Tag Archives: Anatomy

Case Studies for Teaching

Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Science, , , , ,

I recently obtained a membership to the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science (NCCSTS).  It was not as easy as you would expect.  The company is extremely strict about handing out teacher notes and answer keys.  You must prove you work at a school with an email found on your school webpage, or alternatively, a letter on school letterhead indicating your employment.

I found this site over a year ago, but did not actually gain access until recently.  I was in love the first time I found it.  The case studies are intriguing, engaging, and cross-curricular.  The database currently has 711 case studies in all areas of science, appropriate for different age groups.  In my case, I have been looking for case studies for Biology and Anatomy and Physiology.  You can search by subject heading, educational level, type/method of instruction (discussion, debate, experiment, journal, analysis, etc.), topical area, or even by date.

The mission of the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science (NCCSTS) is to promote the nationwide application of active learning techniques to the teaching of science, with a particular emphasis on case studies and problem-based learning. (http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/cs/)

This type of active learning resources fits in well with the NGSS standards and current learning goals for the students.

Digital Notebooks . . . not yet

Anatomy & Physiology, Day to Day, Science, , , , , , , , ,

I was super excited joining Heritage High School this year, part of the Perris Unified School District.  They have a 1:1 chrome book program, an excellent “Legacy” motto, and a principal that believes teachers, parents and administration should do whatever it takes to reach the students.

The first month did not go as well as I would have liked.  Although the students had chrome books, they were very resistant to the idea of a digital notebook.  I was positive, I was organized, and I held many in-class technology training programs, all to no avail.  I asked the administration about it and they were supportive, and believed the students would come around.

After several weeks, the digital notebooks created a polarized atmosphere in the classes.  The students either liked it and got into it or they were violently opposed, claiming they “could not work that way.”  It felt to me that the students had taken a stand.  If they had to use the digital notebooks, then they just would not do the work.  Period.  At that point, I decided I would go back to the traditional notebook.  The courses are about content first, method less so.  It meant more to me that the students be a unified group and learning community.

I went back to traditional interactive notebooks.  Again, Heritage High rocks.  They provided each one of my students with a notebook.  The students still have access to all assignments digitally, but the work is typically done in their ISN.  I was concerned about grading 220 notebooks, but I created a system for the students to exchange notebooks and grade them.  The students are happy about the change and I have high hopes for rallying them together.

 

AVID Summer Institute

Anatomy & Physiology, AVID, Biology, Science, , , , , , , , , ,

I have been very fortunate to have attended AVID Summer Institute, not once, but two summers in a row.

The first summer I was registered for Science I, which was a great match because I was teaching Earth Science, Biology, and Health Science.  I learned so much.  I incorporated a great many AVID strategies that year, including the interactive science notebook.  It was my first year using one; there was a steep learning curve.

That was the first year I ran a Gemklocx lab for procedures and fell in love.  Hands-on, collaborative, and fell perfectly within the scientific method unit.  It helped meet the students’ learning goals for understanding the importance of following procedures.

In June, 2017 Heritage High hired me to teach Anatomy and Physiology, and Biology.  What I did not realize at the time was that Heritage High is a demo school for AVID, which I have been actively trying to use their strategies in the classroom.  It has been truly impressive to see teachers school-wide on board with AVID strategies.

Heritage High graciously sent me to summer institute where I was registered to attend Student Success.  Another terrific series.  Again, the strategies were amazing, some review and some new.  I have implemented many this year.  I use a Student Choice series of strategies from AVID that students use to choose how they want to express their understanding of a topic.  I also use Learning Logs, Quickwrites, Reflections, and just recently graduated to Philosophical Chairs.  After the Philosophical Chairs (rough draft – first time), at least one student from each class asked if we could do more of them.

I indicated to the students I was in the process of gaining access to a Science Case Study database, so it is very likely we would be doing them more in the future.