Session C-3: Epidemiology

Epidemiology, the study of factors influencing the spread of communicable disease, has become a broadly discussed topic given the recent Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. Participants in this session will work in the lab to model epidemiology and examine the results through a simple ELISA assay. We will discuss how to use data to identify original patients. Further, we will look at some in-class activities that highlight some well-established case studies in epidemiology (NGSS ESS3.A and LS2.C)

Addressing Misconceptions about Evolution

Leave with effective ways to identify and address misconceptions about evolution, with a particular focus on supporting explanations with evidence

Addressing Misconceptions about Evolution

Leave with effective ways to identify and address misconceptions about evolution, with a particular focus on supporting explanations with evidence

Session B-1: Current Events in Biology

Teaching fundamentals, while important, can sometimes take a toll on our motivation and enthusiasm for our subject because there are rarely significant changes in the content we might present from year to year. However, keeping up with the current progress of our field, what’s new and exciting in research, and how current advancements can impact our health, well-being, and society in the future can keep us inspired, and help us continue to inspire our students. Come discuss what’s happening in biology news today, hear what we’re excited about and bring your own ideas to share

Session C-1: Ecosystem Disruption: Using lab and real-world examples to bring changes in Earth’s ecosystems to life

The magnitude of the changes occurring in Earth’s ecosystems seems difficult to tackle in the classroom and lab. Here we explore ways to demonstrate the changes in the Earth’s water and carbon cycles in the lab and bring them to life in real-world ecosystems in the classroom

Student Inquiry and Research: Developing Students\u27 Authentic Inquiry Skills

Established by the state of Illinois in 1985 to develop talent and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) has become an internationally recognized educational learning laboratory that inspires, challenges, and nurtures talented students. Our advanced, residential, college preparatory program prepares 650 talented Illinois students in grades 10, 11, and 12 to become scholars, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Toward this end, we find that about 80% of our graduates obtain STEM bachelor\u27s degrees. IMSA has a long history of supporting, nurturing, and promoting high school student participation in research through our academic curriculum and the Student Inquiry and Research (SIR) program. In 2008, we completed our 22nd year as a math and science academy; for 20 of these years we have had a student research program that now numbers approximately 3,300 cumulative student participants. The SIR program supports student research not only in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields (about 75% of participants), but also in the fine arts fields

Reconnecting the Sciences

During the last three years at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, we have been working on a partial reconstruction of Whitehead\u27s one subject matter, a course reconnecting biology, chemistry, earth and space sciences, and physics into an Integrated Science program

Session E-7: Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases

Recently, diseases considered obsolete (measles, whooping cough) have begun to re-emerge, bringing attention to the importance of vaccines and the danger of infectious agents. Our discussion will include enriching a biology curriculum using information including epidemiology, media, and scientific reports

Session C-5: Using Sordaria to Understand Meiosis

Using this simple organism, students can perform a genetic mapping experiment to determine the location of a spore pigment gene relative to the centromere. A deeper examination of the same data will reveal the mechanism of crossing over in meiosis

Session D:5: Visual Assessments in Biology

Most of us think of crayons and drawing paper as classroom tools for only the youngest of students, but we have found that incorporating assessments that require students to create visual representations of their understanding into our curriculum has been a successful way to improve their ability to construct models and express what they have learned. In this session, we will share our experiences and examples of student work, and discuss with participants how these and other creative approaches can help improve student understanding in biology