CADRE Early Career Guide: Tips for Early Career STEM Education Researchers

Publication

CADRE, the Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education (CADRE), the resource center for the National Science Foundations' Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) Program. CADRE developed the CADRE Early Career Guide: Tips for Early Career STEM Education Researchers, a guide to becoming a successful researcher in the field of STEM education, and a profile of the CADRE Fellows program. Early career researchers may independently access the resources in the guide or share them with a study group of graduate students and professional peers. Advisors, supervisors, mentors, and program leads

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Teaching Strategies that Promote Science Career Awareness

Publication

This monograph shares results of our inquiry into pedagogical strategies that infuse career awareness into science lessons. We first identify four cognitive building blocks of career development and four promising approaches for raising awareness of science careers. We then provide a typology of ten replicable teacher practice strategies, with accompanying examples of each. These findings are part of a larger exploration into the potential for secondary science teachers to increase student awareness of, and interest in, science careers, and are intended to contribute to field-building efforts

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Advanced Bioinformatics: Genetic Research (Bio-ITEST)

Curricular Materials

The Bio-ITEST genetic research curriculum unit explores how bioinformatics is used to perform genetic research. Specifically, the bioinformatics tools of BLAST, ORFinder, ClustalW and Cn3D are used to analyze genetic sequences. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene is introduced as the “DNA barcoding” gene that allows for identification of species. Students examine DNA sequences from different animal species, investigate the relationship between protein structure and function, and explore evolutionary relationships among eukaryotic organisms. The unit concludes with an authentic

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Introductory Bioinformatics: Genetic Testing (Bio-ITEST)

Curricular Materials

The Bio-ITEST genetic testing curriculum explores how bioinformatics is applied to genetic testing. Specifically, the bioinformatics tools of BLAST and Cn3D are used to investigate the genetic and molecular consequences of a mutation to the Breast Cancer Susceptibility 1 (BRCA1) gene. Students are also introduced to principles-based bioethics in order to support their thoughtful consideration of the many social and ethical implications of genetic testing. Throughout the unit, students are presented with a number of career options in which the tools of bioinformatics are used. In a series of

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The Emerging Role of Science Teachers in Fostering Stem Career Awareness

Publication

Understanding how high school students become aware of STEM career options, how educators can help students translate awareness into pursuit of STEM careers, and how to provide students with the support and skills they need to succeed, are crucial elements in ensuring the future of our STEM workforce. One important factor is the role that high school science teachers can play in fostering STEM career interest and awareness. As part of our study, we conducted interviews and focus groups with over 70 high school science teachers and other science and career education experts. Teachers’

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