Teachers as Scholars (TAS)
2003 / 2004 Seminar Series - Titles, Dates, and Instructors
The World of Water Science
Wednesday June 25 and Thursday June 26, 8:30am-5:00pm
Instructor: Mark Clark, Ph.D.
Biotechnology in the 21st Century
November 19 & 20, 2003: 8:30am-4:30pm
Instructor: Mary Jo Koroly, Ph.D.
Controversies in Health Care and Biomedical Sciences:
Sorting Out the Ethical and Legal Issues
October 21, November 4, November 18, December 2, 2003: 5:30-8:30pm
Instructor: Ray Moseley, Ph.D.
Explorations in Science
April 27 and May 4, 2004
Instructor: This interactive seminar highlighted several faculty members
Seminar Descriptions
Representing nine counties, 17 schools, and nine grade levels, the 20 teachers came to UF for two days to learn about watersheds, wetlands, and water quality. In the course of this interactive seminar, participants were introduced to the basic tenants of the water cycle from a rain drop falling to its final destination in the Floridan aquifer and ways they and their students can help improve their local watershed.
Utilizing the Stormwater Ecological Enhancement Project (SEEP) in the Natural Area Teaching Laboratory on the University campus, the participants had the opportunity to explore a functioning wetland during a field excursion. They obtained water and benthic samples to determine the water quality of the SEEP by testing for the presence of various chemicals and quantifying the abundance of macroinvertebrates. Field and laboratory experiences were augmented by lectures from numerous individuals covering topics such as Florida Land Use and Septic Systems, Geology of Florida, Cycling of Nutrients in a Watershed. Graduate students from the Soil and Water Science Department joined the teachers for a question/answer session. Additionally, representatives from the St. John's Water Management District Watershed Action Volunteers and Florida's Project Wet presented tools the teachers can use to incorporate watershed education in their curriculum.
The teachers were engaged and inquisitive through their exploration of The World of Water Science. Materials and resources from the seminar will be used in the teachers' classrooms and a valuable collaboration has been formed between the area teachers and the University of Florida faculty and graduate students.
Participants received five manuals as listed below:
Water Testing, Environmental Pollution, Bioassay and Bioremediation"
"Water Quality and Biodiversity - a Field Manual"
"Project WET Curriculum Activity Guide"
"Sunshine State Standard Correlation to Project WET Activities"
"Florida Waters - a Resource Manual"
Biotechnology in the 21st Century
Representing six counties, nine schools, and six grade levels, 17 teachers came to UF for two days to learn about various aspects and applications of biotechnology. In the course of this interactive seminar, participants were introduced to the basic tenants of biotechnology, the relevance of biotechnology to many areas of science, and the future prospects of biotechnology careers. Seminar components included a wide array of experiences including hands-on experimentation, brief lectures by researchers, group discussions, and laboratory visits.
Participants began their journey in biotechnology by extracting and amplifying their own DNA and viewing the results using agarose gel electrophoresis. They learned about the applications of biotechnology in Wildlife Forensics, discussed some of the ethical issues confronting agricultural biotechnology, gathered valuable information about the Biotechnology Technician program available at Santa Fe Community College and discovered the bright outlook for biotechnology careers and the need for skilled employees. Participants even had the opportunity to enucleate a bovine egg, view electron microscopy photographs, discover the application of biotechnology in horticulture science, and learn how biotechnology is being used to monitor the environment for hormone contaminants.
It was an intense two days for the participants who returned to their classrooms with an enormous amount of information. The teachers have been able to incorporate their new knowledge into their existing curriculum. Three schools returned to UF in Spring 2004 to visit some of the research laboratories and perform similar experiments. Even more exciting is the start of a biotechnology program at an area high school and the beginning of a new collaboration between the University faculty and teachers due to the excitement generated after completing TAS at UF Biotechnology in the 21st Century.
Participants received:
Selected readings:
DOE Human Genome Program Primer on Molecular Genetics
Genomics and Its Impact on Science and Society: The
Human Genome Project and Beyond
DNA Science: A First Course
Biotechnology Explorer Chromosome 16: PV92 PCR/Informatics
CD-ROMs:
Selected Topics in Biotechnology
Roche Genetics
NIH Human Genetics and Variation
Websites and resources for biotechnology curricula
Presentations from faculty lectures
Brochures and education materials from biotechnology companies and information groups
Controversies in Health
Care and Biomedical Sciences:
Sorting Out the Ethical and Legal Issues
Representing four counties, eight schools, and all grade levels, the 12 teachers came to UF for four evenings to discuss the ethical issues surrounding some of today’s most controversial topics in healthcare and biomedical science. Some of the topics discussed included prenatal drug testing, advanced medical directives, universal access system, and genetic testing. Also of particular interest was the Terry Schiavo case as Florida once again was in the ethics spotlight.
