Many school-age children lack sufficient exposure to science in the classroom, thereby missing the opportunity to gain meaningful experiences that could lead to a deeper interest in STEM fields. To improve Minnesota students’ content knowledge and participation in the sciences, specific modules were designed to help empower educators and train them in engaging activities for the classroom. Specifically, a module demonstrating the effects of acetaminophen, a Contaminant of Emerging Concern (CEC) on the growth and development of zebrafish (Danio rerio) was designed to allow students to gain experience collecting data while offering a hands-on experience in the classroom. A teaching manual was created containing background information on CECs, step-by-step experimental procedures, step-by-step instructions for data collection, and a sample data table. Additionally, an interactive student workbook was created with similar background information and step-by-step directions for experimentation and data collection along with a data table.
Results/Conclusions
We piloted our educational materials in both formal education (i.e. a classroom) and informal education (a Farmer’s Market) settings. After the initial pilot, feedback from the educator was used to revise the materials to improve their useability and ensure future success in other classrooms. Feedback was obtained through surveys sent out to the teacher after the module was completed and through surveys completed by the students in-class. Prior to participating in the classroom activities, students were given a short survey to assess their incoming knowledge and identify potential misconceptions. To evaluate the impact of the materials on student learning, they were given the same survey after completing the activity to measure the change in understanding. We also allowed students to provide open ended feedback after they completed the activities. Through this process, we have refined a set of activities that can be used in both formal and informal settings to engage students on a topic of environmental toxicology and promote student understanding of contaminants of emerging concern.