Teaching the Genome Generation: Cultivating High School Genomics through Teacher Education

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) proposes a teacher education initiative, 'Teaching the Genome Generation' (TtGG), to provide pre-service high school teachers the content knowledge, teaching strategies, and resources needed to enhance student learning in genomics, bioethics, and bioinformatics, with an emphasis on math and data literacy. Our pre-professional development program will provide instruction in the molecular genetics of personalized medicine, use of bioinformatics tools, incorporating statistics and data analysis, and discussion of the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) surrounding genetics research. In collaboration with partners in higher education, up to 32 pre-service teachers per year will participate in a hands-on short course. Pre-service teachers will also have the opportunity to engage with and practice teaching our curriculum through instructional methods coursework and student teaching/internships. Our innovative approach weaves three learning strands—molecular genetics, bioinformatics and bioethics—together within the context of the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Math Standards. The TtGG team will expand dissemination of our content and short course through significant enhancement of our online resources. A pilot online course will be launched in late 2020, and a full online program with additional resources accessible through a newly designed TtGG public facing website will be completed and released by the first quarter of 2022. To evaluate the impact of the short course, evaluators will administer pre and post surveys to pre-service teacher participants on genetics, genomics and bioinformatics content knowledge, teacher self-efficacy, and confidence. Evaluators will also conduct small scale efficacy studies to examine the impact of the TtGG materials on students': a) content knowledge of genetics, genomics, and applications of mathematics; b) confidence engaging in genomics concepts, lab activities, and math problems; c) interest in engaging in additional genomics-related behavior, including academic and career pursuits; and d) ability to explain how and why math skills are required for practicing life sciences. By training pre-service educators, TtGG will execute on NIH's goal of strengthening the future STEM workforce through increasing genomic and health literacy.