Computational Biomedicine Based on Mathematics

Excellence classes in middle school are designed for highly motivated students who demonstrate capability and potential to study mathematics and science at high levels. Typically, students in these classes come from the high ability group in mathematics. The excellence class is taught additional 4-6 weekly hours that are dedicated to accelerating and enriching the mathematical and scientific knowledge.

The foundation’s roadmap in middle school identified these excellence classes as a fertile ground for the newly developed instructional material. The new content integrates applied mathematics in different contexts, inspired by the PISA mathematics framework. The thinking behind it is that by engaging learners in real world topics, such as computers, earth sciences and high-tech, a widening circle of interested students will join these classes.

As part of this effort, we approached Anat Yarden, Head of the Weizmann Institute’s Department of Science Teaching. She is proposing a program, which will apply mathematical modeling in the context of computational biomedicine, which includes genome and molecular studies. In this field, mathematical modeling is used to analyze different medical data in order to explore clinical situations, forecast early detection of diseases and devise practical and personalized treatments.

Yarden is planning to design four learning units for 9^th grade students, which will be taught by science teachers as part of two weekly supplementary hours in excellence classes. Each unit will address a medical topic, such as epidemic spread, vaccines, nutrition and antibiotic resistance. The units will be accessible through an online learning platform and will include activities, data sets, information sources, and videos.

In each unit, students will be presented with a medical question, and then be required to formulate, apply and interpret data by using mathematical and algorithmic models. Mathematical concepts that will be used, will include linear and quadratic functions, probability and statistics, relations, growth and representations. The mathematical concepts will be integrated in the program in line with the PISA mathematics framework, aiming at the top 5-6 levels.

The development of the program will intertwine expertise in biomedicine and mathematics. Ruhama Even, a mathematics education scholar and Vered Rom Kedar, a renowned applied mathematician, will provide academic consulting and a group of mathematics teachers and scholars will take part in the development team.

The assignments will comprise concepts that students are familiar with from their mathematics studies. In case they need additional support, they will be able to use the Weizmann Institute’s digital platform, which contains video clips and explanations. The science teachers will be retrained in mathematics and will receive ongoing support from Weizmann experts.

The implementation of the program will rely on 15 lead teachers, who will tryout the assignments in their classes, and then gradually guide 85 additional teachers who will teach the material for at least one year in excellence classes across the country.

The success of the program will be measured with diagnostic tests developed by CET, in which at least 80% of the participating students will meet the 5-6 levels of PISA in mathematics.

* The text presented above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation Board / Grant 380