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Why Charlie Darwin Matters More Than Ever: Introducing Students To Evolution And The Nature Of Science, Brian Ellis, Anne H. Weaver

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In celebration of Charles Darwin's 200 Birthday and the 150 anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, On the Origin of Species, this is the first in a series of articles that highlight Darwin's relevance for teachers today and provide lesson plans to bring his work into your classroom. We begin with an introduction to Charles Darwin's life and work through storytelling, a first person monologue as a way to introduce students to several key concepts including the nature of science and a basic understanding of what lead Darwin to the concept of evolution.

Investigating Solutions Through Inquiry, Dana Frits, Chris Siguenza

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In this article we discuss how many activities have valuable ideas, but important modifications must be made to make the activity more effective and mentally engaging. This article discusses the modification of a “cookbook” solubility lab into an inquiry activity, which increases student decisions and the promotion of higher-order thinking skills. We also address the critical role of the teacher in making the lesson effective. This article promotes National Science Education Standards A, B and G and Iowa Teaching Standards 2, 3, 4, and 6.

Learning Theories: Pillars Of Teacher Decision-Making, Jerrid Kruse

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In the last issue, I articulated the argument that learning “styles” are not the most valuable way to understand learners. Yet, if learning “styles” do not sufficiently explain learning, how can we better conceptualize learning to inform our instruction?

Stepping Stones: How Variation Leads To Natural Selection, Anne H. Weaver, Brian Ellis

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This is the second of a series of articles in celebration of Charles Darwin's 200 birthday and the 150 anniversary of the publication of his seminal work On the Origin of Species. In the article below we discuss ways to introduce students to variation and develop their understanding of Natural Selection.

Heating Up The Classroom: Exploring Relationships Between Temperature And Thermal Energy, Shannon Mclaughlin, Mahima Bajpai

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Thermal energy, internal energy, temperature, and heat are words that carry very specific meanings. However, common usage and the lack of consistent usage from texts and teachers can interfere with students' abilities to develop a strong conceptual foundation of thermal energy (Westphal, 2003). Stiles (2006) suggests that using experiences to investigate relationships is an integral part of moving students from simple knowledge to deep understanding. Understanding, higher-order thinking skills, the ability to work and think collaboratively, effective communication skills, and the ability to make informed decisions are all important goals teachers should support through their instruction. Smith (1996), Freedman (1997), …

Divide & Conquer, Lauren Hackman, Audrey Pohlmann

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This article presents a modified biology lab used to teach the cell cycle. Many traditional versions of the onion root tip lab are delivered in a “cookbook” format to review what students have already learned about the phases of the cell cycle. This modified version illustrates how the onion root tip lab can be much more meaningful when turned into an inquiry-based, exploratory activity to scaffold from a concrete experience to the more abstract process of cell division. This article promotes National Science Education Standards A, C, and G and Iowa Core Curriculum Standards 1, 2, and 5.

Nuts About Inquiry: Peanut Variation And Natural Selection, Lindsay M. C. Kasuga, Christine Evans

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Despite the numerous advantages of using inquiry, many teachers do not use this method because of issues such as time constraints and increased workload. In addition, content such as evolution is particularly problematic to teach because of the perceived lack of hands-on activities and societal pressures. This inquiry activity is designed to help students understand an important component of evolution by natural selection. Through this activity students better understand natural variation within populations using peanuts. Students are encouraged to make links between population data, population diversity and evolution by using collected data to construct and interpret graphs. This article promotes …

Notes On Contributors

Short Story

No abstract provided.

Cover

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Dr. Lois Hattery Tiffany (1924-2009): In Memoriam, Deborah Q. Lewis

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Dr. Lois Hartery Tiffany, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, died on 6 September 2009. Dr. Tiffany was an outstanding mycologist and teacher. Held in high regard by the public as "Iowa's Mushroom Lady" and known by many students, colleagues and friends as "Dr. T.," she was the matriarch of the Botany Department (now the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology) at Iowa State.

