NLM K-12 health and science resources

Posted by Carolyn Martin on August 4th, 2016 Posted in: Training & Education

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For many, the school year is right around the corner as the summer break will soon be over. Many school teachers, administrators, and staff will soon be preparing for the fall start if they haven’t already. MedlinePlus is a familiar NLM resource but perhaps the K-12 resources are not.  The Specialized Information Services of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) is responsible for the many freely available resources that school staff as well as students and parents may find helpful in regards to school policies, science information as well as health information for the wider community.

As many may already know, STEM education has taken a front seat with the White House campaign of “Educate to Innovate” involving partnerships with top companies, universities, foundations, and other organizations to continue the push towards advancing the achievements of students in the STEM arena. However, we also know that many schools are underfunded and have several priorities needing attention. These NLM K-12 resources are available for free and can help reinforce and supplement curricula as well as provide information for science and health research papers and projects. These are resources that students and parents can access and use from home and do not require creating an account or a special login. 

Genomic medicine is in the headlines and will continue to grow. However,  genomic health literacy and genomic science literacy are a concern. A National Human Genome Research Institute workshop noted that the general public lacks the science and mathematical knowledge required to understand the basics of genomic medicine in regards to their health. The workshop noted that many science teachers may also lack knowledge in this area and that science programs may be lagging in this area. Much has happened in the last few years and science curricula has not necessarily kept up. One resource that might be of interest is GeneEd. This is a resource for high school students to learn about genetics and the role it plays in science and health. Information for teachers and career information are also available.  The National Human Genome Research Institute also has educational material for the classroom including a recording of the lecture Harry Potter and the Genetics of Wizarding.

The monthly webinar, PNR Rendezvous, is focusing on the NLM K-12 resources on August 17 at 1:00pm Pacific Time. Please join us to hear from NLM’s Andrew Plummer speak about this resources. No registration is required. The session will be recorded for later viewing.