pathways toward building a supercourse of science “science and technology in a global...
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PATHWAYS TOWARD BUILDING A PATHWAYS TOWARD BUILDING A SUPERCOURSE OF SCIENCESUPERCOURSE OF SCIENCE
““Science and Technology in a Global Perspective”Science and Technology in a Global Perspective” AAAS Annual Meeting 15 Feb 2008AAAS Annual Meeting 15 Feb 2008
““Science SuperCourse” Conference at Bibliotheca Science SuperCourse” Conference at Bibliotheca Global Health Breakout SessionGlobal Health Breakout Session
Alexandrina, 5 January 2009Alexandrina, 5 January 2009
Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D.Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D.Center for Computational MedicineCenter for Computational Medicine
& Biology& BiologyUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI, USAAnn Arbor, MI, USA
POWER OF THE INTERNET TO POWER OF THE INTERNET TO FACILITATE SCIENCE EDUCATION AND FACILITATE SCIENCE EDUCATION AND
NETWORKING: THE SUPERCOURSENETWORKING: THE SUPERCOURSE
Ron LaPorte, Univ of PittsburghRon LaPorte, Univ of Pittsburgh
Ismail Serageldin, Bibliotheca Alexandrina,Ismail Serageldin, Bibliotheca Alexandrina,
Alexandria, EgyptAlexandria, Egypt
Faina Linkov, University of PittsburghFaina Linkov, University of Pittsburgh
Vint Cerf, GoogleVint Cerf, Google
Gil Omenn, Univ of MichiganGil Omenn, Univ of Michigan
Panelists from four AAAS SectionsPanelists from four AAAS Sections
Listed/sponsored by 10 AAAS SectionsListed/sponsored by 10 AAAS Sections
The Need for Science Education GloballyThe Need for Science Education Globally
There are generally long delays in moving new There are generally long delays in moving new knowledge to textbooks and classrooms.knowledge to textbooks and classrooms.A close relationship between higher education A close relationship between higher education and advanced research is a hallmark of and advanced research is a hallmark of countries with economic progress. countries with economic progress. A tension between specialization of individual A tension between specialization of individual research and the need for multidisciplinary team research and the need for multidisciplinary team research, especially for society’s Grand research, especially for society’s Grand Challenges (the theme of my AAAS Presidential Challenges (the theme of my AAAS Presidential Address in 2006...see SCIENCE 15 Dec 2006).Address in 2006...see SCIENCE 15 Dec 2006).Busy teachers need assistance in building Busy teachers need assistance in building teaching materials/lectures for their own use. teaching materials/lectures for their own use.
Large-Scale Experiments in Large-Scale Experiments in Science EducationScience Education
AAAS Project 2061, for the K-12 yearsAAAS Project 2061, for the K-12 years
Numerous efforts by field (computer Numerous efforts by field (computer sciences) or institutions (Boston Museum sciences) or institutions (Boston Museum of Science; MIT) of Science; MIT)
Prototype Internet-based PowerPoint Prototype Internet-based PowerPoint lectures: the SuperCourse in Global lectures: the SuperCourse in Global HealthHealth
Our breakout group has the opportunity to Our breakout group has the opportunity to help shape all the BA SuperCourse fields help shape all the BA SuperCourse fields based on experience and needs identified.based on experience and needs identified.
19891989
Halley’s Comet---1985/2061
• Provide a library of lectures & slides by Provide a library of lectures & slides by discipline and by themediscipline and by theme
• Create a resource to be utilized and adapted by Create a resource to be utilized and adapted by teachers at multiple levelsteachers at multiple levels
• Make resources available globally Make resources available globally
• Facilitate adaptation via translation and mirror Facilitate adaptation via translation and mirror serversservers
• Generate a substrate for public education Generate a substrate for public education about science and engineering and about the about science and engineering and about the importance of technology in our livesimportance of technology in our lives
Drivers & ResponsesDrivers & Responses
Students and faculty often comment, afterStudents and faculty often comment, aftera spectacular lecture, that “It would be a spectacular lecture, that “It would be wonderful if everyone could hear or see that wonderful if everyone could hear or see that lecture, or learn what was presented”. lecture, or learn what was presented”. How much is the content?How much is the content?How much is the visual/live impression?How much is the visual/live impression?Varies with the lecturer and the contentVaries with the lecturer and the contentWe have used PowerPoints; others are We have used PowerPoints; others are using videosusing videos
Drivers and ResponsesDrivers and ResponsesProducing quality lectures in a survey course of Producing quality lectures in a survey course of 30 sessions is a daunting task. 30 sessions is a daunting task. Journal articles are increasingly dense and soon Journal articles are increasingly dense and soon may be outdated. may be outdated. The Epidemiology/Prevention/Global Health The Epidemiology/Prevention/Global Health SuperCourse has demonstrated an impressive SuperCourse has demonstrated an impressive willingness of prominent, active scientists to willingness of prominent, active scientists to share their PowerPoint lectures (now 3378).share their PowerPoint lectures (now 3378).Teachers around the world (44,000) have Teachers around the world (44,000) have downloaded these lectures from the Internet, downloaded these lectures from the Internet, studied the material, and adapted the slides and studied the material, and adapted the slides and concepts to their own lecture needs. concepts to their own lecture needs. It is a remarkably lively, two-way process It is a remarkably lively, two-way process (LaPorte).(LaPorte).
