Biology Commons^™

Effects Of Participation In Inquiry Science Workshops And Follow-Up Activities On Middle School Science Teachers' Content Knowledge, Teacher-Held Misconceptions, And Classroom Practices, Linda F. Cepeda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An important aspect of developing science literacy for all students is developing science-literate teachers. With the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act, many middle school teachers found themselves in a position where they were no longer qualified to teach middle school science. This study was designed to help science teachers increase their science content knowledge, identify and resolve misconceptions/errors they may have, and assist them in their teaching by providing strategies for inquiry-based teaching, science laboratory exercises, and science equipment.

Teachers enrolled in biology courses offered by the Rocky Mountain Middle School Math and Science Partnership participated in …

Fall 2009; Bio @ Su, Syracuse University Biology Department

Biology @ SU

No abstract provided.

My 20-Year Research Journey For A New Species Of Spiders, Or How To Come To A New Discovery, Vladimir Ovtcharenko

Touchstone

From time to time students ask me whether it is difficult to discover new species of organisms on our planet. To answer this question, I have decided to tell my story of how I discovered a new species of spider that I have dedicated to Eugenio María de Hostos.

Using Birds To Teach Biology, Bruce Byers

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Cornell University curriculum materials http://www.birdsleuth.org/inquiry/

Illuminating Life: What's New And Noteworthy In, Pat O'Hara, Robert Blatchly

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

“Gender And Economic Progress: The Contributions Of Female Geniuses In The United States”, Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

No abstract provided.

."Population Increase, Environment, Food Access And Development In Africa: The Role Of The African Union,", Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

This paper examines the impact of the massive population increase in Africa in the post World War II era and the environmental challenges the continent confronts in trying to feed such a high number of people. The paper is divided into three sections. The first section examines the demographics of Africa, which show that the continent has increased its total population by 750 million people from 1950 to 2008. The second section of this paper then presents arguments by scholars pertaining to the environmental challenges, especially for agriculture, facing Africa as it finds ways to feed this massive number of …

"Demographics And Profile: The Most Cited Black Scholars In The Social Sciences, Arts And Humanities,", Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

This study presents a quantitative examination of the demographics and profile of the 2009 Journal of Blacks in Higher Education annual study of the most cited Black scholars in the Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities in the United States. Among the variables examined in this study are institution of employment, academic department, institution of terminal or highest academic degree attainment and academic major, geographic region of employment and where terminal degrees were attained, types of degrees, and year of graduation with terminal or highest degree.

."Explaining President Barack Obama’S First Visit To Africa (Egypt): Three Phenomena Of Africa And Africans As The Core Of U.S.-Arab/Muslim Relations,", Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

On June 4, 2009 U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a highly anticipated speech on U.S.-Arab / Muslim relations in Egypt, Africa. The selection of Egypt as the venue for a speech that was planned for many months, was a strategic one. Why Africa? Why Egypt? To answer those questions, I have come up with three phenomena that I think are crucial to that decision. The first phenomenon is that geographically, Africa has been the land where the vast majority of all Arabs in the world reside. The second phenomenon is that in 2001 and in 2009, Africa is the only …

."Africa’S Development In The Era Of Barack Obama: The Role Of The African Union,", Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

This paper examines Africa’s development in the President Barack Obama era. The paper makes an argument for a stronger federal African Union (AU). It argues that the sooner member states of the AU give to the organization a significant portion of their sovereignty the better equipped it will become in seeking a better life for the people of the continent and also compete in the international arena. The paper presents eight strategic goals that the AU could implement to improve the lives of Africans. Finally, the paper calls for President Barack Obama to continue where his two immediate predecessors left …

Assessment Of Biology Majors’ Versus Nonmajors’ Views On Evolution, Creationism, And Intelligent Design, Guillermo Paz-Y-Mino C., Avelina Espinosa

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

The controversy around evolution, creationism, and intelligent design resides in a historical struggle between scientific knowledge and popular belief. Four hundred seventy-six students (biology majors n=237, nonmajors n=239) at a secular liberal arts private university in Northeastern United States responded to a five-question survey to assess their views about: (1) evolution, creationism, and intelligent design in the science class; (2) students’ attitudes toward evolution; (3) students’ position about the teaching of human evolution; (4) evolution in science exams; and (5) students’ willingness to discuss evolution openly. There were 60.6% of biology majors and 42% of nonmajors supported the exclusive teaching …

Acceptance Of Evolution Increases With Student Academic Level: A Comparison Between A Secular And A Religious College, Guillermo Paz-Y-Mino C., Avelina Espinosa

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Acceptance of evolution among the general public, high schools, teachers, and scientists has been documented in the USA; little is known about college students’ views on evolution; this population is relevant since it transits from a high-school/parent-protective environment to an independent role in societal decisions. Here we compare perspectives about evolution, creationism, and intelligent design (ID) between a secular (S) and a religious (R) college in the Northeastern USA. Interinstitutional comparisons showed that 64% (mean S + R) biology majors vs. 42/62% (S/R) nonmajors supported the exclusive teaching of evolution in science classes; 24/29% (S/R) biology majors vs. 26/38% (S/R) …

Dispersion Of Large-Seeded Tree Species By Two Forest Primates: Primate Seed Handling, Microhabitat Variability, And Post-Dispersal Seed Fate, Nicole D. Gross-Camp

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

I describe the relative effectiveness of two primates in dispersing large-seeded tree seeds (> 0.5 cm) in the Nyungwe National Park (NNP), Rwanda. My objectives are three-fold: (1) to describe the relative effectiveness of primates in dispersing the seeds of five large-seeded tree species, (2) to evaluate the influence of primate seed-handling method on seed fate, and (3) to determine the influence of deposition site on seed fate. I employed focal tree observations, day-follows of habituated primate groups, in situ monitoring of primate-dispersed seeds, and experimental plots to achieve these objectives. Data were collected over the course of one year …