Biological Sciences/ Illinois Math and Science Partnership

Announcements Archive

May 10, 2010

Teacher Content Testing

Here is the schedule for dates, times, and places for Teacher Content Tests:

  • May 25, 4:00 p.m. DeKalb, 324 Montgomery (teaching lab)
  • May 25, 4:30 p.m. Rockford Harlem H.S.
  • Mab 25, 4:30 p.m. Elgin at Kenyon Woods M.S.

 

April 27, 2010

  1. Here is a Reminder of what is due:
    • May 05. DIGITAL Reflections for 4-17 (Identity and Assessments)
    • May 05. Any Missing assignments for Spring 2010
    • May 25. Teacher Content Test & HARD COPY of the Reflections for 4-17
    • June 14. Student Content Tests (Scantrons)
    • June 14. Action Research Binder (see checklist templates on IMSP website)
  2. Start thinking about an article on which you would like to read an original research paper. The paper should have a publication date after 2005. If you are not sure if the paper is from an acceptable scientific journal, please check with Dr. Miller. You may also ask any professor in the Biology department to share one of their papers with you. The paper needs to be a research paper (in biology or biochemistry) and not a review of the research.
  3. Please note that the links on the IMSP website are working so you should be able to download all the Hands-on Projects and Outdoor activities your peers submitted. http://www.bios.niu.edu/imsp/showcase.html
  4. Check out grants tips available at Vernier’s http://www.vernier.com/grants and also check out Technology awards at http://www.vernier.com/nstaawards due 11/30/2010.

 

 

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001:

IMSP Important Dates and Required Responses

Important Dates for IMSP:

1) Teacher Content Tests:

- Week of May 25 at 5:00 pm in DeKalb, Elgin, and Rockford

2) Student Content Tests:

- Due June 14, 2010 or earlier

3) ISMP Class April 17, 2010

- Pick up student content tests and packets (4:00 – 4:30 pm)

- Important announcements regarding IMSP schedule (4:00 – 4:30 pm)

- Remember to bring the following to class

a) Any missing assignments (hard copies)

b) Reflection for Hands-on Box Presentations

c) Unit lesson plan and unit assessment

Response Required (via e-mail)

We need the following information by Friday April 16, 2010:

1) Will you be giving the content exam as a final exam?

2) When is your last day of your high school or middle school classes?

 

Thu, Apr 08, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001: April 17 Workshop

Check the course documents in Blackboard for the agenda for 4-17. Please bring the following items to class: 1) we would like each teacher to bring a unit lesson plan and a unit test (or summative assessment) for a unit that you teach and 2) the hard copy of your Reflections on the Hands-on projects. Also, submit a digital copy to Blackboard. Also note that the format for the Action Research Binder, which is due June 14, is located in the document section of BB and on the IMSP website under templates.

 

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001: Bring googles & missing items

Please bring your goggles to Sat. class. Some class members will be doing labs that require goggles. Also bring any materials that you need to run your lab. We do have some glassware. Also do not forget to bring items listed on your little white slips from the last class (i.e. copies of your remaining content tests, scantrons, etc.) Please check the previous announcement for items needed for class.

 

Tue, Feb 16, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001: IMSP Teacher Institute for Feb. 20

The Feb. 20 revised agenda in the Document folder of BB contains the format for your Hands-on Project Presentation . Also for clarification of items due and their dates, please check the Teacher Organization List also found in the Document folder of BB available after Feb 20. Items to bring with you on Feb. 20 are: Hard copy of your Reflection on Clickers, Any Student Content class you have not yet returned, Hand-on Project Handout (35 copies), Digital and Hard copy of your Hands-on Project plus box of materials.

 

Sun, Feb 14, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001: Format for the Presentation of your Hands-on Project

The Feb. 20 agenda in the Document folder of BB contains the format for your Hands-on Project Presentation . Fri, Feb 12, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001: Feb. 20 Institute Day Just a reminder that the Hands-on Project is due on Sat., Feb. 20. You should have your box of materials, your project information in a folder, and your brief summary handout (35 copies). Please check the assignment section of Blackboard for examples and templates of the assignments. Use information on the Photosynthesis Floating Disk lab for an example. Also remember to bring a hard copy of your Reflection on Clickers.

