Abstract

1. Influencing how genetics is taught in UK secondary schools: The Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme Holmes LE1,2, Finegold P2, Starling I 1,2, Dack K 1,2, Hall A 3, Worthington J 2, Harris J 2, Read AP 2, Donnai D1,2 , Middleton Price HR1,2 1 Nowgen (A Centre for Genetics in Healthcare), NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester, UK 2 Central Manchester and Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester 3 The Nuffield Foundation, London, UK NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre Abstract Current research in human genomics has great potential for sparking interest amongst secondary school students, yet it is not prominent in UK school curricula. The Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme aims to redress that situation; narrowing the gap between genomics research and classroom genetics. The genetics content of UK school curricula currently concentrates on ‘single-gene’ genetics with few references to more recent approaches exploring the human genome. Funded by a three-year grant from The Wellcome Trust, the Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme brings together leading scientists, clinicians, educationalists and bioethicists to contribute to a range of approaches designed to equip young people to assess the real potential of genomics, and to make informed decisions about future healthcare. The programme will introduce genome-wide association studies, pharmacogenetics and genetic medicine to teachers and their students, and will support them to: Genomics in the News Media coverage of research findings shows the disparity between the current curriculum content and contemporary genomics, which is reported with increasing frequency. The Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme strives to narrow this gap, to equip young people with the skills required to critically assess these news stories, and to provide relevance to their learning. Year 1 - Progress Curriculum development – GCSE Science The Nowgen Schools Genomics Team were consulted on revisions to the Twenty First Century GCSE Science specification in January 2010. We also presented recommendations to all UK GCSE awarding bodies. We influenced three modules of the Twenty First Century GCSE Science specification incorporating both pharmacogenetics and large-scale association studies. Approximately 125,000 students are examined for this course every year. Curriculum development – Further opportunities Nowgen consulted with senior scientists across the UK to respond to the consultation for revision to the Scottish Highers in Biology and Human Biology. We are awaiting the outcome of this consultation and aim to seek further funding to extend the Schools Genomics Programme to Scotland. We are currently mapping opportunities to further influence 14-19 years UK science education over the next 3 years. Supporting teaching and learning Completed resources include: Seven case studies with teachers’ notes and student worksheets supporting the A-level Science in Society Nature and Nurture Module. Three Teachers TV Programmes will be available to download from 2 July 2010 on www.teachers.tv. Titles are: GCSE – Genes and Disease A-level – Breast Cancer in the Family Teachers - Genomics, Society and Health Programmes will be supported by educational resources, lesson plans and further film footage. Supporting teaching and learning Three Meet the Scientist days are planned for Spring 2011. - explore genetic and lifestyle contributions to disease; - consider the methodological challenges contemporary large population studies require; - examine the social and ethical challenges to society; - explore the potential impact of data arising from contemporary genetics. Wang et al, 2009 reported on the front page of The Daily Mail Project team, partners and advisers Project Team: Peter Finegold, Honorary Research Fellow, The University of Manchester (UoM) Leah Holmes, Project Manager, Nowgen, UoM Bella Starling, Nowgen, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) Kate Dack, Nowgen, UoM Partners and Advisers: Angela Hall, Nuffield Curriculum Centre Dr Anne Scott, University of York Science Education Group Dr John Taylor, Rugby School, Edexcel Chief Examiner Paul Ashton, Teachers’ TV Professor Andrew Read, UoM Professor Dian Donnai, CMFT Dr Helen Middleton-Price, Nowgen, UoM Professor Jane Worthington, UoM Professor John Harris, Institute of Science, Ethics and Innovation, UoM The Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme is working with the following educational courses and organisations, achieving impact on a total of hundreds of thousands of students every year: The Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme works with science and science-related courses to promote understanding of the science and wider issues associated with genomics in healthcare Vision and aims The Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme has three broad aims reflecting our vision of effective teaching and learning of contemporary genetics and genomics in UK secondary school science, and science-related lessons: 1. To provide teachers with ways of introducing genomics to their teaching; 2. To establish links between scientists, clinicians, teachers, educationalists and bioethicists; 3. To explore the effectiveness of the Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme to influence methods of curriculum development for other areas of contemporary science. Principles of pharmacogenetics and large-scale association studies have been incorporated into new GCSE curricula Research and Evaluation The Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme has a research strand which aims to: - assess teachers’ knowledge, confidence and practice in teaching genomics; - measure the effectiveness of a range of approaches in introducing contemporary science into school curricula. The programme will be evaluated using a range of quantitative and qualitative approaches to measure the impact of the project’s components on teaching and learning, students’ interest, enjoyment, knowledge and understanding of contemporary genetics. Most evaluation work will be summative, allowing teachers time to use any resources in their teaching. Formative evaluation will inform project planning and delivery. • Approaches to changing teaching and learning of genetics • The Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme incorporates three strands of work to influence genetics education: • Curriculum development • Bringing scientists, clinicians and bioethicists together with curriculum developers, educational writers and publishers to incorporate contemporary genetics into curricula, in addition to traditional genetics. • 2. Supporting teaching and learning • Developing educational resources to support changes to curricula, including provision for teachers’ continuing professional development. • 3.Engaging students with genomics researchers • Proving opportunities for A-level Biology students to meet scientists in local research establishments, supporting them in further research and write-up as part of their formal course assessment. Genetics in current UK secondary school curricula In both GCSE Science (14-16 years) and A-level Biology (16-18 years) courses genetics is currently focused on ‘single-gene’ concepts and Mendelian inheritance patterns. Students learn about cystic fibrosis and Huntington disease as single gene case-studies, and consider the ethical, legal and societal implications of genetic testing for these conditions. Gene therapy is currently proposed as a potential treatment for genetic conditions. Gene expression is depicted as a one gene - one protein model. The curriculum development process is challenging due to the lack of time available in which to consult with experts in genetics and related fields, and the extremely fast-pace of progress in contemporary genetics research. Acknowledgements We acknowledge The Wellcome Trust for funding and support and thank the many scientists and educationalists who have offered their time and expertise to support this project.