# A Computer-based, Student-Centered Middle-School Approach to One Health Learning

> **NIH NIH R25** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2022 · $265,414

## Abstract

Project Summary
The proposed project will provide rural middle school teachers with instructional strategies and
resources for teaching science in the context of One Health (the integration of human, animal,
and environmental health) and assess the effectiveness of this method. The app- and web-
based curriculum will use a student-centered approach to teaching middle school science
topics. Middle school science curricular materials produced over the past 15 years by the
Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health (PEER) in the College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University will be enhanced to include
motivational, student-centered content for use with mobile devices. The activities will target
underserved rural communities, concentrating specifically on middle school students, who are at
a critical period for developing academic competence and choosing a career. This project will
focus on rural schools because they have large minority and educationally underserved
populations. Their geographic isolation allows students few opportunities to interact with
scientists and academic health professionals who might increase their motivation to engage in
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and related careers.
Project specific aims include the following: 1. Development of a student-centered app
containing engaging brief stories, case studies, and video presentations followed by interactive
assessments (games, quizzes, etc.) and project/curriculum guides that science teachers can
use to lead students in group activities, experiments, projects, and discussions. 2. Re-
organization of the peer.tamu.edu website to accommodate the new app and online courses
and to make specific resources easier for teachers to find. 3. Provision of teacher professional
development via summer workshops where teachers are instructed in and contribute to the
design and implementation of relevant student-centered lessons to be delivered by an app.
This innovative approach and content not only make "learning on the go" possible, but they also
provide a wide range of content that is not readily available for students and teachers through
traditional classroom instruction. The proposed project will further prepare middle school
teachers to teach STEM; increase the number of youth who have interactive STEM experiences
in school; and increase the number of underrepresented minority students who are
knowledgeable about STEM and STEM careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10451699
- **Project number:** 5R25GM129873-05
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Julie Harlin
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $265,414
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-24 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10451699

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10451699, A Computer-based, Student-Centered Middle-School Approach to One Health Learning (5R25GM129873-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10451699. Licensed CC0.

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