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As part of the year-long 2007
Frontiers in Physiology Fellowship program, 15 science teachers from across
the nation took a week-long break from their summer research experience in
APS members' research laboratories at the end of July. The research teachers
(RTs) convened for an intensive workshop week known as the "APS Science
Teaching Forum" at the Airlie Center in Warrenton, VA.
Three APS members served as Physiologists-in-Residence, and included 2007
K-12 Outreach Fellows, Jessica Clark (Washington Univ. School of Medicine)
and Clintoria Richards-Williams (Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham), and APS
Education Committee member, Joseph Benoit (Univ. of North Dakota).
Additionally, three former RTs led the instruction as Mentor/Instructors,
and included Margaret Shain, from the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High
School in New Albany, IN, Tonya Smith, from Maywood Middle School in Sumter,
SC, and Charles Geach, from the El Paso Independent School District in
Texas.
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| Mentor/Instructors
(M/I) and APS member Physiologists-in-Residence (PIR) led the
workshop and provided the scientific background of the instructional
sessions. From left to right: Jessica Clark (PIR), Margaret Shain
(M/I), Clintoria Richards-Williams (PIR), Tonya Smith (M/I), Joey
Benoit (PIR), and Charlie Geach (M/I). |
Fifteen Research
Teachers from across the country participated in the 2007 Science
Teaching Forum as part of the year-long Frontiers in Physiology
Fellowship program. |
The teaching team facilitated sessions using APS curriculum units for middle
and high school students. Additionally, the RTs explored inquiry-based
teaching strategies, integrating technology, and addressing equity,
diversity, and learning styles in the classroom. The RTs participated in
numerous hands-on laboratory and web-based activities, shared their summer
research experiences, evaluated their current teaching techniques, and
collaboratively developed strategies to implement teaching methods promoted
both by the National Science Education Standards and each of their own
respective state standards.
Additional guests included Robert Dozier of the Mid-Atlantic Organized Betta
Breeders chapter, who discussed the behavior and reproductive physiology of
the Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens; Alecia Riley, Application
Scientist for ADInstruments, Inc., who demonstrated LabTutor® software for
life science laboratory teaching; David Hanych of the National Science
Foundation, who observed the workshop activities; Donna Krupa, APS Director
of Communications, who previewed the APS Life Lines podcasting initiative;
and Martin Frank, APS Executive Director, who welcomed and congratulated the
research teachers for participating in the Frontiers Fellowship.
As part of the fellowship this fall, the RTs are developing, refining, and
field testing their own inquiry-based lab activity that can be used in the
science classroom. They continue to be mentored by their Mentor/Instructors.
Some RTs will also be inviting their research host into their classroom
sometime during the first week in November for a Physiology Understanding (PhUn)
Week 2007 event (visit: http://www.
PhUnWeek.org). The fellowship concludes with the RTs attending and
participating in EB 2008 this coming April. Follow the progress of the 2007
fellowship year at:
http://www.the-aps.org/education/2007rts/index.shtml.
The Frontiers in Physiology fellowship program has been sponsored by the APS
over the last 17 years, impacting more than 400 teachers and APS members who
have volunteered as research hosts and/or Physiologists-in-Residence. The
program has also received funding from the National Center for Research
Resources (NCRR) Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA), and the
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at
the National Institutes of Health.
For additional information about the fellowship, visit the program's website
at:
http://www.the-aps.org/education/frontiers.
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| Norm Leonard
(Indiana), Latasha Seay (Florida), and Debbie Frankel (Oregon)
designed and performed an experiment on the relationship between
viscosity and flow rates. |
Marshan Jefferson
(Washington, DC) and Nancy Buehner (South Dakota) explored and
evaluated websites to incorporate into classroom labs and lessons. |
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