University of Washington,
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Undergraduate Biological Sciences Education Program
News and Deadlines
Upcoming Events
We hope you enjoy it!
News/Awards
Read the new article on teaching science process skills from the Fall issue of CBE, by our own Clarissa Dirks and Matthew Cunningham.
Anjelique Schulfer: Frye-Hotson-Rigg Award
Anna Kramer: Deyrup-Olsen Undergraduate Prize
Hannah Marx: Frye-Hotson-Rigg Award, UNCF-Merck Science Initiative
Forrest Jespersen: Porath-Johnson Award
Deadlines for Applicants
Summer Institute In Life Science (SILS)
FREE FOR TEACHERS!!!
A 4-week hands-on course for Gr. 5 - 8 teachers at the University of Washington funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
2008 Dates:
July 23 - August 15, 2008
Now Accepting Applications On-line (Please see How To Apply section below!)
Read a Review of SILS from the newsletter, Perspectives
Overview
The Biology Program has provided intensive summer institutes for in- service teachers since 1987. Through hands-on exploration and careful follow-up with Biology faculty, teachers experience life science as a process of inquiry and problem solving. During the final week of the institute each teacher practices teaching a sample science investigation using readily available materials. Over 350 teachers who had little or no back ground in science and who may have avoided teaching science in the past have been through the program; 3 have gone on to win Science Teacher of the Year Awards! These teachers, selected primarily from urban schools with high minority enrollment and from disadvantaged rural environments, have reached an estimated 45,000 students. This popular program enrolls 20 teachers per year.
The Curriculum
A 4-week hands-on course primarily for Gr. 5-8 Teachers.
All activities are "hands-on" investigations, which provide teachers with a thorough understanding of the life science topics identified in the National Science Education Standards (NRC) for upper elementary and middle school grades.
Field trips allow teachers to learn about different ecological environments in Washington State, and to use the schoolyards and local environments to study nature. Classroom investigations focus on using inexpensive and readily available materials for teaching life science.
Research projects are a part of SILS. We believe that "you can't be a basketball coach unless you've played the game". Simple, interesting scientific investigations can be done in the upper elementary and middle school classroom but unless teachers understand how scientists ask and answer questions, they are at a disadvantage in guiding student investigations. Teachers design their own experiments to answer simple questions about organisms.
Faculty
The Summer Institute in Life Science is directed by two faculty members in the Biology Department: Helen Buttemer and Katherine Glew, both of whom have extensive experience with pre- and in-service instruction.
Helen Buttemer teaches Biology 104 (Biology for Elementary Teachers) for pre-service undergraduates and Biology 492 (Biology Teaching Methods) for pre-service high school teachers. She directs the Biology Programs for Teachers in the Department of Biology including the M.S. in Biology for Teachers degree program. In addition, Helen has been a certified K-12 teacher since 1976 and has taught elementary, middle school and high school.
To read an article by Helen on Inquiry Boards, a tool for teaching experimental design: http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/sc0610_34.pdf
Katherine Glew is active in the University of Washington Herbarium as Curatorial Associate for the lichens and bryophytes. Her specialty is alpine lichen ecology in Washington State. She has taught biology, ecology, and marine biology for over 25 years. Katherine was the recipient of the 1990 Biology Teacher of the Year award for Washington State. She received her Master's in Science Curriculum and Instruction at the UW, emphasizing environmental education. Following a career as a high school biology teacher, Katherine returned to the University of Washington for her Ph.D. in botany. She has been teaching in-service classes for teachers since 1991.
Guests with special skills and expertise also participate in SILS. These include UW faculty and staff, Puget Sound resource people and alumni from past SILS.
Field Trips
Water Quality Study
Trip to an Old Growth Forest
Animal Behavior Study
Alumni
Over 450 teachers in Washington have participated in SILS since it's early beginnings in 1987. These teachers have come from as far away as Pullman, Port Angeles, Bellingham and Vancouver. It is estimated that SILS alumni have brought hands-on inquiry science to over 40,000 students. Word-of-mouth is responsible for the popularity of this institute.
What Participants Say About SILS:
Before this class I thought science needed to be taught out of books. Now I know that science needs to be hands-on with children exploring the different aspects of science.
Every day for 4 weeks I woke up excited about what we were going to learn that day. This is the best science course I have ever taken.
The resources were fabulous - the Resource Center, the opportunity to use the Internet, meet guest speakers, field trips.... everything!
This was the best way I could spend 4 weeks of the summer. I hope to share with my school staff the enthusiasm I now have for teaching life science.
Thank you so much for turning me on to science...I have always avoided science like the plague... I know from now on I will teach real hands-on science to my kids and I will share my excitement about it with them.
2008 Dates:
July 23 - August 15, 2008
M-F 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location
218 Hitchcock Hall, UW Campus
UW Credit
Participants receive 7 credits of Biol 491 upon successful completion of SILS and submission of curriculum project.
Fees
Free! All instructional costs are paid by the grant. Written materials are included in the grant. Each participant receives $150 of teaching materials, including a lab manual, several resource books, equipment and supplies. SILS participants will need to pay for parking and lunches. Campus housing is available, but the costs are not covered by the grant, except under special circumstances.
