A reproducible, student-driven framework for creating accessible educational resources from primary literature
Imagine staring at a groundbreaking scientific discovery, published in a prestigious journal, and understanding barely a word. The dense terminology, complex methodologies, and statistical analyses form an intimidating barrier for students and the public alike. This is the challenge posed by primary scientific literature, the first formal record of discovery where revolutionary ideas often reside long before they reach textbooks.
What if there was a way to tear down these barriers, transforming these vital documents into dynamic, accessible learning tools? This is the ambitious goal of Project 80, a reproducible, student-driven framework for creating multimedia educational resources from primary literature. By combining pedagogical principles with modern technology, it aims to make cutting-edge science understandable for everyone.
Primary scientific literature remains inaccessible to most students and the general public due to its specialized language and complex presentation.
Project 80 empowers students to transform complex research papers into engaging multimedia resources that are accessible to at least 80% of the target audience.
To appreciate Project 80's mission, it helps to understand a fundamental issue in modern science: the replication crisis. Major initiatives like the Reproducibility Project have revealed that a startling number of high-profile scientific studies, particularly in fields like psychology and cancer biology, yield results that cannot be reproduced by other researchers 1 .
One landmark effort found that only 36% of psychological studies could be replicated, while a project in cancer biology showed that only 50 out of 193 experiments from top papers could be repeated, often with much smaller effects 1 .
This crisis does more than slow scientific progress; it erodes public trust. Research has shown that when people learn about these low replication rates, their trust in science diminishes 1 . Project 80 tackles this problem at its root by fostering a deeper, more transparent understanding of scientific work.
When students deconstruct a study to create an educational resource, they are forced to engage with its every detail—its methodology, its assumptions, and its limitations. This process demystifies science, replacing blind faith with critical engagement and showing that science is a process of inquiry that sometimes fails, which is a vital part of how knowledge advances.
Project 80 is built on a straightforward, three-stage process that is designed to be easily replicated by student groups in any scientific discipline. The "80" in its name signifies the target of making educational resources accessible to at least 80% of their target audience, moving far beyond the tiny percentage that can usually decipher original papers.
A small team of students selects a high-impact scientific paper. Their first task is not to create, but to comprehend. They work together to break down the paper's core components:
With a solid understanding of the paper, the team storyboards a multimedia resource. This is where they decide how to best translate complex information. Will an animation best explain the experimental procedure? Would an interactive quiz help reinforce the main concepts? The storyboard serves as a blueprint for production, ensuring the final resource is logically structured and pedagogically sound.
Leveraging user-friendly software, the team brings the storyboard to life. A key tool in their arsenal is iSpring Suite, an authoring program that allows them to create comprehensive multimedia learning resources without needing advanced programming skills 2 . They can seamlessly integrate authentic audio and video materials, interactive elements, and knowledge checks into a single, cohesive learning module.
A powerful example of Project 80 in practice comes from a collaboration with a real-world initiative, also called Project 80%, which works to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates in underserved communities 1 . Students used this community health program as a living case study to create an educational module on public health intervention.
The student team analyzed the program's data and procedures, which were based on clear, evidence-based interventions. The original program's methodology involved a coordinated effort across several fronts 1 :
Collaborating with 176 community clinics across Texas to reach underserved populations.
Providing annual Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FITs) at no cost to eligible patients.
Employing Community Health Workers (CHWs) to guide patients with abnormal results through colonoscopy referrals and follow-up care.
Offering staff training and support to help clinics implement system changes that improve screening workflows.
Initial program launch in Harris County via a state grant 1 .
Expansion to 8 surrounding counties through a Medicaid waiver program 1 .
Rural expansion to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) 1 .
Statewide coverage expanded to Southeast, Central, Rio Grande Valley, and East Texas, funded by multiple sources 1 .
The data the students worked with was compelling. It showed a dramatic, real-world impact. The following statistics from the original public health program were featured in their multimedia resource:
Total Individuals Screened
FITs Returned in 2024
Colonoscopy Completion after Positive FIT
Polyps Removed
The students used this data to create interactive charts and infographics. They highlighted the success story of one Houston-area clinic that saw its screening rate jump from a mere 7% to over 80% within a few years 1 . Their analysis section explained the profound significance of these numbers: that systematic, partnered interventions can close critical healthcare gaps and save lives.
The students' final multimedia resource featured video interviews with the program's community health workers, animated explanations of the FIT test, and an interactive map showing the program's expansion across Texas. This transformed a successful public health program into a transferrable lesson in community-based research.
Just as a biology lab requires specific reagents and equipment, the Project 80 framework relies on a core set of "research reagents" to create its educational products. The following details the essential components of the Project 80 toolkit.
The raw material and subject of the educational resource. Provides the core scientific content to be translated 2 .
A central platform for integrating video, audio, text, and interactive quizzes into a single, professional-grade multimedia resource 2 .
Short clips from interviews, lab demonstrations, or scientific animations used to enhance authenticity and engagement 2 .
In public health projects, CHWs provide crucial, real-world insights into patient navigation and community engagement 1 .
Tools embedded within the resource to provide immediate feedback, reinforce learning, and check understanding of key concepts.
Multidisciplinary groups of learners who bring diverse perspectives and skills to the resource creation process.
Project 80 represents more than just an academic exercise; it is a paradigm shift in how we approach science communication. By empowering students to become creators and translators of knowledge, it achieves two critical goals simultaneously. First, it equips the students themselves with a deeper, more critical understanding of the scientific process. Second, it generates high-quality, accessible educational resources that benefit the wider community, breaking down the walls that too often surround academia.
Students develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of scientific methodology through hands-on engagement with primary literature.
The framework's simplicity and reproducibility make it adaptable to any scientific discipline, from quantum computing to archaeology.
The framework's power lies in its simplicity and reproducibility. Just as the scientific method itself is a formula for inquiry, Project 80 provides a formula for explanation. It is a toolkit that any group of motivated learners can pick up and apply to any field of study, from quantum computing to archaeology.
In an era of complex challenges and rapid discovery, fostering a scientifically literate public is not just an educational ideal—it is a societal necessity. Project 80 offers a scalable, student-driven path to achieving it, one research paper at a time.