Table Of Contents (Back Cover)

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Printing Workbook, Iowa, Graphic Arts Training & Consulting Group, Iowa Waste Reduction Center

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Book Gallery

This manual contains information on the main environmental rules that apply to a printing business. Depending on your own situation, there may be other rules, not included in here that you need to consider; also, environmental rules are changing constantly. Therefore, this is intended solely as guidance, and does not replace the actual regulations that apply to a facility at any given time. This (document or tool) cannot be used to bind the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is not a substitute for reading applicable statutes and regulations.

Som Loss And Soil Quality In The Clear Creek, Ia, A. N. Thanos Papanicolaou, Christopher G. Wilson, Ozan Abaci, Mohamed Elhakeem, Mary Skopec

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The Clear Creek, IA Experimental Watershed (CCEW), which drains to the Iowa River, experiences severe surface erosion due to a combination of high slopes, erodible soils, and extensive agriculture. Concurrent with soil loss is the removal of Soil Organic Matter (SOM). High values of SOM have been related to soil quality; therefore, excessive SOM loss corresponds to degrading soil health. Soil quality assessments are important tools for evaluating management practices in agricultural systems; however, it is difficult to measure soil quality directly at the watershed scale because it varies with a number of site-specific soil characteristics. The coupling of soil …

Iowa Academy Of Science 121st Annual Meeting [2009]: Advance Program, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contains information about the schedule and presentations for the 2009 annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science.

2009 University Of Northern Iowa Panther Softball Media Guide, University Of Northern Iowa

Athletics Media Guides

Contents:

--2009 UNI Softball Roster --inside front cover
--University Information --1
--Coaching Information --1
--Team Information --1
--Program History --1
--UNI Athletics Media Relations --2
--UNI Athletics on the Internet --2
--Primary Media Outlets --2
--This is UNI --4
--Academic Support --5
--Administration --6-7
--Athletics Facilities --8
--Conditioning/Sports Medicine --9
--Athletics Staff --10
--2009 Outlook --11-13
--Head Coach Ryan Jacobs --14
--Assistant Coach Julie Gerdes --15
--Assistant Coach Stephanie Winter --15
--Volunteer Assistant Coach Mandi Daigh --15
--2009 Team Roster --16-30
--Opponents Information --32-35
--MVC Tournament Information --35
--2008 Season Recap --38
--Game-by-Game --39
--Overall Statistics --40
--Conference Statistics --41 …

Unibusiness: The Alumni Magazine Of The College Of Business Administration University Of Northern Iowa, 2008-2009, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Business Administration.

UNIBiz

Inside This Issue:
-- Message from the Dean ••• 1
-- The Road Less Traveled ••• 2
-- A Change for the Better ••• 4
-- Broadening Students' Worldview ••• 6
-- A Great Idea is Hatched ••• 7
-- Faculty Awards ••• 8
-- Celebrating Student Excellence ••• 9
-- New Faculty ••• 10
-- Down But Not Out ••• 11
-- Message from Development ••• 13
-- Annual Report on Giving ••• 14
-- So Many Ways to Give ••• 16
-- Alumni Spotlights ••• 16
-- Focus on Alumni ••• 18
-- Alumni in Residence ••• 24

Excellence In Education, Winter/Spring 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Education.

Excellence in Education

Inside this issue:

-- Bold new superintendent license program launched

--University faculty prepares Regent Universities Mathematics Transition Guide

-- Cyber Defense, service awards go to Northern University High students

-- UNI faculty leads in developing and writing Iowa Core Curriculum

-- Early childhood education faculty influence new programming for preschool, ECE summit

-- PLS receives second state Character Award

-- Impact of immigrants on Iowa schools topic of faculty DVD COE administrative changes

-- Advising sequence assists COE majors, minors

-- UNI faculty led international self-study of teacher ed practices

-- Drama methods class helps students rediscover their imagination

-- …

Investigating The Relationship Between Teacher Self-Efficacy Beliefs In Mathematics And Teacher Reflection: Do Teacher Thinking Dispositions Play A Moderating Role?, Shawna Hufendick

