The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Susan Singer (Biology) $149,967 for a Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) grant. Professor Singer's project "RUI: Scaffolding Conceptually Driven Genomics Education" hypothesizes that a carefully designed, web interface tool can support classroom instruction and facilitate authentic research by moderately scaffolding the student research process. The instructional technique of scaffolding utilizes teacher modeling of a desired learning strategy or task - providing support structures to get to the next level - then gradually shifting responsibility to students.

A genomics education tool "Exploring Genomics in Context Interface" (EGCI) will be developed and tested at two different institutions - one that integrates genomics throughout the curriculum (Carleton) and one with distinct genomics and bioinformatics courses (Vassar). Carleton's Science Education Resource Center (SERC) will do the design, development, and customization of the EGCI tool.

For more, visit Susan's Web site; or SERC's Web site. Read more on recent grants.