Students Learn STEM-Genetics through innovative Hands-on Curriculum

The National Science Foundation reported recently on a new hands-on curriculum which is engaging students in grades 5 – 9 in genetic science. The new genetic STEM education program is based on an “innovative curriculum that combines teacher-led discussion, online learning and hands-on activities to broaden students’ understanding of how genetic information moves from one generation to the next.”

Known as STEMGenetics, this educational program was developed jointly by Michelle Williams, an associate professor of science education at Michigan State University and Angela DeBarger, a senior research scientist at SRI International, funded by a 5-year grant from the NSF.

Currently, there are nearly 2000 students participating in the program, now in its 3rd year, spread across 9 schools in Michigan and Texas. Designed to run over a 5-week period, the course allows each grade to engage in a series of “motivating questions” such as “How do plants in the same species vary?” or “How do we breed rice plants for high nutrition?”

The students then reinforce the information through hands-on activities such as planting seeds and crossing different parent plants.

The program tailors the genetic concepts to match the grade level of the students and also provides professional development for teachers who participate.

Why genetics? “It’s an important topic to society and is personally relevant to people in their everyday lives, even young children,” Williams told the NSF, adding that when it comes to genetics “many students have an array of ideas that are not scientifically accurate. By starting early on, we have an opportunity to build a more coherent understanding of the subject.”

“These activities stimulate a lot of great conversation,” says veteran teacher Rob Voigt. Much of the discussion grows from students making predictions and drawing conclusions about genetic information.

For additional information on this program, go online to the NSF web site using this link: http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?org=NSF&cntn_id=130811&preview=false