RE: Science teaching programs (was Re: [Killietalk] Gender control)

[Chris <cgraseck at optonline_net>]

Wright, 

I think the problem with this type of experiment is that it is very long
term and doesn't demonstrate/reinforce a major point.  There is a ton of
material to be covered in the AP class and scientific method is a very
small part.  Sex differentiation (outside of X and Y chromosomes)
doesn't even warrant a paragraph in the text.  Don't get me wrong, as I
think this type of thing would make a great project but it would take a
real fish person to mentor the student(s) through the months required to
collect the data. I don't think the average teacher wants to be bothered
with the effort necessary to run such an experiment when there are so
many other curriculum items to reinforce.

Other problems include space, security of the experiment, and lack of
constant temp in the building.

 I just finished observing three high school Biology teachers.  One
didn't have a living thing in the classroom (her regents students
wouldn't have been up to the task anyway but her APs would have loved
it!)

Cheers,
Chris





-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces+cgraseck=optonline_net at aka.org
[mailto:killietalk-bounces+cgraseck=optonline_net at aka.org] On Behalf Of
Wright Huntley
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 8:48 PM
To: killifish discussion list
Subject: Science teaching programs (was Re: [Killietalk] Gender control)


I, too, see it as a super "science-fair" type learning project. 
Unfortunately, since we lost Dr. Royal Ingersoll (Crystal Springs Upland

School), I don't know of any active senior high-school programs that 
could pull it off. We have a couple of middle-school-level programs in 
the Bay Area, which is truly encouraging, but I suspect this one is at a

much more advanced biology level.

Is there something we could be doing to get some programs going at the 
high school or AP levels? How about using AKA videos for local biology 
classes? Do we have to create expert killifish folk, like Royal, just to

make anything work? Can we get appropriate fish to the students?

I'd love to see some creative discussions here on this topic.

I'm willing to expend some effort, 'cause it's a neat idea, but really 
do not have a very good feel for what would actually be productive.

Wright




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