Purpose
- Equip Alabama secondary school educators to more effectively teach genetics.
Goals
- Update the genetics content knowledge of educators.
- Help secondary school educators describe and identify common student misconceptions in genetics, genomics and biotechnology, and identify approaches to overcome them.
- Distribute a tool kit of genetics-related materials.
- Promote the use of hands-on genetics activities.
Objectives
- Construct a conceptual pathway for genetics, genomics and biotechnology useful to secondary school biology educators that incorporates all relevant COS objectives.
- Model appropriate connections between genetics, genomics and biotechnology concepts and real-world applications.
- Provide educators the opportunity to experience at least four scientific talks by biotechnology researchers or industry executives.
- Organize tours of at least three facilities conducting biotechnology related work.
- Conduct at least five hands-on activities that reinforce genetics, genomics and biotechnology content useful at the high school level.
- Reduce content knowledge gaps in secondary biology educators via active lectures, laboratory experiences and discussions.
- Enroll each participant as a member of NABT and ASTA for one year.
- Overview misconception theory and provide evidence for common student misconceptions in genetics, genomics and biotechnology.
- Demonstrate strategies to replace student misconceptions tied to COS objectives.
- Reduce the misconceptions among teachers related to genetics, genomics and biotechnology.
- Increase the number of secondary school educators who access and use ASIM modules in genetics, genomics and biotechnology Engage educators in the theory and practice of learning by doing.