In 1995, Sally Tobin, Ann Boughton, and Chris Krueger created a successful grant proposal, "Getting the Word out on the Human Genome Project: A Course for Physicians," that was submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) Human Genome Program. The proposal described creation and production of multimedia, interactive CD-ROM courseware for practicing physicians. As the project evolved, two versions of the courseware, one for physicians that carried CME credits and another for diverse audiences, "The New Genetics: Medicine and the Human Genome," were produced in time for the 2001 publication of the completed sequence of the human genome. Twisted Ladder Media was licensed by Stanford University to handle commercialization of both courseware titles.
Elaine Johnson, Director of Bio-Link (a nationwide consortium of biotechnology training programs at community and technical colleges), admired the courseware at a DOE meeting and arranged for Tobin to present it to Bio-Link faculty. With the support of core faculty, a successful request for supplemental funding was made to the National Science Foundation (NSF). The supplement enabled 20 faculty members to use the courseware in any way they chose for one academic year and then convey their feedback via focus groups, one in northern California and one in southern California. The suggestions and requests expressed in the focus groups then served as the basis for the grant proposal to NSF that now supports this project.
The original interactive, multimedia, CD-ROM courseware, "The New Genetics: Medicine and the Human Genome," is being adapted for online presentation by Twisted Ladder Media. This NSF-funded project will broaden the content of the courseware to include examples from biotechnology, plant biology, and agriculture. In addition, a workbook will be created with problem sets and exercises, and a research launching pad and debate questions will be included as well. The faculty also requested an image bank so that photographs and graphics from the courseware could be easily incorporated into their lectures.