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Is your research group doing exciting work? Would you like to broaden the impact of your research by making it available to middle school students, high school students, and the general public? Today’s Science for Tomorrow’s Scientists (TSTS) is an interactive Web site that allows you to do just that (1). TSTS consists of modular instructional units that introduce current science research in an online tutorial fashion. You can use images, movies, and other interactive functions to help illustrate what your research group studies. We encourage all research groups to create TSTS tutorials describing their work. You can find example tutorials at online (accessed Jul 2008). Today’s Science for Tomorrow’s Scientists has three overarching goals: - To improve students’ attitudes towards science
- To improve students’ understanding of research and the research environment
- To teach students information that aligns with National Science Education Standards (NSES) (2)
We would like TSTS tutorials to be used in place of a more traditional teaching format (such as a lecture) to introduce necessary content and expose young students to current science research and the research environment. The research topics presented in TSTS modules are introduced at two levels: one that is appropriate for students in grades 5–8 and one for students in grades 9–12. In an effort to make the TSTS modules readily adaptable for teachers to incorporate into their own curricula, we have included a “teacher’s corner” area on the Web site for each of the modules that answers questions teachers may have about the Web site, the NSES standards the content addresses, links to other useful resources, and about how and when to introduce the material in the modules. Visit the Web site (accessed Jul 2008) to get a sense of TSTS. Modules that are part of Today’s Science for Tomorrow’s Scientists are published in the Chemical Education Digital Library (ChemEd DL) (3), a Pathway in the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) (4). We invite submissions from scientists in both academe and industry for tutorial modules. We hope that TSTS modules created by a diverse scientific community will eventually constitute a large bank of tutorials about current science research available in all disciplines. If you are interested in providing a tutorial module for TSTS please contact Caroline Pharr or see this Web site (accessed Jul 2008). Literature Cited- Today’s Science for Tomorrow’s Scientists Home Page (accessed Jul 2008).
- National Committee on Science Education Standards and Assessment, National Research Council. National Science Education Standards; National Academy Press: Washington, DC, 1996 (accessed Jul 2008).
- ChemEd DL Home Page (accessed Jul 2008).
- NSDL Home Page (accessed Jul 2008).
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