Search for: All records

An example activity from the state conference key note that can be used to support student flourishing 

In this article, we overview a professional learn- ing task that involves drawing one’s vision for high-quality, equitable mathematics instruction (HQEMI). The task is part of the ongoing work of a statewide research practice partnership that supports a shared vision of mathematics across the state K–12 system. Our work of HQEMI is rooted in the development of Munter’s (2014) four dimensions for visions of high-quality mathematics instruction (VHQMI): the role of the teacher, classroom discourse, mathematical tasks, and student engagement. The first three dimensions are particularly useful in the work of the drawing task. In this article, we share an overview of the drawing task, its implementa- tion with educators, and sample drawings, de- tailing how personal drawings were made visible across participants and the conversations result- ing from viewing and reflecting on one another’s drawings. These conversations helped surface disparities in notions of ideal mathematics in- struction and provided space for negotiation of shared meaning. We provide themes and over- arching considerations from these conversations to highlight discussions that might be elicited through this task in future iterations. Finally, we provide recommendations for implementing the task and consider how the task might be adapt- ed for others’ contexts to support professional learning about and development of a shared vision for mathematics. 

High throughput CRISPR screens are revolutionizing the way scientists unravel the genetic underpinnings of novel and evolved phenotypes. One of the critical challenges in accurately assessing screening outcomes is accounting for the variability in sgRNA cutting efficiency. Poorly active guides targeting genes essential to screening conditions obscure the growth defects that are expected from disrupting them. Here, we develop acCRISPR, an end-to-end pipeline that identifies essential genes in pooled CRISPR screens using sgRNA read counts obtained from next-generation sequencing. acCRISPR uses experimentally determined cutting efficiencies for each guide in the library to provide an activity correction to the screening outcomes, thus determining the fitness effect of disrupted genes. This is accomplished by calculating an optimization metric that quantifies the tradeoff between guide activity and library coverage, which is maximized to accurately classify genes essential to screening conditions. CRISPR-Cas9 and -Cas12a screens were carried out in the non-conventional oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to determine a high-confidence set of essential genes for growth under glucose, a common carbon source used for the industrial production of oleochemicals. acCRISPR was also used in gain-and loss-of-function screens under high salt and low pH conditions to identify known and novel genes that were related to stress tolerance. Collectively, this work presents an experimental-computational framework for CRISPR-based functional genomics studies that may be expanded to other non-conventional organisms of interest.