Apply to Develop & Test Biology Core Concept Teaching Tools
Biology Educators are invited to apply to design, implement, and evaluate biology core concept instructional tools that teach students to transfer and apply their knowledge across biological scales and sub-disciplines. Two cohorts of 25 each will be selected. Cohort 1 will participate from August 2024 - July 2025 and Cohort 2 will participate from June 2025 - June 2026.
Evaluation research examining the participants' experiences and the core concept teaching tools they develop will be conducted. The evaluation research study is approved by the University of Wisconsin - Madison IRB (IRB 2023-1492) and is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF IUSE # 2336776, 2336777, 2336778).
The application for Cohort 2 is now closed. Still interested in developing a Core Concept Teaching Tool? Complete the interest form below and we'll notify you if additional workshops become available.
Cohorts will be selected to maximize the diversity of biology sub-disciplines and institution types represented. Click below to apply.
To preview the cohort application, click here
Questions? Contact cctt@wiscience.wisc.edu
The purpose of this project is to develop, evaluate and publish a collection of Biology Core Concept Teaching Tools that will be available nationally through Course Source, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of evidence-based teaching methods, strategies, and tools.
Who’s eligible?
Biology educators working at postsecondary institutions in the United States.
What’s involved?
Over the course of a year, participants will use a template to develop instructional tools that teach students to transfer and apply their knowledge of the Biology Core Concepts to understand novel biological phenomena. Each tool will address two or more of the Biology core concepts identified in the Vision and Change Report (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011). Authors will receive peer review feedback on their tools, build an evidence base for the effectiveness of their tool through the collection of pilot test data, and prepare their tools for submission and publication in Course Source.
If you choose to participate in the study, you will be asked to do the following:
Complete the cohort application (10 minutes to complete)
If you are selected to join a cohort, you will:
Attend a 3-day in-person workshop in June 2025 to develop a Core Concept Teaching Tool and provide feedback on others’ Tools.
Pilot test at least 3 Core Concept Teaching Tools, including your own during the subsequent Fall, Winter/Spring, or Summer semesters in your undergraduate biology course(s), and collect feedback on the Tools by :
having your students complete a pre and post-assessment
distributing a 5-minute feedback survey to your students after each activity
complete a 5- minute instructor feedback survey on each activity and provide some information about your course at the end of the semester.
Attend four 90-minute online cohort meetings throughout the year to share feedback and insights from the pilot test results.
Attend a 3 -day in-person Course Source writing workshop the following summer to finalize and submit your Core Concept Teaching Tool for publication.
Complete 3 surveys (one in Winter, one in Summer, and one the following Winter) asking about your experience participating in the project that will take 5-10 minutes each to complete.
Possibly be invited to participate in an interview or focus group lasting up to 60 minutes at the end of your experience. Participation in this focus group will be optional.
Have your travel and lodging costs for the two summer workshops paid by the grant up to the state rate allowed by Wisconsin.
Receive a $500 stipend at the end of the program for participating.
Cohort 2 Timeline
