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PA Cyber students study fast-changing scientific fields Stem cell research, epidemiology, emerging genetics among new ‘niche’ courses
MIDLAND, Pa. – Ancient human burial sites. Ebola virus outbreaks. Career-saving surgeries for athletes. Genetically engineered life forms. Stem cell research. Cloning.
High school juniors and seniors in the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (www.pacyber.org) can learn the latest real science behind the news headlines and scripted plots of TV shows through six new online courses called the Cutting Edge Science (CES) series.
Biotechnology, epidemiology, forensics, emerging genetics, sports medicine and stem cell research are nine-week Lincoln Interactive (www.lincolninteractive.com) online courses being offered this school year for the first time, according to Dr. Nick Trombetta, CEO of the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (www.pacyber.org).
The CES courses, he said, are taken as electives by students who have already completed required a basic course in biology. Consumable textbooks have been designed specifically for these courses by top researchers in each field. Virtual laboratory experiences and tutorials give the students a “virtual window” into each area of study.
No online curriculum provider, said Dr. Nick Trombetta has attempted courses in niche scientific fields at the high school level, and few traditional school districts can afford to offer such classes. Hardbound science textbooks quickly become obsolete as scientific discovery increases at a dizzying pace, while the flexibility of an online school, with self-published consumable texts, can include new information as it is known.
Lincoln Interactive is the nation’s premier online curriculum, developed and exclusively distributed by the National Network of Digital Schools (www.nndsonline.org). Its 300-plus courses include standard state-approved courses from grade school through high school, plus unique offerings such as Mandarin Chinese language, interactive video game design and the history of jazz.
Bryan Bown, director of educational services for NNDS, said CES courses are designed to give high-achieving high school students a taste of scientific fields they may wish to pursue in college.
NNDS science curriculum specialist Carly Pietrzyk is CES project manager, involved in all aspects from conception through course selection, development and teacher training. Pietrzyk has worked with researchers in each field to develop course content.
CES courses are featured in the Summer 2008 edition of Converge Magazine (www.convergemag.com), a California-based publication focusing on technology in education In that article, Bown noted that Lincoln Interactive curriculum is audited by Tri-State Area School Study Council of the University of Pittsburgh in order to ensure the rigor and quality of course content.
With the popularity of television shows such as “CSI,” said Pietrzyk, it is not a surprise that forensics is a big hit, with 95 PA Cyber students enrolled for the first nine weeks of the 2008-09 school year. Sports medicine also is popular with 76 enrolled. Next are biotechnology (28), epidemiology (21), emerging genetics (20) and stem cell research (14).
The CES stem cell course was piloted last spring with eight students in the North Hills School District near Pittsburgh, a traditional brick-and-mortar setting. This school year, North Hills offers all six CES courses as electives. CES courses are available in many of the 50 school systems across the country that offer the Lincoln Interactive curriculum.
All CES courses are taught in asynchronous mode, meaning students proceed through each course’s 20 lesson plans at their own pace, turning in work online and communicating by email with the instructor.
Pietrzyk said she is hoping to add new CES courses in other fields of science to the Lincoln Interactive catalog over the next several school years.
PA Cyber Charter School (www.pacyber.org) is a public school providing a state-approved K-12 education tuition-free to the children of Pennsylvania residents. It enrolls 8,000 students statewide. NNDS (www.nndsonline.org) is a nonprofit foundation providing educational management services and online curriculum nationwide.