 

Wed, Jan 27, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001: Clicker Reflections and Clicker Questions

1) Please remember to use the following format for submitting your clicker reflection due on Jan. 30. Your Last name, Date of Class, Reflection on Title Ex: Wong 1-23-10 Reflection on Clickers 2) The files with the questions from the clicker workshop can be found in the document folder of Blackboard. 3) Submit your ID's now if you have not already done so!

 

Sat, Jan 23, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001: Website for Video on Floating Disk Lab

Here is the website for the Floating Disk Lab: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5132122273591816972# The 5 minute share template and the sample filled-in template for the Hands-on Project are in the Assignment section of Blackboard.

 

Tue, Jan 19, 2010 -- 20102-BIOS-605--P001: Student ID's

Please submit your student ID numbers ASAP, if you have not done so. Check previous announcements for the revised agenda. Please remember to bring a) a biology textbook (or other appropriate text), b) old test questions on as many of the following as you can—biochemistry, cell, photosynthesis, respiration, ecology, invertebrates, vertebrates, and c)a flash drive if you want to take home workshop material

 

November 4, 2009

Upcoming Science Teacher Institute Days

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Agenda:

9:00-11:30 Share Arboretum Mini Activity – class presentation to peers
11:30-12:00 Proposal for Outdoor Activity and Reflection Journal
12:00-1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00-4:00 Mentoring New Teachers and Student Teachers –Dr. Laura Barwegen

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Agenda:

8:00-8:45 Practice Pipetting Session (optional)
9:00-12:00 ELL and Science Literacy – Dr. Myra Daniels
12:00-1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00-4:00 Hands on lab: Restriction Digestion and Analysis of Lambda DNA (DNA fingerprinting). Lab results may not be ready until 5:00.

Fri. Oct. 15, 2009

Anthony La Rue would like to share with you the Environmental Fair in Schaumburg on November 14, 2009

EVENTS, TOPICS, AND SPEAKERS
25 environmental groups displaying their projects
Conservation literature to take home
Alternative Fuel & Hybrid Cars

The 8th annual Environmental Fair will be held on November 14, 2009 at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, IL. Enjoy the educational benefits of expert speakers on fascinating eco-subjects; visit the unique displays; pick up helpful literature on environmental topics; and be sure to stop and chat with representatives from local environmental groups, featuring their projects in restoration, environmental conservancy, wildlife rescue and recovery, natural resources, and preservation. Area students, educators, public works personnel, local officials, and guests are welcome to attend. Bring a guest there is no cost.

LOCATION: Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts 201 Schaumburg Court (3 Blocks East of Roselle Road just south of Schaumburg Road.)

TIME: 9:30am to 3:30pm

PRESENTATIONS:
10:00 am Rising Sea Levels - Impact and Expectations Ross Powell, Professor NIU
11:00 am Green Sustainable Commercial Development Dan Loundy, VP and Director, Devon Bank
12:00 pm Live Raptors –Who’s Who of Owls Mark Spreyer, Director, Stillman Nature Center
1:15 pm Green Jobs What and Where? John Perrecone, Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2:15 pm Prescription Drugs/Contaminants in our water supply Lyman Welch, Program Manager, Alliance for the Great Lakes.

For more information contact the Hoffman Estates Special Event Line: 847.781.2660.

 

Wed. Aug. 26, 2009

The Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have joined up to sponsor the showing of a documentary film, "Naturally Obsessed: the making of a scientist". The film was produced by Dr. Richard Rifkind, formerly director of research and Chairman of the Sloan-Ketterling Institute, where he was also responsible for graduate education.

According to the release notes, the film

"...plunges viewers into a lab at Columbia University Medical Center, where professor Larry Shapiro oversees a team of Ph.D. candidates researching AMPK, the protein that controls appetite. ... (the film) ... moves viewers with ease and intimacy through a world too often portrayed as boring, nerdy and filled with indecipherable jargon. ...Naturally Obsessed arrives as a welcome antidote to recent years in which science has been routinely ignored, distorted, misunderstood and otherwise dismissed."

We will have TWO showings of this film. The showings will be:

Friday August 28th 3:00 PM and Monday August 31st at 5:00 PM.

