Testimonials

I, Bio
Disease Detectives

I, Bio

Read an in-depth description of one teacher's experiences teaching the I, Bio unit here.

Summer Laboratories

"I enjoyed the hands-on experience backed up with content and learning a new approach to teaching using inquiry-based science. I especially enjoyed being in this team with other teachers and sharing experiences. Learning the I, Bio curriculum broadened my knowledge base in science content. This experience has given me a new attitude toward my teaching (even in other areas of content)."

"We were actually involved in scientific inquiry at an adult, advanced level in an experience that will parallel a similar experience by our students. Challenging and relevant!"

"I understand respiration and oxidation and feel I can teach these concepts more effectively. I understand the interactions of the systems of the body better. I learned about making and breaking bonds and the energy released in formation of bonds. I learned where the work is done in the body and abou tissue culturing. "

"I enjoyed the entire I, Bio staff. They are knowledgeable in the field and extremely professional. The experience was enjoyable and memorable. Basically, I learned a lot and enjoyed! Using the scientific technology was fantastic!"

"[Best features] were modeling of the processes (scientific inquiry, collaborative work, mentoring, presenting, etc), logical presentation of content, discussions, meeting with like-minded colleagues, food, etc."

"Very well prepared activities. Amazing support for the teacher. I learned so much!"

"Great lab experiences! Highly recommend this approach. I wish more professional development was as well structured and executed. Great people, good seminar. This has been wonderful!"

Class and enactment

"I'm better at teaching human biology because of my increased content knowledge. I'm also better at questioning my students to increase my understanding of what they know and challenge them to think about what they've said."

"This class exceeded my content expectations. In addition to greatly adding to my knowledge, it also helped me to get onto a path which will hopefully improve all aspects of my teaching. I think the ways I listen to students and question students are beginning to shift. I feel like I listen for their point of view more critically and asked more questions to clarify. I also feel like I've been exposed to many different ideas about how to confront student perceptions which will hopefully transfer to other material as well."

"Excellent, amazing, incredibly useful. I learned more in the summer and the ten weeks of class than I have ever learned about the topic."

"This class made me start to realize that I couldn't assume they understood; rather I really had to probe deeply in order to assess their understanding, and to do this much earlier. I am now beginning to do this, as I recendly did with the distinction between temperature and heat. I planned my startegy to use calorimetry to prove that the two were different; and it worked. I'm convince that most, if not all, of the students, none of whom were convinced at the start, were converts at the end. "

"It is almost a certainty that I will teach this curriculum again. It is a wonderful learning experience for the kids. They really enjoy it, both the activities and the mental challenge, and we get to analyze their ideas and convince them of the need to change the ones that aren't 'up to snuff.' What more could I, as a science teacher, ask for? Not only that, I'm looking forward to gradually applying what I've gained to other areas of my science teaching."

"I would definitely teach this curriculum again. I believe it's a good example of how an interesting, meaningful, and empowering project can integrate science, math, and technology and a way for me to learn how to use PCK."

"I have watched my students benefit from the curriculum. They have become more comfortable sharing and defending ideas and more willing to think. Their involvement in developing their own knowledge has made it a part of their understanding."

"I loved being with the other teachers in the class. We share happiness and grief. It's a great way to see how other students respond so I can get some insight about my own kids."

"Having other teachers in the class was valuable to hear other perspectives and experiences regarding the same subject matter and similar student population."

"I know I grew in my biology knowledge plus I gave my students a great science experience, keeping or possibly growing their interest in science. \"

"I have a much better idea that students often have similar misconceptions regarding science and other content, especially with respect to energy and human body needs for it. I have a much better idea of how to determine the presence of their misconceptions and plan to teach in order to create new conceptions that are scientifically acceptable."

"It is very likely that I will teach this curriculum again. The students have been learning this material much better than in the past. It also allows me to integrate technology into the curriculum."

"The teaching component was the most important to me. It was amazing to experience an increase in my awareness of student comments and responses as the course progressed."

Disease Detectives

Summer Laboratories

"I learned a lot of biology in this program and was forced to think. Usually in programs people just feed us the answers. It was great to use and see inquiry and critical thinking."

'I enjoyed performing hands-on investigations and reflecting on the thought process, on solving investigations and what it meant. My brain was "picked," and I enjoyed the challenge."

"I had a wonderful two weeks and learned so much. I am so excited to use this knowledge and curriculum in my classroom! I am glad it was a small group because we got to do more."

"This is the best professional development experience that I've ever had. The others don't integrate content into teaching methodology, and we're usually talked to like we're little kids."

"[Best features] were wet labs with heart tissue/cells last week; use of phase-contrast microscope and fluorescent microscope; data anlysis using the Framingham heart study; laboratory experiments that we designed and then revised and performed again and presenting and analyzing data."

"Excellent approach to inquiry. I look forward to implementation in the fall."

Class and enactment

"The resources and support services were second to none. One of the best PD opportunities I've taken part in - way to go!"

"My students could actually connect events on a cellular level with physical symptoms. They "got" some key concepts that are typically hard to understand - I think this may have been the first time my students understood some key concepts. My students also felt important because they were solving a problem. Great curriculum materials and I think that this challenge re-energized my teaching."

"Ban Boredom! Do you want to see your students engaged while you all learn together? Teach Disease Detectives!"

"After teaching biology for 5 years the "traditional" way, I was enlightened and motivated by a fantastic new way to teach biochemistry, cell biology and anatomy and physiology of the heart."

"At last!! A quality inquiry teaching curriculum that uses technology as a teaching tool and provides staff development that facilitates teacher implementation!"

"I assigned the fourth group a repeat of blood pressure, but the heaviest kid in the room said, 'We want to do body mass also.' I was just shocked. No one said anything. he wanted his group to work on it because he wants to know. They've really gotten excited about the variables."

"Kids in my class were 100% engaged. Lots of hands up. The part where the kids come to the overhead of 'Pat' and draw in the body was especially successful because it sparked a debate amongst the students; some insisted it was the lungs and others the heart. I just let the kids battle it out."

"The preparation of the presenters was superior. Their support throughout the program was four-star rating. The information was timely, inclusive and frankly outstanding. Working with the presenters and colleagues made the experience feel like family."

"I think the most important thing to me was learning to teach in a different way. I really like the way my students were interested."