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Previous research has shown a relationship between teacher reflection and teacher acceptance of reform curricula. This study looked at the relationship between the variables of teacher self efficacy and teacher reflection, as they might relate to teacher attitudes towards instructional change. This study also looked at whether teacher thinking dispositions moderate this relationship. First and second grade teachers (N=l6) participating in a professional development opportunity in mathematics completed an efficacy measure, a thinking dispositions measure, and kept a journal to reflect after mathematics lessons taught. The teacher efficacy, thinking disposition, and journal reflection data was analyzed to see whether relationships …

Secondary Preservice Teachers' Understanding Of Euclidean Geometry, Karen Sabey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The lack of mathematical understanding of elementary preservice teachers with respect to many mathematical topics has been well documented. Far fewer studies have been conducted on any content area of knowledge of secondary teachers and even less in the mathematics content area. The assumption by the general population is that mathematics majors are adequately prepared to teach the content of secondary mathematics because they major in mathematics. Mathematics educators, however, note the lack of conceptual understandings in many content areas in these mathematics teaching majors. While mathematics educators are aware of this deficiency, there is little research data at the …

The Effect Of Learning Styles And Attitude On Preservice Elementary Teachers' Conceptual Understanding Of Chemistry And The Nature Of Matter In A Simulation-Based Learning Environment, Mo H. Al-Jaroudi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This causal-comparative descriptive study investigated the achievement of pre-service elementary teachers taking an introductory physical science course that integrates inquiry-based instruction with computer simulations. The study was intended to explore if pre-service elementary teachers with different attitudes towards science as well as students with different learning styles would benefit differentially. Four research questions including four hypotheses were developed. The first major question consist of four specific hypothesis that addressed preservice elementary teachers' learning styles (Active/Reflective, Sensing/Intuitive, Visual/Verbal, and Sequential/Global) and their conceptual understanding of chemistry and the particulate nature of matter in a science class which use hands-on learning integrated …

The Effect Of Weekly Teacher Collaboration On Instructional Practices In The Classroom, Laurene A. Lanich

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Iowa Standards for School Leaders states that, “A principal is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program that is conducive to student learning and professional growth.” Instructional practices have a significant impact on student learning, with research indicating that effective teaching accounts for two thirds of the total effect of schooling on student learning. Moreover, the literature on school improvement and professional development emphasizes the building of organizational capacity through collegial interactions in school (Leonard & Leonard, 2003).

The Iowa Professional Development Model was developed …

Annual Report Of The Registrar 2008/2009, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Definitions
--- Annual Report Data
--- Summary of Attendance
--- Attendance by Session
--- Full-time Equivalency Enrollment
--- Degrees Granted
--- Degree Summary
--- Program Certificates
--- Pupils in Price Laboratory School
--- Miscellaneous Enrollment Information
--- Degrees Granted by College, Degree Objective, and Racial/Ethnic Classification

Algebra Rules Object Boxes As An Authentic Assessment Task Of Preservice Elementary Teacher Learning In A Mathematics Methods Course, Audrey C. Rule, J. E. Hallagan

Open Educational Resources

The purpose of this study was to describe elementary preservice teachers’ difficulties with understanding algebraic generalizations that were set in an authentic context. Fifty-eight preservice teachers enrolled in an elementary mathematics methods course participated in the study. These students explored and practiced with authentic, hands-on materials called “object boxes,” then created sets of their own object box materials. Each algebra rules object box contained materials to illustrate and describe four different algebraic generalizations, or “rules.” The variables “n” and “z” were used in each of the generalizations. For each generalization, there was a set of objects attached to a piece …

Enhancing Iowa High School Students' Transition To College, K. E. Lassila, L. C. Rule, C. Lee, R. J. Driggs, G. Fulton, M. Skarda, J. Torres Y Torres

