1. Making Science Relevant to Students Lives Teaching Module December 4, Frehiwot Gebrehiwot RET Fellow 2010 University of Illinois at Chicago

2. Overview of Student Population and Learning Environment
Students in 11th Grade
Chemistry Class
Low mathematical skills
Do not see science as relevant
Difficulty grasping the microscopic (atomic) nature of scientific concepts
Lack of necessary lab materials and equipment
Lack of funding

3. Issues to be Addressed
How can I make my teaching more relevant to my students lives?
How can I provide more opportunities for my students to use technology to conduct investigations that are meaningful?

4. Goals of Teaching Module
1) To engage students by infusing my curriculum with real world application of science
2) To make connections between students lives and what they are learning
3)To integrate technology for students to gain broader understanding of concepts being taught
4) Expose my students to current scientific research

5. What I Learned as an RET Fellow
Most scientific research is based at the micro and nano scale
The application of technology in assisting research
The importance of collaboration
The importance of effective communication

6. Lesson Module Reasons for Approach
Students come from communities where substance abuse is a major problem
They themselves are at high risk for drug and alcohol abuse
The class content covers the structure of chemical compounds and chemical quantities
The topic of drugs will be studied within this content

7. Lesson Module Activities
Students will investigate the chemical structure and composition of major drugs
They will calculate chemical quantities of specific drugs such as molecular weight, percent composition, number of moles…
Teacher will present and discuss research poster “The Role of the Nucleus Accumbens Shell in Regulating Water and Salt Intake”
Make the connection with what we are learning
Students will watch video clips of teacher’s research experience
Discuss with students what I have learned in my research experience

8. Lesson Module Continued
Students will investigate brain cells and their structure using a digital microscope
Students will be assigned to research a specific drug
Students will collaborate to produce a PowerPoint illustrating:
The chemical structure and function of the drug
How the drug alter the structure of the brain and the body’s normal function
How addiction occurs and the biochemical pathways involved
The drugs short and long term effects
Current scientific research on addiction (drug)

9. Needed Equipment to Implement Module
Digital Microscope:
ability to capture still image and video
Full screen viewing
Image sharing
Microscope Slides
Requested Assistance: $700

10. Learning Outcome Thru this teaching module students will be able to:
experience the connection between what they learn in the classroom and real life situations= meaningful learning
greater understanding and appreciation of the microscopic nature of life
knowledge of current scientific research
greater engagement and ownership of their own learning

11. Acknowledgment Dr Andreas Linninger, Program Director
Seon B. Kim, Program Assistant
Dr David Wirtshafter, Research Mentor
University of Illinois at Chicago
National Science Foundation
RET