Incorporating the claim, evidence, and reasoning framework into an engaging computer game and curriculum unit
Saturday, April 13
The topic of traumatic brain injury is one that is relevant and intriguing to students, but it can be challenging to connect this topic to science standards and encourage students to think critically about the biology concepts inherent to brain injury. Project NEURON, an NIH SEPA-funded project, has developed a curriculum that uses investigations, hands-on activities and an interactive computer game to teach neuroanatomy, physiology, and cell biology within the context of the causes, diagnosis, and consequences of traumatic brain injury. In this workshop, teachers will experience a representative lesson from the unit as their students would. They will play the computer game which simulates real-world events while teaching about different areas of the brain and how to read CT scans of different brain injuries. Guided by the game, teachers will apply the claim, evidence, and reasoning framework to identify the brain injury type of a specific emergency case of brain injury. Through guided reflection and discussions, teachers will see how this particular lesson and the computer game are imbedded within science content and how it connects with the remaining lessons in the unit. As a part of the workshop, teachers will receive free curriculum materials (lesson plans, student materials, and online resources).