Final Blog Post

I feel much more confident in conducting more challenging labs this year in my science classroom with my seventh graders. As a result of the last three weeks, I also have a few new resources I would enjoy using in my classes to help students improve their critical thinking skills (DBCS, lab ideas, the Lab-O-Matic, etc.). I plan on having more open-ended learning activities that include creativity like the Design Thinking project we did today. I feel like this type of project will motivate my students to be more creative and also to feel more confident in sharing their ideas with classmates. This is something that so many students struggle with in the middle school years. I would love to do one of the Design Thinking projects with my science department. It would be a wonderful way to share this idea with my colleagues and a fun way to spend some PD time. :)

Blog Post #3

I would like to do the biodiesel lab as a demonstration with my students. To have 15 or so sets of kiddos making biodiesel makes me very nervous. :) I DO want them to see how easy the process it though, because it is unbelievable! It shows students the possiblities of a future that exists on very little fossil fuels. I will engage ISU in my teaching this year with lab protocol and by being a risk-taker and doing more "daring" labs with my students. I want to use the document based case studies to help my students improve their non-fiction reading skills and their critical thinking skills. I would like to create some "mini" documents to use throughout the year. I would LOVE to see Eric Hall teaching in his classroom! I think I could gain a lot of ideas from observing him.

Final Week's Thoughts

I have really enjoyed the labs we have done lately. The bioplastics lab is definitely one that I will use with my students this school year. There are so many things students can learn about following lab procedures, variables, and team work while completing the bioplastics lab. I would like to give them time to engineer a "better" bioplastic through experimentation, too. The trip to Lincoln Way Energy has been my favorite field trip so far. It is so exciting that we have an ethanol plant so close to us. I now have a better understanding of the process used to create ethanol. I have shared my new knowledge with many people and it seems that none of them were aware of the plant being so close or the process used. Everything I have used/done in the Academy has been something I can use in some way with my students. I feel more confident to use hotplates in my classroom this year with my students after actually participating in the labs myself. I am excited to use the document based case studies with my classes and also the posters. I think that they will enhance my students' critical thinking skills for sure!

Week One Reflection

One of the most important things I learned this week are that teachers are fun, creative, and inspiring classmates! I have shared classroom ideas and gained so many new ideas from my classmates that I am excited to use this next school year. Learning in a pair or in a group is such a great experience with plentiful benefits. The most challenging part of the week has been to learn about new concepts involving the creation of Biochar. It has been both fascinating and puzzling to me. I plan to do some more research on it to find out more information this weekend. I am excited to take all this new biorenewable knowledge I have gained and will gain in the next two weeks into my teaching. I also love that I have resources and knowledge about what scientists in this area do and I can share that with my students so they will know the career choices they have in the future. Teaching science is an ever evolving job. There are always new pieces of information I can learn and share with my students. I love it!

Reflection #1

Day Three Reflection: I applied for the Summer Academy because it fits right along with my curriculum that I currently teach to my seventh graders. I enjoy spending part of my summer learning new information that I can use in my teaching. I am excited to see what I can learn from scientists at ISU about Biorenewables. This Biorenewables curriculum will fit into my current seventh grade science curriculum very easily! I already have an environmental science unit that I teach. All of this information will fit perfectly into the unit I already share with my students. I love that it gives me more up-to-date information about current science topics that I can share with my students and colleagues. Throughout their school year, students are currently learning information that will assist them in becoming adults who are knowledgeable, life-long learners. This information is important for them to be familiar with because Biorenewables are part of the future. Students need to be aware of new advances in science and how those advances will affect our economy and their lives in other ways. The first couple days of my class were spent learning what Biorenewables are and how Iowa State University is researching information about the future of Biorenewables use. I also have learned about creating a case study assignment for my students that will help them build their critical thinking skills. Today I learned what Biochar is and how it is created. It will be something we will definitely hear about in the future. One of the best things about the academy is that I have made several friends in my colleagues who are also taking this class with whom I can collaborate on current and future topics.