Innovating Science Instruction
Stan-X
We created Stan-X and Stand-X Teachers Academy to foster experience-based science instruction. Experimental Science Now aims to bring these programs to youth and teachers in every quarter.
Science is about making discoveries. Over a decade ago, we began to implement innovative programs at partnering secondary schools to foster the development of new ways to teach science. Collectively these programs are called ‘Stan-X’. These Stan-X curricula enabled students to perform open-ended research, and provided exciting possibilities to generate original data and resources that can be published and used by practicing scientists. The Stan-X network currently includes public and independent secondary schools, and universities. To nurture the development of instructors at new partner schools, we started a teaching academy called Discover Now (now called Stan-X Teachers Academy) in 2019 (see below). To target and support the inception of new Stan-X programs at schools teaching students under-represented in science, we founded Experimental Science Now.
Stan-X Teachers Academy:
Teaching the Teachers
Stan-X Teachers Academy
To implement courses, we train instructors in the theory and practice of fruit fly genetics and biology. To achieve this goal and maximize our training and network building, in 2019 we formed a summertime teaching academy called Stan-X Teachers Academy. Over two weeks, new instructors – most without prior experience in fruit fly biology – receive intensive didactic and hands-on laboratory training. They also receive teaching materials from established successful Stan-X courses, including syllabus texts, video links and testing materials. Meetings and outings with teachers from existing Stan-X programs and the Discover Now leadership establish mentoring connections that nurture the inception of courses at new partner schools, and help sustain those courses over the years.
Zoom meeting of Stan-X teachers.
Experimental Science Now
Experimental Science Now is committed to bringing experience-based science instruction to students and their teachers. We engage current Stan-X partner schools, industrial partners, philanthropy, and extramural funders of educational initiatives to provide seed grants that foster development of Stan-X programs at new partner schools. We then work with Stan-X leadership to coordinate implementation of Stan-X programs by new partners. This includes expert training through the Discover Now teaching academy, followed by active mentoring of instructors by Stan-X program faculty during term time.