BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SUPERHEROES: Health Science, Engineering, and Data Science Elementary Curriculum Development & Outreach Program
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Project Description
Project Narrative The Biomedical Engineering Superheroes program is anticipated to foster interest in Biomedical engineering and Clinical research in young learners from underserved communities and underrepresented minorities. This program seeks to produce the next generation of STEM field professionals with the potential to contribute to science from diverse perspectives due to the emphasis on representation and inclusion. We will include curricular units that demonstrate how Biomedical Engineering Superheroes fight against four common conditions or diseases that align to four of the mission areas (the fantastic four) of the NIH Institutes and Centers- obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease based on data that demonstrated how prevalent and thus culturally relevant these public health issues are to families.
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Abstract
Project Summary/Abstract In this project, we leverage the motivating theme of “Superheroes” to highlight the work of biomedical engineers, biotechnologists, and other medical technologists, whose work in engineering design and problem-solving using scientific data and readings is exciting and important. The overarching goal of the Biomedical Engineering Superheroes is to develop curricular resources and outreach activities to support educational activities that encourage students from diverse backgrounds to consider pursuing further studies or careers in engineering and scientific research. This Curriculum Development and Outreach project will also integrate health science content, engineering design skills, data science, and reading. The Biomedical Engineering Superheroes program will include curricular units that demonstrate how we can fight against four common conditions or diseases. The curricular units will focus on four of the mission areas (the fantastic four) of the NIH Institutes and Centers- obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease based on data that demonstrated how prevalent and thus culturally relevant these public health issues are to families. The Biomedical Engineering Superheroes curricular program will be designed to include 18 hours of academic content over five Saturdays (not including a 3- hour, community-public health fair). The following three major aims will guide this project for the next five years: (1) to develop community co-constructed, culturally-responsive, curricular activities with biomedical and data science experts and teachers addressing fifth-grade students’ science learning and language and identity development needs. (2) to provide a health science STEM education professional development model that includes experiences for elementary school teachers that focus on increasing their knowledge of science and engineering concepts related to health science, biomedical engineering, and linguistic-culturally responsive pedagogical approaches for teaching STEM and 3) to deliver a STEM outreach program to elementary-aged students comprised of 4 units that focus on obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease. Outputs: Over the five- year funding period, 48 teachers will participate in training & lead the Biomedical Engineering Superheroes sessions; 48 college students will participate as Peer Mentors; More than 500 Elementary students from eight low-income school districts will participate in weekend academic programming and more than 400 family members participate in the family public health community fairs.
