Engage students visually with dynamic experiments to build interest.
Biology is the study of life and is by definition an essential part of a well-rounded education. However, like other math and science subjects, biology is not a strong area for many students. According to a study performed in 2009 by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 40% of students exhibit below basic skill levels in science by 12th grade. Correcting this deficiency is not a matter of providing more equipment or easier material, but of meeting students where they are at and fostering an intrinsic interest in the life sciences. As a teacher or tutor, you can do your part to rekindle a love of learning by helping your student communicate in the language of science.
Instructions
Teacher Prep
1. Present the unit from an angle that is inherently interesting or valuable to your students. For example, ask a student to stand in the doorway and press her arms against the frame for one to two minutes and then step away, relaxing her arms at her side. The student's arms will rise slowly, due to delayed signals in the nervous system. This trick is easy and engaging, drawing attention to a subject that can sound uninteresting.
2. Develop a hands-on experiment or activity upon which your students can reflect. For example, students could raise pea plants under various light, sound and heat conditions, study the tracks of local wildlife or write a paper that proves they are alive.
3. Establish a format for the written component, such as formal essay, persuasive short-answer or open reflection. Define each format with a distinctive set of properties. For example, a formal essay could be defined as a five- to 10-page paper with six parts: a summary of the experiment, introduction with hypothesis, experiment set-up, experiment progress, interpretation of results and a conclusion.
4. Develop a prompt that encourages students to reflect on the activity in a particular written format. For example, "State your original hypothesis, findings and conclusion in formal report format."
Instructional Time
5. Inform students of the nature of the activity and the writing assignment. Provide a clear grading rubric that lists the time commitment, content, style and quality standards. Include a sample essay or excerpt with your project rubric.
6. Engage students verbally as they work through the activity. Ask about their progress and encourage communication among peers. Provide tools for journaling and note-taking throughout the lesson; notes can be a useful memory aid for the student and proof of effort for you.
7. Set aside one to three hours for in-class outlining. Show students how you want them to set up the essay. Break students into pairs for peer review of outlines. Read and comment on these drafts.
8. Allow a reasonable amount of time for a full written draft to be completed based on the age group of your students, ability and other class loads.
9. Review all drafts, providing each student with a detailed mark-up. Question his hypothesis, procedures and interpretation. Give the drafts back to each student. If possible, hold a brief, 5-minute conference with each student to discuss her work.
10. Allow time for additional drafts and full completion of the assignment.
Tags: each student, your students, Engage students, formal essay, students reflect
