Learning Biology by Teaching It: Creating Partnerships with Local Teachers and Students Lee Abrahamsen Bates College Biology Department September 29, 2007

Learning Partnerships in Biology What are they? Why do them? What are the benefits? What are the costs? Are they worth it?

Where do partnerships fit? Alternative Optional Projects in Upper-level courses –Bacteriology –Virology Requirement in a General Education Course –Science requirement for all levels –Uses expertise of all students Requirement in a First Year Seminar –Introduces new students to LA –Encourages them to move beyond high school

What do teachers and their students need? A resource for content/equipment/labs –Shrinking budgets –Higher expectations Expertise for particular lessons/labs –New developments in science –Learning results - new curricular requirements Ways to raise aspirations –Encourage each student to take her/his “next step” College students as role models and mentors Help with group learning - extra hands A way to encourage students to feel comfortable on the Bates campus

What do Bates students need? Ways to integrate their classroom learning –Better understanding –“Why is this important?” Ways to make connections –With the community –With younger learners –With each other Opportunities to explore science teaching –Includes Student teaching placements Projects –Alternative ways of learning

Do the partnerships accomplish what we want them to?

What can partnerships lead to?

The Biotechnology Course at Edward Little High School Goals –Encourage students to consider careers in Biotech –Update an old genetics course –Give students an alternative science course option –Give my colleague and I an opportunity to work together on a larger project

My thanks to Phyllis Graber Jensen Office of Communications and Media Relations Senior Staff Writer and Photographer