ASSET: Expanding and Sustaining Hands-on Science in K-12 Classrooms using Tetrahymena

Posted on September 16, 2021, updated on January 25, 2022

Project Website(s)

  • Project Description

    ASSET (Advancing Secondary Science Education through Tetrahymena) provides unique and innovative modular biology curricula for K-12 students featuring the use of safe, easy-to-grow live protozoa (Tetrahymena). ASSET modules engage students in a hands-on experimental exploration of basic biological concepts, an approach designed to stimulate critical thinking, foster a deeper understanding of fundamental biological concepts, and encourage interest in health-related science and related STEM careers. The primary goals of the program are 1) to develop and disseminate kit-based modular curriculum that is easily integrated into existing science and health curricula, provides everything needed for student use, and requires no additional local resources; 2) to provide hands-on, inquiry- based curricula that address the Next Generation Science Standards for elementary, middle and high school students; and 3) to provide in-service and pre-service teacher development opportunities that parallel the larger national goal to train more teaching professionals in STEM in order to build a more scientifically literate, engaged citizenry.

  • Abstract

    ASSET (Advancing Secondary Science Education through Tetrahymena) provides unique and innovative modular biology curricula for K-12 students featuring the use of safe, easy-to-grow live protozoa (Tetrahymena). ASSET modules engage students in a hands-on experimental exploration of basic biological concepts, an approach designed to stimulate critical thinking, foster a deeper understanding of fundamental biological concepts, and encourage interest in health-related science and related STEM careers. The primary goals of the program are 1) to develop and disseminate kit-based modular curriculum that is easily integrated into existing science and health curricula, provides everything needed for student use, and requires no additional local resources; 2) to provide hands-on, inquiry- based curricula that address the Next Generation Science Standards for elementary, middle and high school students; and 3) to provide in-service and pre-service teacher development opportunities that parallel the larger national goal to train more teaching professionals in STEM in order to build a more scientifically literate, engaged citizenry. Fully equipped kits addressing the following topics are currently available for 2-week loan using a simple online request system: Chemosensory Response (E, MS, HS), Cilia Growth and Regeneration (HS), Exocytosis and Secretion (HS), Field Research (MS, HS), Growth and Population Dynamics (MS, HS), Mating (HS), Microevolution (HS), Microscopic Life Around Us (E, MS, HS), Mutation (HS), Osmolarity (MS, HS), Pattern Formation (HS), Phagocytosis (E, MS, HS), Cannibalism and Predation (HS), and Toxicology (HS). Two health related modules, Effects of Vaping (MS, HS) and Effects of Cigarette Smoke and Alcohol (E, MS, HS), have also been developed that engage students in directly examining the ciliary response of live cells to tobacco smoke, e-cigarette vapor, and alcohol, an approach that supports vigorous classroom discussion and equips teachers with a powerful tool in the fight against underage smoking, vaping, and alcohol use. ASSET also provides local and distance workshops for in-service and pre-service teachers, and easily accessible teacher support including training videos, detailed teacher guides and student protocols, and dedicated phone and email assistance.

  • Dissemination Strategies

    Dissemination of information regarding the ASSET program will be carried out on multiple fronts. News and updates about the program will be posted on the website, along with downloadable supporting materials, including teacher guides, student protocols, instruction manuals, demonstration videos, and links to supplemental materials. We will use the extensive network of teachers already in place, as well as established connections to other groups that we have collaborated with over the past ten years, to inform teachers about the ASSET program. We will utilize Washington University listservs of over 5,000 teachers in the St. Louis region and the Washington University partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to promote use of ASSET materials in the rural communities in Missouri. In addition, we will utilize both direct contact and teacher networking to optimize dissemination of program information, as well as publicizing information and resources through new and existing collaborations with other educational outreach programs. Information regarding the ASSET program and availability of ASSET modules and materials will be placed on education-related websites, and presented at state and national teacher conferences, like the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS), the Texas Annual Environmental Health Sciences Summer Institute, and the National Science Teacher Association (NSTA). Educational research results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. We will attend regional and national conferences to share information about the ASSET program. Information regarding the program will also be presented via talks, posters, seminars, and hands-on demonstrations targeted to educators and others involved in educational outreach. ASSET Twitter and Facebook accounts will continue to utilize social media to spread information about the program. The Tetrahymena research community will be informed of the availability of ASSET Tetrahymena-based materials by presentations at ciliate and protist-based conferences, and by postings on the ciliate researcher listserv, and researchers will be encouraged to share information about the program with local teachers. Timely and dependable dissemination of the live cells utilized in many of the ASSET modules will be assured by the continuing collaboration with the NIH-funded National Tetrahymena Stock Center.

Project Audience

4th – 12th grade students and teachers

Subjects Addressed

Fundamental biological subjects: Chemosensory Response (E, MS, HS), Cilia Growth and Regeneration (HS), Exocytosis and Secretion (HS), Field Research (MS, HS), Growth and Population Dynamics (MS, HS), Mating (HS), Microevolution (HS), Microscopic Life Around Us (E, MS, HS), Mutation (HS), Osmolarity (MS, HS), Pattern Formation (HS), Phagocytosis (E, MS, HS), Cannibalism and Predation (HS), Toxicology (HS).

Health related subjects: Effects of Vaping (MS, HS), Effects of Cigarette Smoke and Alcohol (E, MS, HS).