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Structure and Function in Biology. Kristen J. Champion Vanderbilt University Dept. of Biomedical Engineering. Project Definition. Problem: Students often find concepts in biology abstract and difficult to understand
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Structure and Function in Biology Kristen J. Champion Vanderbilt University Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Project Definition • Problem:Students often find concepts in biology abstract and difficult to understand • Goal:The aim of this project is to aid middle school to high school level students in their understanding of these concepts by developing teaching aids, analogies, hands-on-models, etc. that relate structure to function in a simplified, interesting manner
Project Structure • Three topics (modules) were chosen for project concentration: • (I)Structure and function within macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) • (II) Structure and function within the cell (cellular organelles) • (III) Structure and function within organ systems (the digestive system)
Overall Status • Approximately 40% completed; background research near completion • Timeline of the project:
Project Background • Advisor:Vicki H. Metzgar - Coordinator NSF GKI2 Teaching Fellows • Of the nearly 25 million middle and high school level students, approximately 7% (1.75 million) have learning disabilities in math and/or science unrelated to I.Q.
Current Status • Website updated • Research on modules II and III completed • Teaching aids/lesson plans currently being developed for modules II and III
Future Plans • Complete research on all modules • Complete design of teaching aids/lesson plans for all modules • Design Safe and IWB analysis • Determine validation procedures
References • Werth, Alexander. Simple Lesson Plans in Biomechanics and Biological Materials Using Everyday Objects. The American Biology Teacher, Volume 63, 2001. • Sherwood, Lauralee. Human Physiology, From Cells to Systems, Fourth Edition, 2001.