UNL offers new course on arachnids for science teachers
A brand-new course for science teachers, BIOS 897: Ecology and Evolution of Arachnids for K-12 Educators, is being offered by the Nebraska Math and Science Summer Institutes (NMSSI) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The NMSSI offers graduate science, mathematics and pedagogy courses that are in a weeklong format to help you take advantage of UNL’s professional development opportunities conveniently and affordably.
Thanks to the NebraskaMATH OPS Teacher Leader Academy that is being funded by the Sherwood and Lozier foundations, OPS teachers have a unique opportunity to pursue graduate education through the NMSSI at no cost to them for tuition or fees. Lunch also will be provided for the participants.
BIOS 897 will be June 20-24 on the UNL City Campus this summer from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Class # 12483, Sec # 592).
Taught by Dr. Eileen Hebets of UNL, this course is for middle school and high school teachers interested in learning how arachnids and their arthropod relatives can be integrated into K-12 classrooms for teaching a breadth of science material including: organismal structure and function; ecosystem interactions and dynamics; inheritance and trait variation; and evolution and biodiversity. The course will use inquiry-based learning, hands on science experiments, individual research projects, and group discussions to learn about the anatomy, physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution of living arachnid groups.
Teachers will learn about animal systems that can easily be brought into the classroom for hands-on science activities and experiments. There will be opportunities during the week for teachers to develop their own modules for their classrooms and to even try these modules out on students during presentations for Parks and Rec. camps that week.
Taking this class would open up the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Hebets and her graduate students in a number of different ways – including having teachers and their own students participate in data collection, analysis, and interpretation of larger science projects. These collaborations could lead to opportunities to do research during the summer (for teachers and students), during the year, and even to present research at national meetings.
Arachnids can be an incredibly potent teaching tool, as virtually all students are interested and intrigued, regardless if it is out of fear or fascination. Additionally, arachnids can be used to teach a wide breadth of subject matter. Dr. Hebets will tailor the course to the needs and desires of the enrolled teachers so they can ensure they get the most out of their time.
Apply now for an “OPS Sherwood-Lozier Fellowship for Summer 2016” to cover the course costs: http://go.unl.edu/scimathapply. You may take up to three courses (9 credits) covered by the Sherwood-Lozier funds in Summer 2016.
Questions? Email nebraskamath@unl.edu.
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Center for Science, Mathematics & Computer Education
http://scimath.unl.edu/nmssi