Dr. Moseley began the seminar series with an overview of ethics and how to approach issues. Different ideas included descriptive ethics vs. normative ethics, absolute vs relative, rational thought vs rationalizing, and opinion vs position. After covering the basics of a sound ethical discussion, each teacher selected a topic to research and present to the entire group. Each teacher became an expert in his or her chosen topic and was the discussion leader.
The success of the seminar series was due to Dr. Moseley’s enthusiasm about ethics. He shared many case studies, encouraged conversation, and genuinely cared about the teachers and their position on the different issues. In turn, the teachers were very eager to participate and engage in stimulating and thought-provoking discussions. They greatly appreciated the opportunity to expand their knowledge base and to utilize the seminar in their classrooms: from kindergarten to high school debate.
Participants received:
Key Terms Medical Ethics and Law: Definitions, Distinctions
and Resources
Designed specifically for Alachua County, 16 teachers from nine area schools came to UF for two days to learn about physical and life science. Seminar components included a wide array of experiences including hands-on experimentation, brief lectures by researchers, group discussions, and laboratory visits.
Participants began their exploration in science by rediscovering physical science. Dr. Kevin Jones presented a brief history of material science and engineering and led the teachers through many of the laboratories including the electron microscopy suite and other major analytical instrumentation. The teachers then continued the journey in physical science with an interactive chemistry demonstration with Dr. Martin Vala where they discovered new ways of incorporating chemical processes into their curriculum. The teachers concluded the physical science day with a presentation on Astronomy from Dr. Vicki Saradejini during which they made comets and demonstrated the phases of the moon.
During the second day of Explorations in Science, the participants dove into life science. Drs. Doug and Pam Soltis presented several of the research projects taking place in their laboratory with the assistance of three members of their group. The researchers discussed the Floral Genome Project, Deep Time, polyploidy in plants, and conservation efforts to preserve three threatened plant species in Florida. The teachers had the opportunity to perform experiments as well, which they can easily use in their classrooms. Participants extracted DNA from wheat germ, kiwi fruit, and strawberries. They also had the chance to perform a crime scene analysis using gel electrophoresis and construct candy DNA models. Anatomy and physiology was not forgotten as Dr. Mary Jo Koroly presented anatomical specimens and discussed various features and pathologies.
The teachers were extremely positive about their TAS at UF seminar Explorations in Science. They appreciated the mix of current research and technology combined with hands-on activities they can use in their classrooms.
2003 Seminar Instructors
Dr. Clark is an extension agent for IFAS and Research Assistant Professor of Wetland Ecology in the Soil and Water Science Department. His departmental research areas include soil quality ecological indicators, soil landscape analysis, and wetlands and aquatic systems. Dr. Clark's research efforts take him to various parts of the the state including the Everglades and his extension work effects every county in the state of Florida. For more infomation about Dr. Clark's work, please visit his homepage in the Soil and Water Science Department.
Dr. Koroly is Director of UF Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (UF CPET) and a faculty member in the College of Medicine. She currently instructs and directs the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology course for first year medical students. She was the founding director of the UF Biotechnology Center's Education and Training Program, a laboratory workshop series designed to teach the new concepts and techniques of DNA science to scientists and physicians, graduate and medical students, secondary school teachers, and non-science professionals. Since 1995, she has led UF CPET in science, math and technology programs that link UF research faculty and graduate students with in-service teachers and their motivated students.
Dr. Moseley received his Master's Degree in Philosophy and Medical Ethics at the University of Tennessee and completed his Doctorate in Bioethics at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Moseley teaches Medical Ethics and Law at the University of Florida College of Medicine where he is an Associate Professor in The Program in Bioethics, Law and Medical Professionalism. His research includes publications on "Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Medical Treatment", "Advance Medical Directives", "Genetic Testing", "New Medical Technologies", "Ethics Committees", and "Prenatal Testing". Dr. Moseley is currently developing a multi-center research project to study the effectiveness of videotaped advance directives in promoting those directives being honored by physicians and healthcare institutions. He regularly consults with and makes presentations at hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.
