Tag Archives: case studies

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.

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.