Beem Net--Computers Linking Kids with Neuroscientists

The Brain-Exchange Electronic Mentorship Network (BEEM-Net) has been created to electronically linkneuroscientists with elementary school children. The network fully embraces the concept of "Sciencescience literacy is essential for career opportunities, healthy living, and informed citizenship inbeing developed to provide access to neuroscience for an children regardless of gender, ethnicity, sgeographical location, physical or intellectual capacity. Participation in BEEM-Net only requires thto a computer and a phone-line and, in some cases, computer enhancements that enable use by childrenlimited-English-proficiency. BEEM-Net knows that children learn science by doing science, and that dand methods is necessary to engage the interest of a diverse student population. BEEM-Net is a multiinquiry-based investigation that provides contact with previously inaccessible role models, i.e., thdemonstrate the effectiveness of BEEM-Net to foster neuroscience education, the SBIR research has thdevelopment of BEEM-Net curriculum comprised of telecommunication-based activities designed to promoexperiential learning of neuroscience concepts presented in BrainLink curriculum materials, (2) theassessment instruments able to evaluate this innovative, educational use of technology, and (3) thethat facilitate or hinder the use of BEEM-Net in various educational contexts.