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Articles 1 - 30 of 79
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Diversity And Inclusion In The Stem Classroom, Sowmya Anjur
Diversity And Inclusion In The Stem Classroom, Sowmya Anjur
Faculty Publications & Research
A model of equity and diversity in STEM education has been developed, with applications to classroom pedagogy. This Equity and Excellence Model incorporates culturally responsive classrooms, based on diversity and equity minded practices. The diversity model was successfully implemented into a Science classroom and this model is still evolving to be more widespread to fit other classrooms and districts nationwide.
What’S The Buzz?, Christine L. Moskalik
What’S The Buzz?, Christine L. Moskalik
Teacher Resources
The Great Water Design Challenge: A Noaa Planet Stewards And Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy (Imsa) Collaboration, Elizabeth Martinez
The Great Water Design Challenge: A Noaa Planet Stewards And Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy (Imsa) Collaboration, Elizabeth Martinez
Publications & Research
Through generous NOAA Planet Stewards funding, schools in the Northern Illinois area had the unique opportunity to participate in a one-day design challenge that focused on local and state environmental issues. Student teams, which ranged from fifth grade through high school, engaged in research and design thinking to create innovative responses and solutions to address their selected water challenge. Subject matter experts were available, both virtually and in person, for questions, conversations, and insights as teams worked. Simultaneously team sponsors engaged in their own professional development related to the NOAA Planet Stewards Program. Students showcased their work at the end …
Adaptations Of The Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy In Response To Covid-19, Sowmya Anjur, Dave Devol
Adaptations Of The Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy In Response To Covid-19, Sowmya Anjur, Dave Devol
Faculty Publications & Research
No abstract provided.
Life Science - Tracking Matter: Movement Of Matter, Cassandra Armstrong
Life Science - Tracking Matter: Movement Of Matter, Cassandra Armstrong
Model NGSS Lessons: 4th - 5th Grade
Energy exists in many forms and is constantly being transferred between forms. All energy types can be sorted into two main categories: potential and kinetic. Potential energy is stored energy. Chemical energy, nuclear energy, stored mechanical energy, and gravitational energy are all examples of potential energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Radiant (light) energy, thermal energy, sound energy, and electrical energy are all examples of kinetic energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred between the types of energy. Most energy we use on Earth stems from the nuclear energy from within the sun.
Life Science - Structure And Function: Internal And External, Patrick Young, Nicole Ross
Life Science - Structure And Function: Internal And External, Patrick Young, Nicole Ross
Model NGSS Lessons: 4th - 5th Grade
Plants and animals evolve to survive and reproduce in their environments. Both their internal and external structures will be well suited to support survival, growth, behavior and reproduction.
All animals have a mouth. Its function is to take in food, without which it could not survive to reproduce. The type of mouth, however, will vary between animals, depending on what they have evolved to eat. Internal organs of the digestive system will likewise vary depending on an animal’s diet. All parts of the system for eating and digesting food must work together.
Plants also have internal systems for processing food …
Physical And Life Science - Food And Energy: Animal And Plant Energy, Cassandra Armstrong
Physical And Life Science - Food And Energy: Animal And Plant Energy, Cassandra Armstrong
Model NGSS Lessons: 4th - 5th Grade
Energy exists in many forms and is constantly being transferred between forms. All energy types can be sorted into two main categories: potential and kinetic. Potential energy is stored energy. Chemical energy, nuclear energy, stored mechanical energy, and gravitational energy are all examples of potential energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Radiant (light) energy, thermal energy, sound energy, and electrical energy are all examples of kinetic energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred between the types of energy. Most energy we use on Earth stems from the nuclear energy from within the sun.
Dna, Rna, & Proteins, Oh My!, Cassandra Wissink Armstrong
Dna, Rna, & Proteins, Oh My!, Cassandra Wissink Armstrong
Professional Learning Day
A staple topic in any life science classroom, we will take a look at some innovative ways to not only teach these topics, but assess them using the Next Generation Science Standards.
What's The Buzz?, Christine L. Moskalik
What's The Buzz?, Christine L. Moskalik
Professional Learning Day
A fun, interdisciplinary, hands-on activity with circuits, engineering, and bees Teachers will learn how to implement an activity with their students to explore circuit basics, energy transfer, and pollination through a hands-on toothbrush-bot activity that is coupled with a fun storyline involving honey bee communication and behavior.
Teaching In The Classroom With The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, José M. Torres, Robert Hernandez, Crystal Randall
Teaching In The Classroom With The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, José M. Torres, Robert Hernandez, Crystal Randall
Publications & Research
Engagement in the United nations Sustainability Goals (SDGs)
• As an academy
- What are the UN SDGs?
- IMSA history with the SDGs
- ISSF 2018
• In the classroom
- Introduction of UN SDG projects in core classes
- Development of a new core course that presents key concepts in real-world context
- Integrate UN SDGs into elective courses.
