Using Critical Literacy to Explore Genetics and its Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues with In-Service Secondary Teachers

The described interdisciplinary course helped a mixed population of in-service secondary English and biology teacher-participants increase their genetics content knowledge and awareness of Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) that arose from discoveries and practices associated with the Human Genome Project. This was accomplished by applying a critical literacy approach that allows people develop cognitive skills such that they are able to “read the world” (Wink, 2004). The approach is one that permits readers to go beyond the literal text to examine what is present as well as what is missing as it relates to issues of equity and fairness. Becoming critically literate enabled these teacher-participants to challenge the subtle attitudes, values, and beliefs conveyed by a range of written and oral texts. The teacher-participants in this course improved their critical literacy skills by actively reading, critically writing about, and using evidence to support their conclusions about issues arising from advances in human genetics. A biologist, a linguist, and an educator collaboratively designed and taught the course. The personalized focus on the integration of thoughtful reading and writing in this class enhanced the teacher-participants' (n = 16) professional and intellectual development and will potentially improve learning in their biology and English classrooms in the future

Access to Print in Low‐Income and Middle‐Income Communities: An Ecological Study of Four Neighborhoods

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/88026/1/RRQ.36.1.1.pd

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

The promise of wireless enabled electronic community networking: Background and early lessons in a regional area in Queensland

This paper examines issues surrounding the adoption of wireless enabled electronic community networks in a regional area in Queensland, Australia. It briefly examines the history of electronic community networks and their setting in creating social capital in geo-communities. It then reviews the application issues for a pilot project for wireless enabled electronic community network in the regional location and proposes base issues to be considered for a participative research project

Building a community using email: A case study of community group

This case study describes changes in parent involvement facilitated by the use of an email list for a regionally based girls’ school threatened with closure. From an organization with less than 8 active members, the parent group grew to over 100 active members with an additional five new subcommittees in less than one month. Issues of information boundaries, and the power accumulation with the exercising of information control are examined as is the role of increased social cohesion resulting from the introduction of an electronic mail list. The resultant changes in the nature of the activities of the parent stakeholder group and the relationship with the Board of Trustees are described. The major concerns of the parent stakeholder group and their effects on the decision-making processes in the management are discussed. The use of an email list to share information and devolve power is analyzed and recommendations for the use of email lists for supporting the development of a strong, diverse yet cohesive stakeholder community are made

E-mail-based mobilization - parents to the rescue: A case study in a regional school

Parent organisations associated with secondary schools are increasingly challenged to become involved in meaningful ways to improve the educational outcomes for their children. This case study will focus on the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to mobilise a parent-led response to the announcement of a financial crisis and possible closure of a school. The use of an e-mail list in combination with other communication media enabled the stakeholder groups to identify strategies and then act to address the school's viability. The advantages and limitations of the use of ICT in this context are presented. The resultant changes in the dynamic of social inclusion in the broader school stakeholder groups are also discussed. The case study concludes that ICT is a useful tool in building social capacity for community engagement and for addressing limitations in organisational structures