Enhancing Biology Lessons with Interactive Simulations

1. Enhancing Biology Lessons with Interactive Simulations Jennifer Kuge RET II Project

2. Westlake High School • 2 years of College Preparatory Biology • Currently teaching Honors Biology • 5 periods of 9th graders: 38 students per class

3. Last year… • Per class: • ~ 1-2 ELL in my class reclassified as proficient • ~ 1-2 students with IEP • ~ 4 with 504 plans • Majority have access to computers at home with internet. • Library open to students before/after school and during lunch/nutrition break.

4. Research Project: RET I • Chymotrypsin Inhibitor 2 (CI2) is a small, single domain protein (~80 amino acids) • Protease inhibitor found in barley Mentor: Camille Lawrence Plaxco Lab- Funded by ICB

5. Wild Type CI2 + + WT CI2: 44 s-1 How will the two positively charged side chains affect the folding rate?

6. RF48 Mutant + WT CI2: 44 s-1 RF48: 1564 s-1 Faster! Now there is only one positive charge. How does this affect the folding rate?

7. Research Experience to Classroom • Computer models were used to visualize and predict the folding rates of proteins based on the interactions of amino acid side chains. • Data was collected and entered into a computer to efficiently create complex graphs such as Chevron plots.

8. Project Goal • Use computers to help students: • Visualize/practice a concept • To collect/analyze data • Find at least one internet activity per unit. • Intrinsic motivation: students are in control of the simulations and they are curious about the outcomes.

9. Take a moment to fill out questions number 1 on your notes page. • Skim through the questions and keep them in mind as you see the activities. • Write down any activities that look interesting to you under numbers 2 and 4.

10. Applications: • Video clips shown in class can be accessed again at home (great for absent students) • Make-up assignment for a lab done in class. • Extra practice to reinforce new material. • Can be assigned as homework or extra credit.

11. Pros: No mess/Easy to set up Students can work at their own pace Great visuals Can be finished in a class period No cost for buying supplies Adds variety to your lesson plans. Cons: Internet access outside of school may be limited Not as much interaction as doing group work Pros and Cons of Internet Activities

12. Recommended Use • Some activities can be done in class so you do not need to reserve a computer lab. • Review consequences in advance for students who choose to go to other websites. • Set up links on your teacher website so students can access the websites faster in the computer lab or at home. • Hold them accountable for the assignments with quizzes/writing assignments.

13. Overview of Materials • Organized based on type of activity: • Animations (can hyperlink these to your Powerpoint lectures) • Games • Simulations/labs • Independent Exploration • Table of Materials

14. Animations • Most of the animations are short video clips. • Some of the animation are longer and have questions for students to answer. • Sample animation with questions: • Inner life of cell-link • Other animations to hyperlink into Powerpoint lectures. • Photosynthesis/Respiration • DNA Microarray

15. Games • Can be a fun way to practice and review concepts. • Blood Groups • Teacher’s Guide Blood Groups • Blood Groups WS • Blood Groups Quiz/Key • Blood Groups-link • Mating Game • Mating Game-link

16. For each simulation/lab website… • I have created: • Teacher’s Guide: • List of CA standards covered • Concepts covered/what needs to be front loaded • Approximate length of time required • Suggestions • Guppy simulation-link • Worksheet (assessment) • Short writing assignment (assessment)

17. Simulations • Recovering the Romanovs: biotechnology, history, forensics, pedigrees • Recovering the Romanovs link • Mouse Party: neurotransmitters, reward pathway, drug types, effects on brain • Mouse party-link • Virtual Cell: Image of organelles that students can manipulate. (cut, zoom, rotate) • Virtual cell-link • How big?-link • SEM-link

18. Gene Therapy: gene therapy, Cystic Fibrosis, types of vectors, genetic disorders, game at the end “Space Doctor” • Space doctor-link • Genetic Code: Transcription, Translation, DNA vs. RNA, DNA and RNA synthesis • Genetic code-link • Action Potential: Has various check points to complete as students individually go through the stages of an action potential. • Action Potential-link

19. Molecular models: 3D models of biochemicals that students can manipulate. • Molecular models-link • A Bird Island: 2 part lesson. First is on Adaptive Radiation, Second is on Succession and Outsider impacts. Virtual field trip to Hawaii. • A Bird Island-link • Photosynthesis Simulation: Students visit various websites to collect data and graph it. Shows how light intensity and wavelength affect ATP production. Focuses on the light reactions. • PS simulation-link • PS simulation colors-link • Sample graph-Wavelength and % ATP graph-link

20. Make-up Labs • Enzyme lab: liver, hydrogen peroxide • Enzyme lab-link • Enzyme lab-link 2 • Enzyme lab-link 3 • Virtual pH Lab: Make-up for pH lab done in class. • Virtual pH lab-link • Gel Electrophoresis: Make-up for gel electrophoresis lab. • Gel electrophoresis-link

21. Dissection Unit • Virtual Pig dissection: • Virtual pig dissection-link • Earthworm Dissection: • Earthworm dissection-link • Earthworm dissection-link 2 • Squid Dissection: • Squid dissection-link • Crayfish Dissection: • Crayfish dissection-link • Perch Dissection: • Perch dissection-link

22. Independent Exploration • These are interesting sites that you might want to include links to if you have your own website. • You may want to make your own lessons using these sites in the future. • Earth in Peril • Onion root tip • Mating trickery

23. Now it’s your turn… • All lessons can be adapted to your classroom or the needs of your students. • Try introducing an interactive lesson into your classroom!

24. Finally, fill out the form as you explore the websites. • Use your CD and open today’s Powerpoint presentation. • Click on “view slideshow” to explore the links. • Additional lesson materials are available for viewing in the binders. • Feel free to ask me questions.

25. Acknowledgements • Thank you: • NSF • Martina Michenfelder • Frank Kinnaman • Melanie Pearlman