Dear Colleagues:
The National Science Digital Library (NSDL) Biological Sciences
Pathway, BiosciEdNet (BEN), invites undergraduate faculty in the
biological sciences to apply to become BEN Scholars. The BEN Scholars
Program is one of the grassroots outreach activities of the BEN
Collaborative of more than 20 life sciences professional societies.
The goal of the BEN Scholars Program is to promote the use of digital
library resources and student-centered teaching and learning methods
in higher education, specifically in biological sciences lecture and
laboratory courses, and in research training programs. The BEN
Scholars program works both directly with faculty who are BEN
Scholars and indirectly, through outreach activities led by BEN
Scholars. Outreach activities are aimed at biological sciences
faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and middle and high school teachers.
Activities are carried out on campus with departments, locally
throughout the region, and nationally through professional societies.
Using digital libraries, BEN Scholars learn how to transform lectures
and laboratories to be more student-centered and to integrate career
exploration and up-to-date science content across fields into
existing curricula. BEN Scholars receive professional development in:
1) Using and submitting resources to digital libraries;
2) Implementing best practices in teaching and learning;
3) integrating digital resources into courses and measuring their
impact on student learning;
4) Leading digital library outreach activities with colleagues
through presentations, workshops, and one-on-one mentoring;
5) Networking with other BEN Scholars for a minimum 18 month period.
BEN Scholars will receive recognition from the participating
organizations, travel support, and a small stipend for completion of
all fellowship activities ($1,000 total). Half of the stipend ($500)
is paid for completion of all Institute and online professional
development activities. The other half ($500) is paid for classroom
testing, including developing a report and responding to comments for a month.
BEN Scholars must be available to participate in the NSDL BEN
National Leadership Training Institute which is scheduled for January
25-28, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The Institute will start at 1:00pm on
Wednesday, January 25 and end by noon on Saturday, January 28.
Applications are due by Thursday, September 22, 2011, midnight EST.
Applications will only be accepted via submission through the
American Physiological Society (APS) online application center
(<http://www.the-aps.org/awardapps>www.the-aps.org/awardapps). APS is
one of the BEN Collaborative partners.
For more details, please read the attach guidelines for applications.
Questions about applications can be sent to Gerard Boulin
(<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]).
Sincerely,
Yolanda S. George, AAAS
Deputy Director,
Education and Human Resources Programs
