News and Views Archive
Science Teacher Institute held on November 7, 2009
Students in the IMSP Program in Biology participated in a Science Teacher Institute on November 7, 2009. The morning session included presentations developed by the students on the kinds of activities they developed for Outdoor Activities. This was an outcome of the field trip to the Morton Arboretum conducted earlier in the year.
The afternoon session included a workshop on Mentoring New Teachers and Student Teachers presented by Dr. Laura Barwegen. Dr. Barwegan is an Associate Professor of Education at Wheaton College where she works with students in teacher education, research in professional development schools and educational psychology.
Science Teacher Institute held on November 14, 2009
Students in the IMSP Program in Biology participated in a Science Teacher Institute on November 14, 2009. The morning session included workshop on ELL and Science Literacy by Dr. Mayra Daniels. Dr. Daniels is an Associate Professor of Literacy Education at Northern Illinois University. Her research centers on the educational needs of English language learners and of the teachers who work with these.
Photo Gallery - Dr. Marya Daniels Workshop
The afternoon session focused on the student performing a hands-on laboratory activity on DNA fingerprinting. The laboratory activities included a practice pipetting session, protocols utilizing restriction digestion enzymes, gel electrophoresis, and analysis of Lambda DNA.
Photo Gallery - DNA Fingerprinting
Field Trip to Morton Arboretum
The IMSP teachers attended a field trip to the Morton Arboretum on October 3, 2009. The Morton Arboretum represents one of the most comprehensive living collections of woody plants in North America. The arboretum has acquired plants from 40 countries in the northern temperate zone of the world. The collections include 4,117 different kinds of trees, shrubs and other plants, represented by more than 182,000 specimens arranged according to five groups:
- taxonomic collections (e.g. elms and oaks)
- geographic collections (e.g. trees and shrubs from China)
- special habitats (e.g. Plants of Acid Soils)
- horticultural collections
- collections of rare and endangered plants.
The collections are displayed in authentic landscape settings and are designed for educational purposes as well as recreation and enjoyment. Plants are selected for their ability to survive in northern Illinois climate and adaptation to the soils of the region. The arboretum hosts ninety different kinds of plants that are considered threatened or endangered on state, federal, or world lists. The group had four modules to attend throughout the day. Below is an account of the day’s activities.
Restoration at the Morton Arboretum. The group met with Kurt Dreisilker, Manager of Natural Resources for the Morton Arboretum. Mr. Dreisilker described the efforts at the arboretum to maintain the forest and woodland areas. He also talked about the history of the land and the importance of work by volunteers. In addition, the IMSP teachers went on a hike in the forest and observed what Mr. Dreisilker talked about.
Planning an Outdoor Field Experience. The group met with Ms. Kathryn Wolf, Science Teacher at Wheaton North High School, and Mr. Harry Wolf, Science Teacher at Yorkville High School. Mr. and Ms. Wolf described the details involved in planning and conducting an outdoor field experience that was rich in biology content. Most of the discussion centered around ecology, botany and authentic field biology. In addition, Mr. and Ms. Wolf answered questions related to parental involvement, safety, leaning goals and objectives and assessments. This session was followed by a working lunch where IMSP teachers spent time discussing what they had learned so far and wroting reflections on how they could include this new information in their teaching. The IMSP teachers were also asked to reflect on how they might use this information to improve science instruction in their school by sharing their experiences and new knowledge with other teachers.
Evolution and Plan Diversity. The group met with Plant Systematist and Herbarium Curator, Dr. Andrew Hipp. Dr. Hipp described the research in plant systematics conducted at the arboretum. The group also took a tour of the herbarium and molecular biology laboratory facilities. In addition, Dr. Hipp led a discussion on how the IMSP teachers could use the arboretum as a resource for teaching about plant diversity in their classes.
Urban Forestry. Ms. Edith Makra led the group in learning about urban forestry and how the arboretum maintains tree specimens that serve as examples for cities and towns to gather information for selecting trees and shrubs for planning neighborhoods, school grounds, parks and other city areas. IMSP teachers were taken out to the area where a variety of tree specimens are maintained and learned about the identification, evaluation and selection criteria used for urban forestation planning and restoration. In addition, the IMSP teachers took a tour of the arboretum’s tree breeding nursery and learned about efforts to develop hybrid trees that are disease resistant and yet provide beauty and function to the urban landscape.
During the bus ride back to the NIU campus, the IMSP teachers continued discussing what they had learned and wrote reflections on how they could include this new information in their teaching. Again, the IMSP teachers were asked to reflect on how they might use this information to improve science instruction in their school.
Science Teacher Institute: Vernier ABQuest Probe Workshop, Aug. 13, 2009
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