Features of the SuperCourseFeatures of the SuperCourse
Rapid sharing of outstanding lectures to Rapid sharing of outstanding lectures to scientists and educators globallyscientists and educators globallyEmpowering teachers with credible Empowering teachers with credible template lectures readily adapted to their template lectures readily adapted to their circumstances.circumstances.Ease of usage, minimal cost to users, Ease of usage, minimal cost to users, high-quality content.high-quality content.Translated into multiple languagesTranslated into multiple languagesDownloading facilitated by mirror serversDownloading facilitated by mirror serversSuitable for expansionSuitable for expansion
Quality AssuranceQuality Assurance
There is considerable skepticism about the There is considerable skepticism about the uniformity and quality of a broad collection uniformity and quality of a broad collection of lectures.of lectures.
We will present findings and plans for We will present findings and plans for quality assurance (Linkov).quality assurance (Linkov).
The Google method of user-determined The Google method of user-determined ranking of lectures seems to be working ranking of lectures seems to be working (LaPorte).(LaPorte).
Meeting Needs in the Developing WorldMeeting Needs in the Developing World
Fits the 2008 AAAS theme of Science and Fits the 2008 AAAS theme of Science and Technology in Global PerspectiveTechnology in Global PerspectiveSpectacular partner in the Bibliotheca Spectacular partner in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Serageldin)Alexandrina (Serageldin)Remarkable efforts in various countries to Remarkable efforts in various countries to establish mirror servers (much faster establish mirror servers (much faster downloads) and translate large numbers of downloads) and translate large numbers of SuperCourse lectures (Chinese, Russian, SuperCourse lectures (Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Arabic)Italian, Spanish, Arabic)
Bringing Expertise from the Developing Bringing Expertise from the Developing World to the Global CommunityWorld to the Global Community
Top Anthrax lecture in the SuperCourse Top Anthrax lecture in the SuperCourse had been sent in from Peru before the had been sent in from Peru before the 2001 episode in the U.S.2001 episode in the U.S.Tsunami in Asia triggered emergency Tsunami in Asia triggered emergency PowerPoint response within 48 hrs from a PowerPoint response within 48 hrs from a global networkglobal networkReal-time PowerPoints as Hurricanes Real-time PowerPoints as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita came up the Florida coast Katrina and Rita came up the Florida coast were coordinated in Novosibirsk and were coordinated in Novosibirsk and TehranTehran
Scientific and Engineering Disciplines Scientific and Engineering Disciplines versus Societal Problems or Themesversus Societal Problems or Themes
Grand Challenges themes like Grand Challenges themes like energy/environment/sustainability, water, energy/environment/sustainability, water, global health, and economic development global health, and economic development could be organizing foci for lecturescould be organizing foci for lecturesDisciplines should be natural baseDisciplines should be natural baseAAAS sections combine both approachesAAAS sections combine both approachesSuperCourse on Epidemiology and Global SuperCourse on Epidemiology and Global Health represents such a combination, Health represents such a combination, with cross-categorization of lectureswith cross-categorization of lectures
Pathways to Expand from Global Health to Pathways to Expand from Global Health to Many or Most Fields of Science & Eng’gMany or Most Fields of Science & Eng’g
Collect individual lecturers from luminaries—Collect individual lecturers from luminaries—Nobel Laureates, NAS/NAE/IOM members, AAAS Nobel Laureates, NAS/NAE/IOM members, AAAS Fellows globallyFellows globallyEngage individual disciplines, some of whom Engage individual disciplines, some of whom already have suitable libraries of open-source already have suitable libraries of open-source lectures for which reciprocal links might be lectures for which reciprocal links might be appropriateappropriateStimulate AAAS sections to identify annual Stimulate AAAS sections to identify annual meeting lectures and individuals to invite lectures meeting lectures and individuals to invite lectures from themfrom themBuild a great repository and nidus for Developing Build a great repository and nidus for Developing Countries at Bibliotheca AlexandrinaCountries at Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Questions for Today at BAQuestions for Today at BA
What can established and new users of the What can established and new users of the SuperCourse tell us about how we can make the SuperCourse tell us about how we can make the powerpoint lecture approach more user-friendly?powerpoint lecture approach more user-friendly?Are search functions and filters very helpful?Are search functions and filters very helpful?What determines which lectures appear when we click What determines which lectures appear when we click on a “topic”?on a “topic”?What should be done to stimulate leaders in the What should be done to stimulate leaders in the developing world to contribute their best powerpoint developing world to contribute their best powerpoint lectures?lectures?How can contributors be given “credit”? Cited?How can contributors be given “credit”? Cited?How do we keep “up-to-date”?How do we keep “up-to-date”?How do we expand the “Community of Practice”?How do we expand the “Community of Practice”?
Contact InformationContact Information
SuperCourse: www.pitt.edu/~super1 SuperCourse: www.pitt.edu/~super1
Followup:Followup: