1 / 23

B Biology R Realignment A and C Curriculum E Enhancement

B Biology R Realignment A and C Curriculum E Enhancement. Fayette County Public Schools Toyota USA Foundation Mini Conference Friday, June 29, 2012 Georgetown, KY. BRACE. Based on teacher needs identified by Science Department Chairs and District Administration

koen
Download Presentation

B Biology R Realignment A and C Curriculum E Enhancement

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. B Biology R Realignment A and C Curriculum E Enhancement • Fayette County Public Schools • Toyota USA Foundation Mini Conference • Friday, June 29, 2012 • Georgetown, KY

  2. BRACE • Based on teacher needs identified by Science Department Chairs and District Administration • New Science Literacy Standards • ACT Biology Quality Core – End of Course Exams • Real world experiences which prepare students for career and college readiness

  3. Challenges • Comfort with biotechnology and expensive equipment • Quality Core End of Course Assessments • New content and practices not taught (or known) during teacher preparation

  4. Challenges • Communication/collaboration beyond department, school, and district • Competition - yes, it is still there • Silos: “I am not an English teacher” • Unease - working with IHE partners

  5. Participants • Biology teachers • IHE partner • District leadership

  6. Participants • Biology teachers • IHE partner • District leadership

  7. Twenty Nine Teachers from ALL High Schools • Bryan Station High School • Henry Clay High School • Lafayette High School • Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School • Tates Creek High School • Martin Luther King Academy • The Learning Center at Linlee • Locust Trace AgriScience Center (hosted all meetings)

  8. IHE Partner • Dr Robin Cooper, Professor of Biology, University of Kentucky • Created an atmosphere of higher ed and secondary ed working together for the students benefit • Put teachers at ease with regard to working with higher ed • Seen by participants as an approachable resource

  9. District Presenters • Mr David Helm Science Resource Specialist, Fayette County Public Schools • Ms Heidi Anderson NBCT Science Teacher, Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School • Dr Scott Diamond, Science Teacher, The Learning Center at Linlee

  10. Goals • Teachers learn biotechnology-related content and techniques they weren’t taught in “teacher school” • Teachers work with teachers from other schools in the district • Teachers make connections between literacy and science education • Teachers believe ALL students can “do” biotech

  11. BRACE Meetings • 5 Release Days • Collaboration with IHE Partner • Teachers as presenters • LOTS of work, activity, and discussion

  12. Collaboration • District and school personnel collaborated with the IHE in: • Planning • Training • Content Resource • Facilitation • Positive Attitude

  13. The BRACE Agenda • Day 1: Meeting the Challenge of the Quality Core – GAP Analysis and Sequence • Day 2: Science Literacy and the Common Core – LDC Argumentative Piece • Day 3: Formative Assessment, Targets for the Quality Core and LDC Argumentative pieces • Day 4: Intro to Biotech – gel electrophoresis and genetics • Day 5: Biotech Day 2 – rapid colony transformations, PCR, genetic engineering

  14. Accomplishments • All biology teachers trained in biotech methods • Enhanced biological science content knowledge • Developed comfortable relationships with IHE

  15. Accomplishments • All biology teachers trained in biotech methods • Enhanced biological science content knowledge • Developed comfortable relationships with IHE

  16. Accomplishments • Each school has 1 LDC argumentative task read • Five days of Quality Core training for biology teachers from ACT through district funding

  17. Accomplishments • Each school has 1 LDC argumentative task read • Five days of Quality Core training for biology teachers from ACT through district funding

  18. Teacher Response • Anecdotal data indicates a positive response from teachers – when they ask if you can do it again, you are doing the right things! • “Can we do this again next year?” • “I started this thinking it would be a waste of time away from my kids – boy was I wrong!” • “Dr. Cooper from UK is just awesome!”

  19. Teacher Response • Anecdotal data, continued: • “I really enjoyed getting to work with teachers from other schools.” • “Before this I wouldn’t have ever thought of doing these things with my kids” • “How do I reserve the materials?” • “I didn’t realize what great resources we have in the district (people and materials)”

  20. Further Evaluation • Comparison of EOC results between FCPS and the State will be made to look for positive differences • Use of the new biotech materials will be monitored – request are already coming in • Increased use of literacy tools through LDC

  21. What Next? • Initial planning in place to continue working with higher ed in an effort to prepare our students to be career and college ready: • Content Academies • Content Resource

  22. What Next? • Funds allocated to continue LDC training for ALL Biology teachers next year • 4 release days • 2 stipend day • Content Academies are being scheduled for additional training sessions after school • Continued District support for Quality Core

  23. Thank You! • QUESTIONS???

More Related