The Northern Indiana Science, Mathematics and Engineering Collaborative
NISMEC
Guided Inquiry is our Focus


Modeling in Indiana - summer 2011 - under construction/12 September 2011
This summer 2011, we organized 9 (8 took place) modeling workshops on Modeling in Physics, Chemistry and Biology for Indiana high school science teachers.
The modeling workshops were: 2 at the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville (Physics-I and Chemistry-I); 2 at University High School, Carmel (Chemistry-I and Chemistry-II); 2 at Notre Dame (Chemistry-I and Biology-I); 1 at Guerin Catholic HS, Noblesville (Physics-II); and 1 at Marian University (Biology-I)
We start with some details about the Notre Dame chemistry and biology modeling workshops:

Click on the pictures below for larger view:: - left - the chemistry group; right - the biology group - at the Jordan sundial


Here are some chemistry group members working....
....and here are some biology group members working.....


[Editor's note: If you have pictures of the participants/instructors at the other workshops, please send them to me and i can add them here!]

The Introductory Chemistry and the Developmental Biology workshop schedules.

The Attendees (at Notre Dame): Chemistry, Biology.

Daily morning discussions: (we will add some pictures of the associated whiteboard presentations to these later...)
Monday: Guided inquiry - SIP, PIP, Questions
Tuesday: Best practice puzzle
Wednesday: Reading an object (grasshopper)
Thursday: Eggs - eggs
Friday: The Modeling story for first year Biology (for more updates on this - see below)

Biology Modeling test-lessons: (also at the Learning Connection) These lessons are written in a simple "1-page format" so that teachers can easily follow and develop further experiments to supplement the students' understanding of the concepts. They are always in line with the new Indiana Biology Standards of 2010: the relevant standards are included in each one-page synopsis. Users are encouraged to contact the teacher authors (given in each file - they may be in your school) for any clarifications.

Part 0 - Introduction
At the initial Marian workshop Jenny Hicks and the biology teachers analyzed how the new 2010 Indiana Biology Core Standards break down into 8 sections - as given below - and the Marian group focused their week on section 3 - Matter Cycles and Energy Transfer: subsequently at the Notre Dame workshop (with more participating teachers), we were able to focus on more sections, and developed modules for sections 5, 7, 8 and for AP biology. The two tables below summarize this overview; the biology modeling modules follow...

The Indiana Biology Core Standards
 
 B1: Cellular Chemistry  B2: Cellular Structure  B3: Matter Cycles and Energy Transfer  B4: Interdependence
 B5: Molecular Basis of Heredity  B6: Cellular Reproduction  B7: Genetics  B8: Evolution

Overview of the modules developed their authors, and the associated biology standards


Part 1 - The Marian biology group's contributions

 Biology units and Standards  B3.1 Light absorbance  B3.1 BTB Demo  B3.1 Chlorophyl indicator
 B3.1 Internet photosyntesis exercise  B3.1 Modeling Photosynthesis rate  B3 Matter and energy cycle  B3.3 & B3.5 Metabolism
 B3.4 Cycle simulation  B4 Interdependence    

Part 2 - The Notre Dame biology group's contributions

 S5 DNA standards  B5.1 DNA and Chromosomes  B5.2 Genes code for polypeptides  B5.3 Transcription translation
 B5.4 Shape and Activity of Proteins  B5.5 Proteins and organisms  B5.6 Amino acids and proteins  B7 Genetics-1 Introduction
 B7 Genetics-2 Activities  B8.1 Evolution Timescale  B8.2 Evolutionary Pathways  B8.3 Evolutionary Relationships
 B8.4 Module to be written..  B8.5 Successful Trait Propagation  B8.6 Modeling Genetic Variation  B8.6 A Trait Survey

Part 3 - The Notre Dame AP biology group's contributions (Reitz and Gensic)

 Experimental design  Cell size  Dialysis  Enzyme Reaction Rates
 PotatoCoreLab  Scientific Observations of a Grasshopper  Why ice floats  
Two useful AP-biology files (pdf-format): Experimental Design, Enzyme Reaction Rates

Beginning an AP biology modeling story: an outline by Kimball Reitz (PHM)

Beginning a biology modeling story - being written...

Some of the articles read for homework:
Article 1 .......

The NISMEC Vernier special library collection is now on line and Vernier materials may be ordered through the Notre Dame Chemistry/Physics Library catalog see Special Collections - NISMEC - housed in the Nieuwland Chemistry/Physics Library (NSH 231 - phone 574-631-7203).
OR by sending the order form to Gordon Berry (by Fax - 631-5952, by regular mail: Gordon Berry, Physics Dept, NSH225, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556; or by email to hgberry@nd.edu) ....
In general, contact Gordon for further information.
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