• As a faculty
- Across disciplines
- Sharing work through Digital commons
- Student independent research program
Graphic Novels In Biology – A Novel Assessment Idea, Sowmya Anjur
Graphic Novels In Biology – A Novel Assessment Idea, Sowmya Anjur
Faculty Publications & Research
Galileo once said, “You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself.” (Goodreads, 2020). I have often pondered upon how best I could use this advice. I have been an educator for 24 years and have loved every minute of it. During this time, I have seen students of all cadres come and go, but they all have one thing in common - their innate fear of written assessments. In general, students in high school tend to have a different perspective on education than their adult counterparts - they tend to procrastinate, are usually …
Collaboration And Inquiry For The Science Classroom, Jessica Amacher, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
Collaboration And Inquiry For The Science Classroom, Jessica Amacher, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
Faculty Publications & Research
Science is a collaborative endeavor, where most of the significantly influential advances are achieved by groups of scientists working together across varying institutions and disciplines. To reflect this, we should offer opportunities for our students to learn, research, and communicate with their peers. In this workshop, we share models that we have found successful for designing opportunities, as well as ideas for topics that promote real world application and cross disciplinary work for students, drawing from our experiences with the International Student Science Fair and other international strategies. We will help interested teachers in developing their own working groups to …
Diversity And Inclusion In The Science Classroom, Sowmya Anjur
Diversity And Inclusion In The Science Classroom, Sowmya Anjur
Faculty Publications & Research
A Diversity, Epidemiology and social justice unit was incorporated into the Physiology and Disease curriculum in Fall 2016. Students discussed topics such as social and cultural influences on diversity thinking, and selective treatment in hospitals based on race. It was very noteworthy that students were united in their thinking regarding diversity and inclusion, despite the fact that they were from different backgrounds and diverse cultures. In 2017, additional discussions were held on equity in education. Students who were otherwise reserved were encouraged enough to express their views, and everyone appreciated the fact that they had been included.
Environmental Impact- Using Digital Media To Focus Student Learning, Crystal Randall, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch
Environmental Impact- Using Digital Media To Focus Student Learning, Crystal Randall, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch
Faculty Publications & Research
Environmental issues are global challenges that our students will have to address in their future. Addressing these issues through curriculum helps bring purpose to students’ learning. We have developed a capstone project in our introductory biology class that allows students to engage in these issues in a creative and personalized manner, and which asks students to not only address the biology at the core of these issues but also suggest possible solutions to the problem. In this session, we will share how we scaffold our curriculum to prepare students for this experience, as well as show examples of student work.
Engaging Students In Fundamental Biological Concepts Through Un Sustainability Goals, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch
Engaging Students In Fundamental Biological Concepts Through Un Sustainability Goals, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch
Faculty Publications & Research
Advanced Biological Systems is year-long introductory biology course for Juniors at IMSA. It is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals, the use of which has been identified as an initiative for curriculum development. These goals help to bring purpose to students’ learning. We have identified three of the seventeen goals as guideposts for our curriculum. These are clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, and good health and well-being. In this presentation, we will share our curriculum development process and examples of instruction linked to these UN goals.
Session 3e: Teaching Using Un Sustainable Development Goals, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
Session 3e: Teaching Using Un Sustainable Development Goals, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
Professional Learning Day
This session will focus on how we are using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as guideposts for curriculum development in several of our different science classes. Students will join us to present some of their varied academic work, and share the importance of these activities in their education. Part of our discussion will focus on scaffolding the learning so that students are able to perform successfully in these contextual and issues-based activities. We will also build in time for participant discussion on current issues and ideas for incorporating them effectively into their own teaching.
Session B-1: Current Events In Biology, Crystal Randall, Don Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll
Session B-1: Current Events In Biology, Crystal Randall, Don Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll
Professional Learning Day
Teaching fundamentals, while important, can sometimes take a toll on our motivation and enthusiasm for our subject because there are rarely significant changes in the content we might present from year to year. However, keeping up with the current progress of our field, what’s new and exciting in research, and how current advancements can impact our health, well-being, and society in the future can keep us inspired, and help us continue to inspire our students. Come discuss what’s happening in biology news today, hear what we’re excited about and bring your own ideas to share!
Session C-1: Modeling Stem Activities Into Classroom Practice, Sowmya Anjur
Session C-1: Modeling Stem Activities Into Classroom Practice, Sowmya Anjur
Professional Learning Day
Students understand concepts better when they have had a chance to work hands on with relevant material. Examples will be presented from my classroom where difficult concepts have been modeled into simple experiments with considerable success in enhancing student understanding. Special focus will be given to selected topics that students seem to have the most difficulty grasping. The objective is to enable students to transfer their understanding to solve complex problems with considerable ease and apply their understanding to real world scenarios on assessments. Suggestions will also be provided for implementation of various concepts into the high school classroom.
