Teachers as Scholars (TAS)
2004 - 2005 Seminar Series - Titles, Dates, and Instructors
Art and Science for the Joseph Foundation
April 1 and 2, 2005
Instructor: This interactive seminar highlighted several faculty members
Two days in the life of a marine scientist...
April 21 and 22, 2005
Instructor: Kendal Harr, D.V.M.
(Link to her CV)
Seminar Descriptions
Art and Science for the Joseph Foundation
Teachers as Scholars at the University of Florida (TAS at UF) has completed a terrific seminar experience for area school teachers entitled: Art and Science for the Joseph Foundation. The Joseph Foundation is dedicated to integrating the sciences and arts to enhance the joy of experiencing and learning the sciences and math, to facilitate learning, and to increase the number of minorities choosing science, math and engineering fields. This interactive seminar included numerous faculty members and University facilities.
22 secondary school teachers came to UF for two days to learn about some of the current science research taking place that can be incorporated into their classrooms. The teachers represented schools in rural parts of northwest Florida. Seminar components included a wide array of experiences including hands-on experimentation, brief lectures by researchers, group discussions, and laboratory visits. The Joseph Foundation teachers have a particular focus on bringing art and science together to interest students from traditionally underrepresented rural minority populations in science and higher education.
During their first day on campus, the participants worked with Dr. John Cech, an innovative professor from the Department of English and Director of the Center for Children’s Literature and Culture, on ways to bring literature into the science classroom in a fun and creative manner. Dr. Lou Guillette and Dr. Thea Edwards spoke to the teachers about the effects of contaminants on aquatic systems. The participants had the chance to work with mosquito fish, an organism that is easily found in area streams and ponds.
The next morning continued with an environmental theme. Mr. Steve Everett, a local environmental science teacher and a CPET Lead Teacher in Wetlands Biology, focused on the water system of Florida. The participants collected benthic samples and assessed the water quality based on the organisms present. Dr. Rose Pringle from the College of Education worked with the teachers on ways to bring the UF experience into their classroom. Focusing on five minute vignettes, she challenged the teachers to each develop a technique to introduce and excite their students about the lesson to follow. The teachers shared these ideas with each other and gave constructive feedback on ways the vignettes could be altered to fit different classrooms settings and curriculum. The final event of the afternoon was an exercise in DNA science. The teachers learned to extract DNA from fruit and construct candy DNA models, both of which are already designed to be used in the secondary school classroom.
The teachers were pleased with the mix of current research and technology combined with hands-on activities they can use in their classrooms. They were also given copies of a current Nature journal (vol. 434, March 17, 2005) dedicated to articles interrelating Arts and Sciences, and multiple classroom experiments, internet activities, and information-laden, classroom-friendly CDs.
Two days in the life of a marine scientist...
21 middle school teachers from across the state came to UF for two days to learn about the efforts of marine scientists to study and save the critically endangered Atlantic Northern Right Whale during the Teachers as Scholars seminar Two days in the life of a marine scientist. Seminar components included a wide array of experiences including hands-on experimentation, brief lectures by researchers, group discussions, and laboratory visits.
Participants began their seminar at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory in St. Augustine. Ms. Joy Hampp from Marineland presented the natural history of the right whale to give the teachers a better sense of the plight of these gentle creatures. An education coordinator from Marineland provided hands-on opportunities for the participants including experiments to simulate the insulating effect of blubber and the action of different baleen. Dr. Peter Anderson, Director of the Whitney Laboratory allowed the participants a chance to visit the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and see research in action. The afternoon included a presentation from Mr. Tom Pitchford from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on the right whale management and break-out discussion sessions during which the teachers developed lesson plans for use in the middle school classroom.
The second day of the seminar series brought the participants to the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. Dr. Harr from the College of Veterinary Medicine Aquatic Animal Health Department presented case studies of stranded animals, including film of stranding cases in Florida. The teachers then rotated through laboratories in the College of Veterinary Medicine to see some of the latest technology used to help aquatic mammals. There are many different laboratories investigating different aspects of marine mammal health and the participants had the opportunity to learn about the production of hybridomas from Ms. Linda Green and DNA studies from Ms. Ginger Clark. Afterwards, the participants refined their lesson plans from the previous day and included new lessons utilizing the second day’s information.
The teachers were extremely positive about their TAS at UF seminar Two days in the life of a marine scientist. They appreciated the mix of current research and technology combined with hands-on activities they can use in their classrooms. A middle school workbook using Right Whale examples to teach environmental and conservation science concepts is the expected outcome.
