade band and diverse student populations, will participate in a three-year Master Teacher Program. They will work with scientists, science educators and GSLC staff to draft the curricula, provide feedback (including student feedback) during development, and pilot test materials with their students. Additional teachers will field test the final draft of the curricula, providing teacher and student feedback for each grade band; students in additional, matched classrooms will serve as controls for measuring the efficacy of the curricula. A Scientific Advisory Committee will provide input on content and review the materials for accuracy, and the GSLC's Education Advisory Committee will provide input on content, teacher resource materials and teacher professional development.
HHMI funding will be leveraged to provide professional development courses and workshops for teachers which update their content knowledge and prepare them to use the curricula with their students. Rockman Et Al, an independent research, evaluation and consulting firm in San Francisco, will serve as the project evaluator.
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