Both showings will be in Montgomery Auditorium.

This film should be of interest to grad students and faculty in any of the science departments. All interested persons are welcome to attend.

More information about the film and a trailer can be found at the web site www.naturallyobsessed.com

 

Tues. July 21, 2009
We have our field trip to the Morton Arboretum finalized (October 3rd), however, we need to know if anyone out there is a vegetarian and thus would want a vegetarian meal. Please let me know ASAP if you want a vegetarian meal. Everyone will get a box lunch, menu will be forth coming.

The dates for the spring semester science teacher institute (BIOS 605; 1 hr) will again be on Saturdays, January 23 (snow day Jan 30), February 20 (snow day Feb 27), and April 17. Mark you calendars!!!

EPS 523 meeting time may be changed again. Dr. Smith is talking about moving it back to Tuesday nights as originally planned. When this is confirmed, I will let you know.

Other things to plan for include: taking a biology content test (I will administer to you), taking the Survey of Enacted Curriculum (I pay you to do this), taking the Survey of Engaged Learning. We need to talk about how to administer a biology content area test to your students (pre-test in early fall and post-test in late spring). My expectation is that you will administer the pre-test with in the first two weeks of the start of your semester. Plan at least one class period to conduct the test. Test booklets and answers sheets will be provided. I need to know (estimated number) how many students per class you will have.

Finally, to conduct action research, you will have to undergo IRB training. You can do this on line and print out your certificate, which is to be handed into me before the start of the fall semester classes. Dr. Smith requires it for his class as well. Here is the URL http://www.irbtraining.org/ You can start right away.

 

 

Thurs. July 9, 2009
EPS 523 will meet on Thursday nights from 6:00 PM to 8:40 PM this Fall, 2009 Semester. I'm still waiting on confirmation of the room assignment. I'll let you know when I find out.

On Monday, July 13th, at 9:00 AM, there will be a tutorial session on how to use the Biology Department's server (your U drive). Donna Prain will go over the procedures on how to access your U drive, up load and down load documents and answers questions. Please let me know if you will be attending.

IMSP Classes begin on Monday, June 15, 2009

Be sure to attend the classes you are scheduled for even though there are still some registration issues. I hope to have the problem solved soon.

PHYS 605: The Beginners Technology Class, meets at 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon, in Faraday Hall, Room 129. DeKalb Campus Monday and Thursday

LUNCH is from 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM.

Please be on time for the 1:00 PM class

BIOS 684: The Processes and Practices of Science, meets at 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM, in Montgomery Hall, Room 324. DeKalb Campus Monday and Thursday

BIOS 605: The Science Teacher Institute will meet August 11 and August 13. More details are forth coming.

Orientation Meeting - May 14, 2009

 

 

BIOS 684; Processes and Practices of Sciences Information

As you may or may not know, Dr. Paul Kelter will be teaching BIOS 684; The Processes and Practices of Science this summer, 2009. You can find information about Dr. Kelter on the IMSP web site under Supporting Instructors.

I'm really excited about this course. Dr. Kelter will be using a case study approach supplemented with readings and discussion.

To get a head start, here are two books he would like you to order for the course:

1. Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love (Paperback) by Dava Sobel
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140280553/artandlies-20

It's $10.88 on Amazon, but they only have a couple of copies left.

Barnes and Noble has a similar price, at
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Galileos-Daughter/Dava-Sobel/e/9780140280555

2. The Mismeasure of Man, Stephen Jay Gould
http://www.amazon.com/Mismeasure-Man-Stephen-Jay-Gould/dp/0393314251

It's $12.21 on Amazon. $3. 00 used.

Dr. Kelter will have your email addresses and may contact you via email in the near future.

Jon S. Miller, Director

 

 

Application Period:

The recommended application period begins in January and extends through May 30.

Dr. Miller's Office Hours:

MWF, 1:00-3:00, MO 452

Appointments:

Please contact Dr. Miller to schedule an appointment.

 

Contact: Jon S. Miller, Director
Biological Sciences / Illinois Math and Science Partnership
Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115
fax: (815) 753-0461• phone: (815) 753-7828 • e-mail: jsmiller@niu.edu