Who Should Apply
Upper elementary and middle school teachers who are willing and eager to learn new skills and who can devote themselves full-time to the institute are encouraged to apply. Interested K-4 teachers are also welcome to apply. The institute is limited to 20 participants. Priority is given to applicants with little or no science background.
How To Apply
Deadline for Applying to SILS 2008 is April 7, 2008. All applicants will be notified of acceptance by April 21, 2008. After this date, applicants are accepted into the institute as space becomes available. (Inquiries can be directed to Helen Buttemer - see below). Teachers interested in attending SILS must be nominated by their school principal or alternate (department head, a SILS alumnus, staff development coordinator). A letter of recommendation from the nominator is required and can be submitted via mail or e-mail. Applicants from groups which are underrepresented or who serve underrepresented students are especially encouraged to apply.
APPLY ON LINE
https://catalysttools.washington.edu/webq/survey/uwhhmi/46657
For questions contact:
Helen Buttemer
University of Washington
Biology, Box 355320
Seattle, WA 98195-5320
E-mail: helenb@u.washington.edu; phone: (206) 543-1689
^topQuarter Institute In Life Science (QuILS)
For 5-8 Teachers
Free Evening Course for Teachers!!!
A 2-credit evening course for grades 5-8 teachers at the University of Washington featuring hands-on, investigative science for the classroom. Free to teachers - tuition and course materials are covered by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the UW Department of Biology. Offered once per year. Winter or Spring quarter.
QuILS Courses
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New for 2007! Smart Bodies: Activities for Teaching Health
Instructor: Katherine Glew - 2009: TBA
- 2010: TBA
ANNOUNCING QuILS 2008
Smart Bodies: Activities for Teaching Health
Time
8 Classes: January 10, Jan 17, Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14, Feb 28, March 6 Thursdays, 4:30 - 7:30PM
Description
Topics include: Introduction to Experiments with Cells, Human Genetics, Investigations with Microbes, How the Body Works - Activities and useful resources to build, Activities in Nutritional Education, Activities for Sex Education, Activities in Drug Education, Neurobiology, Heart/Circulation, Bioethics Activities, Exercises for Health and Math
Location
218 Hitchcock Hall, University of Washington
UW Credit
2 Credits for Biology 491
Who Should Apply
Grade (4)5-8 teachers who are eager to expand their knowledge of life health in the science classroom. The institute is limited to 20 participants. No application deadline; applicants are admitted on a space available basis.
Contact
Katherine Glew
University of Washington
Biology, Box 355320
Seattle, WA 98195-5320
E-mail: kglew@u.washington.edu; phone: (206) 221-6891
Teaching Health in the Science Classroom
Online Application
For Additional Information
Contact the K-12 Teacher Training Programs Organizer. Phone (206) 543-1689
Helen Buttemer
University of Washington
Biology, Box 355320
Seattle, WA 98195-5320
E-mail: helenb@u.washington.edu; phone: (206) 221-6891
^topVisit Biology
The Visit Biology Project offers age-appropriate learning materials for grades 3-12 based on the Greenhouse and Medicinal Herb Garden teaching and research collections. The Greenhouse staff trains undergraduate and graduate students to lead the tours. Activities are designed to encourage student participation. Students can make cuttings from Greenhouse plants, plant exotic seeds, and learn about art and mathematics, through the observation of plants. Portable interpretive activities can be set up in the Greenhouse for students to become active learners. Some of the curricula are theme based, such as Plant-Animal Interactions, Diversity in Flowers as it relates to Reproductive Strategies, and The Evolution of Plants - demonstrated with botanicals found in the Greenhouse. Learning materials pose intriguing problems for students to solve and are provided for the visitors to take back to their classrooms.
We offer optional opportunities for a classroom follow-up visit by an undergraduate or graduate student. For those schools that cannot come to the Greenhouse or Medicinal Herb Garden, materials can be made available for schools to borrow for the classroom. Graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Washington bring Greenhouse plants and assist with the lessons.
The Visit Biology Project offers the Greenhouse and Medicinal Herb Garden as learning environments, providing student interactions with important topics in biology and experimental projects to better understand the significance of plants in our environment.
Plant lists for the Medicinal Herb Garden and descriptions of their pharmacological use are currently being developed
Activities For K-12 Classes
- General Tours
- Tours for specific groups of plants
- Plant - Animal Interactions with emphasis on chemical protection from herbivory and pollination
- Evolution demonstrated by plant form and natural selection
- Plant Diversity from a taxonomic and/or adaptive perspective
- Diversity in reproductive strategies-passionflowers, orchids
- Plant Conservation - Discussion of extinction and invasive plant species
- Ethnobotany
- Food Chain or Food Web
Faculty
The Visit Biology Program is directed by Katherine Glew, faculty member in the Biology Department. She has extensive experience with in-service instruction. Docents are selected from the Biology Department as undergraduate and graduate students showing a strong interest in plants and education.
For Additional Information, Contact:
Katherine Glew
University of Washington
Biology, Box 355320
Seattle, WA 98195-5320
E-mail: kglew@u.washington.edu; phone: (206) 221-6891
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