PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #21: Education.
Wednesday, August 8, 2001. Presentation from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Exhibition Hall
21
A Month-long Institute on Biodiversity for High School and Middle School Science Teachers.
Lemke, Michael1, Goldenkranz, Andrew2, Engel-DiMauro, Deborah3, Freitas, William4, Anderson, Nancy3, 1 2 3 4
ABSTRACT- A residential institute hosted 40 high-school and middle school teachers at Lawrenceville, NJ to study biodiversity during July 2000. Organizers and scientists were able to improve the 1999 institute design covering four themes: definition of biodiversity, its importance, threats facing life on earth, and solutions to habitat destruction and species extinction. Four categories of learning activities were incorporated. Fifteen experts from prominent institutions presented lectures and discussion. Laboratory experiences featured invertebrate sampling, cladistics modeling, and a core of related microbiology laboratories designed to contrast a micro- to macro-scale perspective, as well as to serve as a model available to all teachers. Workshops conducted by professional societies, including ESA, provided ideas for teaching biodiversity and made connections between the institute and the classroom. Six teacher subgroups were matched to a scientific expert/mentor and pursued an in-depth inquiry project. Three projects are in preparation for publication in various forms. An independent, post-institute survey reported that 92-94% of the participants believed their: scientific knowledge significantly increased, ability to teach biology concepts increased, leadership role in their school district would be enhanced, experience at the institute was significantly valuable. Although all teachers commit to post-institute outreach based on the summer experience, 35% have proposed 80-hour workshops with teachers in their home area. An update on workshop materials translated to the classroom and workshop outcomes will be provided.
KEY WORDS: biodiversity, science education, inquiry-based learning, science workshops