Dear College Biology Educators:

You are invited to apply to join our next cohort of educators that will develop, test, and publish biology Core Concept Teaching Tools (CCTTs) in CourseSource. CCTTs are scaffolded instructional materials that teach students to apply core biology elements across contexts. The tools will be developed using a template that helps students transfer their knowledge of core concepts to novel biological phenomena.

All applicants will be invited to enroll in an evaluation research study as part of the project. See the details below and forward to any colleagues whom you might think would be interested in applying.

Sincerely, The PI Team

Janet Branchaw, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Audrey Chen Lew, University of California - Irvine

Jenny Knight, University of Colorado - Boulder

 

Learn more and apply now at go.wisc.edu/cctt

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through January 20, 2025. 

Questions? Email cctt@wiscience.wisc.edu 

 

The Details

Individuals apply to join a cohort of 20–25 educators that will finalize their topic in Spring 2025 and begin their work in summer 2025. During the year-long experience, participants will:

• Attend a 3-day in-person workshop June 25-27, 2025 to develop their Core Concept Teaching Tool in the summer at University of Wisconsin Madison.
• Pilot test at least 3 teaching tools during the academic year, including their own.
• Attend online cohort meetings to share feedback and insights from pilot testing during the academic year
• Attend a 3-day in-person workshop to finalize and submit their Core Concept Teaching Tool for publication in Course Source in Summer 2026 at University of Wisconsin Madison.
• Complete brief on-line surveys as part of the project evaluation.

Participants will receive a $500 stipend after completing the second workshop. Travel and lodging costs to attend the workshops will be covered by project funding at the Wisconsin state rate.

This research has been reviewed and approved by the University of Wisconsin - Madison IRB (IRB 2023-1492) and is funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF Grant No. 2336776, 2336777, 2336778).