Post on 06-Aug-2015
Crime Scene Investigation on SER/VE Island
Starring Angela Rought as The Girl in Red
Nancy Dooley as The UnicornCarrie Schlager as The Newburgh Kid
&Ralph Siegel as The Documenter
M.O. of Mr. Fairchild’s Project
Real and Relevant
Related to Science
Inquiry-Based Approach
Literacy and Communication
Technology
Engagement=Learning
What Mr. Fairchild Learned
Students ENGAGED and having FUN = LEARNING!
Students will rise to the CHALLENGES of narrative-based projects!
Make them AUTHENTIC and RELEVANT!
PLANNING is key to success!
“Real World” Biology Topics
GENETICS
DISEASE ERADICATION
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
EVOLUTION
ASTROBIOLOGY
BIOTECHNOLOGY
BIOLOGY TOPICS THAT ALIGN WELL WITH THE “REAL WORLD”
Skills Learned in an Inquiry-Based
Classroom Process Skills
Observing, Comparing, Classifying, Inferring, Predicting, Communicating, Analyzing, Evaluating
Independence
Confidence
All skills useful inside AND outside the classroom!
Ways To Bring New Forms of Technology into the
Classroom
Interact with scientific experts through SKYPE
Collaborate with others through WIKIs- where users can add, modify, or delete content
Help students, and teachers, visualize learning and teaching, and collaborate, through concept mapping (MindMeister, Inspiration)
Biology Topics That Could Be Used For Long Term Projects
Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms
Defining Life
Photosynthesis
Biodiversity
Molecular Biology and Gene Mapping
Ecology
Challenges in a Long-Term, Student-Centered Project
Will the school’s administration support it?
Students’ access to technology at home and familiarity with support technologies
Careful planning is essential to reap all the benefits
Students should be familiar with important concepts, technology, and procedures in advance
ALL students must have an active role in the project