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

We present our studies of the transitions of Iowa science students from high school to post-secondary colleges. Our report summarizes information and impressions from dealing with thousands of new students arriving at our six colleges, along with meetings and discussions with high school science teachers to add their viewpoints into our considerations. Feedback from community college, four year college, and high school science teachers highlighted the following five study issues and needs for improving student transitions from high school to college science: 1) Better math preparation is needed; 2) More work with inquiry-based learning rather than with facts and memorization …

Island Method For Estimating The Statistical Significance Of Profile-Profile Alignment Scores, Aleksandar Poleksic

Faculty Work

Background: In the last decade, a significant improvement in detecting remote similarity between protein sequences has been made by utilizing alignment profiles in place of amino-acid strings. Unfortunately, no analytical theory is available for estimating the significance of a gapped alignment of two profiles. Many experiments suggest that the distribution of local profile-profile alignment scores is of the Gumbel form. However, estimating distribution parameters by random simulations turns out to be computationally very expensive.

Results: We demonstrate that the background distribution of profile-profile alignment scores heavily depends on profiles' composition and thus the distribution parameters must be estimated …

Health Literacy In The Mathematics Classroom: The Iowa Core Curriculum As An Opportunity To Deepen Students’ Understanding Of Mathematics, Elana Joram, Susan Roberts-Dobie, Nadene Davidson

Faculty Publications

By 2012, all high schools in Iowa will be required to incorporate the new Iowa Core Curriculum, followed by elementary and middle schools in 2014 (Iowa Department of Education, 2009). The Iowa Core Curriculum addresses the question: "How is Iowa's educational system preparing our youth for successful lives in the 21st-century global environment?" (Davidson, 2009). It consists of core content standards, and identifies essential concepts and skills for content areas. The Iowa Core Curriculum also includes the ―21st Century Skills‖ of ―health, financial, technology, and civic literacy, and employability skills. These skills are to be infused into existing subject matter …

Skittles Chocolate Mix Color Distribution: A Chi-Square Experience, David R. Duncan, Bonnie H. Litwiller

Faculty Work

In teaching statistical processes, it is important that there be application to realworld settings and activities. When this is done, students are more likely to see the meaning of the steps being developed.

One such activity involves using the Chi-Square statistical test and its applications to counting Skittles Chocolate Mix candies. Many students are aware that these candies come in five different flavors: Brownie Batter (BB), Vanilla (V), Chocolate Caramel (CC), S’mores (S), and Chocolate Pudding (CP).

Teaching Strategies For Minorities And Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Theresa Birch

Graduate Research Papers

In teacher education classes across the country, future science educators are being prepared for their careers. They attend classes that claim to explain student behavior and how to effectively teach science. When they get into the real world and start teaching, many are shocked to learn exactly how much of their college education does not apply in their career. They are not prepared for the reality of the students in their classrooms. A growing number of students today come from homes that are different than those the teacher grew up in. According to Moore (2007), the minority population in today's …

Gender Based Strategies For Increased Student Achievement, Mary Louise Bryant-Wilder

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will present information based on various instructional strategies used in the single gender classrooms. These strategies are researched based, and have been know to help support gender specific classrooms. Chapter two will discuss the history of traditional classroom setting and the introduction of the single gender learning classroom. Chapter three will discuss the results of the current research and findings of experts in the study of gender classrooms and the affect such classrooms have on boys. It will also compare the advantages and disadvantages of gender classrooms for boys. Chapter four is an analysis of the findings presenting …

Preschool Spanish Speakers Who Are Learning English : Factors Related To Later Reading Success, Debra S. Negley

Graduate Research Papers

The rapid rate of increasing numbers of Hispanics in the United States, along with the reading achievement gap between Whites and Hispanics, highlights the need to examine the factors that affect young Hispanics' literacy success. This literature review examined the specific factors that might predict Spanish-speaking Hispanic preschoolers' later reading accomplishments. Studies were categorized by child, family, and school factors that are related to prediction of future literacy attainment.

Analysis of the assorted papers and articles demonstrated that a combination of the following factors would most affect Hispanic preschoolers' future reading abilities in English: high quality early childhood education programs …