1. Types Of Alignment: Presentations & Demos Assignment, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll
1. Types Of Alignment: Presentations & Demos Assignment, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll
Sequence Alignments
Pairwise Alignment: DNA
Pairwise Alignment: Protein
Multiple Sequence Alignment: DNA
Multiple Sequence Alignment: Protein
Session D-1: Science And Spaghetti Monsters: Addressing The Ethical Issues And Controversy Related To Genomics And Evolution In The Biology Classroom, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll
Session D-1: Science And Spaghetti Monsters: Addressing The Ethical Issues And Controversy Related To Genomics And Evolution In The Biology Classroom, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll
Professional Learning Day
As science teachers, we may shy away from addressing the controversy surrounding particular topics in our classrooms in order to maintain focus on content. However, the real world context of knowledge is essential, and the performance expectations in the life sciences as outlined in the NGSS state that students should be able to discuss the ethical issues related to genetic modifications and the nature of science. We will discuss ideas for how to address these topics effectively and help our students understand their importance beyond academics in our global community.
Session C-5: Biotech Basics, Elizabeth Martinez, Emily Hood Ferrin
Session C-5: Biotech Basics, Elizabeth Martinez, Emily Hood Ferrin
Professional Learning Day
The field of biotechnology is rapidly expanding. What is biotech? What are the applications? How is biotech studied? These topics will be explored as participants engage in hands-on lessons developed at an appropriate level for middle school students. Activities may be used to introduce students to the world of biotech.
Session C-1: Ecosystem Disruption: Using Lab And Real-World Examples To Bring Changes In Earth’S Ecosystems To Life, Crystal Randall, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Sowmya Anjur, Don Dosch
Session C-1: Ecosystem Disruption: Using Lab And Real-World Examples To Bring Changes In Earth’S Ecosystems To Life, Crystal Randall, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Sowmya Anjur, Don Dosch
Professional Learning Day
The magnitude of the changes occurring in Earth’s ecosystems seems difficult to tackle in the classroom and lab. Here we explore ways to demonstrate the changes in the Earth’s water and carbon cycles in the lab and bring them to life in real-world ecosystems in the classroom.
There’S A Dragon In My Classroom, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll
There’S A Dragon In My Classroom, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll
Nature of Science
What makes science, science?
How do we help students make sense of the science they are learning and how it fits in with preconceived notions and misconceptions, social perspectives, and potential controversy?
1. "Investigating The Impact Of Changes In Carbon Dioxide Concentration On Ecosystems", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
1. "Investigating The Impact Of Changes In Carbon Dioxide Concentration On Ecosystems", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change
Question: Does the concentration of carbon dioxide affect air temperature in a closed environment?
2a: "Illinois Carbon Dioxide Emissions Activity", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
2a: "Illinois Carbon Dioxide Emissions Activity", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change
Your goal for this activity is to compare the different sources of carbon dioxide emissions, stemming from the consumption of fossil fuels, in Illinois. To do this you will be working with data spanning from 1980 to 2012.
3: "The Current Extinction: Defaunation & Ecosystem Disruption", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
3: "The Current Extinction: Defaunation & Ecosystem Disruption", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall
Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change
Information taken from: Dirzo, R. et al (2014). Defaunation in the Anthropocene. Science, 345(401).
Scientists estimate, conservatively, that there are 5 to 9 million different animal species on the planet. But that number is continually changing, and unfortunately, dropping, as we are likely losing 11,000- 58,000 species annually, and evidence suggests that on average, there has been a decline of about 28% in terms of numbers of individuals within a species over the last four decades. Both of these statistics are vitally important. The critical nature of the first is perhaps more obvious, as total loss of a species is …
The Greenhouse Effect: Does The Concentration Of Carbon Dioxide Affect The Air Temperature In A Closed Environment?, Climate Science Investigations - Nasa
The Greenhouse Effect: Does The Concentration Of Carbon Dioxide Affect The Air Temperature In A Closed Environment?, Climate Science Investigations - Nasa
Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change
The purpose of this lesson is to investigate the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration on air temperature in a closed environment.
Evolution Practice 2, Imsa Biology Team
Crash Course Evolution Videos Bibliography, Imsa Biology Team
Crash Course Evolution Videos Bibliography, Imsa Biology Team
Evolution
No abstract provided.
Genetic Drift Simulation, Imsa Biology Team
Genetic Drift Simulation, Imsa Biology Team
Evolution
Genetic drift can be defined as a random fluctuation in gene frequency. More specifically, it tells us that different alleles may increase or decrease in a population in proportion to one another over time, just by chance, rather than due to any fitness advantage.