Workshop content is appropriate for teachers of general, college prep and advanced biology courses. Although not specifically designed for middle grades teachers, those who have participated in the past have found many ideas adaptable for use with younger students. Activities include laboratories, simulations, group presentations and content presentations. Activities are aligned with National Science Standards. Several examples of computer software for teaching about genetics will be available to examine, and participants may take some materials home on disk.
Some biologists take complex systems apart to understand their simpler components more fully.
Others are interested in how simpler components interact to produce new properties at more complex levels of organization. The content of this workshop focuses on these levels of organization by examining animal behavior, the nervous system, neurotransmitters, hormones and genes and their regulators. Participants will also explore bioethics, identify difficult concepts, and develop ways to make learning easier with the technologies present. Innovative teaching methods will make learning biology more fun and understandable for students. Participants engage in hands-on labs, lesson planning, demonstrations, and team presentations.