1 minute read
PARTNERSHIP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & RURAL HEALTH
The Partnership for Environmental Education & Rural Health (PEER) Program provides multifaceted outreach for science and veterinary medical education. Middle and high school curricula, video presentations by veterinary professionals and students, scientists, and college students, and outreach events for K-12 students stimulate career interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The PEER Program’s current focus is the utilization of the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds, in developing a standards-based, student centric, on-line curriculum. These lessons frame academic content in terms easily identifiable to middle and high school students—namely, their own health. Classroom ready modules include Cell Biology, Stress (nervous & endocrine systems, homeostasis, and feedback mechanisms), Infectious Diseases & Vaccinations, Ecology, and Clinical Trials.
Advertisement
Additionally, PEER has redesigned its website to provide a more user-friendly experience as well as updated existing curricular resources. Most notable, are the “Biology & Environmental Sciences” lessons, which now utilize the Google Suite of tools (Drive, Docs, Slides, etc.) to enable a student-driven lesson format.
PEER ensured continued K-12 student and teacher outreach throughout the spring and summer months by providing virtual workshops, camps, and learning experiences.
Direct Contact Interactions (Veterinary Student & K-12 students)
• Direct, virtual contact with over 500 K-12 students • One time presentations or recurring “camps” for: Texas State Aquarium-Corpus Christi, Baylor Camp Med-Houston, Aggie STEM Camp-statewide, Bryan Girl Scouts, Veterinary Medical Applications Program-statewide, Midland 4-H, Girl Scouts of USA, Middle School One Health Summer Learning Experience-statewide • Facebook Live Events – veterinarian and vet student interviews – 945 people “reached”
• Three Teacher Workshops reaching 40 teachers
Impact Measured by the Numbers
PEER at Texas A&M YouTube Channel Analytics from 09/01/2019 to 08/31/2020
• Total views of all videos • New subscribers • Total subscribers 159,800 945 2,287
Dr. Larry Johnson, Director of PEER
