EDU643+Chris+Demos


 * Lesson plan for inquiry-based experience in modern biotechnology and the grading rubric for the laboratory report.[[file:biotechcurr- Unit 01.doc]]**

Chris, You unit plan is impressive in its depth. The long class periods allow you to plan great texture into your lessons with multiple activities and different forms of instruction. Regarding the student hypotheses, how much leading to a testable hypothesis do you do or envision having to do? Do you let students test the same hypothesis and secretly hope they get different results? Tim

Tim, Thanks and yes the long class periods do allow for a lot of flexibility. In the beginning of the year I do lead them in their investigations. As the year progresses I have found that just leaving out a variety of different materials can get some to develop excellent experiments. As you are aware, there differing levels of processing and abilities. Some students will need extra support with hypothesis development. Yes they can test similar ones or different ones.


 * Chris,**
 * I love the variety on instructional methods you incorporate. I especially like that you have them read a biographical text. Do you only read the one book or do you switch it up from year to year? Since you seem quite well read when it comes to scientific literature perhaps you could provide several reading options or a list of possible books they could choose.**

I typically have one or two books per unit. For genetics and molecular biology it is either the Rosalind Franklin book or the Double Helix. The feedback I have gotten from the students is that they do not enjoy reading the Double Helix, so I didn't bother putting it in this lesson plan. So to answer your question, yes they are given a variety of books as an optional assignment throughout the semester.