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

Tonight’s Episode

The Audience and Guest Star

Guest’s Biography

An Adventure in Inquiry-Based, Student-Centered

Teaching

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

Role of the Teacher in a Student-Centered Class

Guide and Facilitator

Stimulate students’ curiosity

Assess students’ prior knowledge

Create a well managed, organized, and safe classroom

Encourage all process skills

Monitor student progress on a daily basis