Subject: Collaboration on Curricula

Posted by Daniel D Burke on 11/21/2005
In Reply To:Collaboration on Curricula Posted by John Heinbokel on 11/18/2005

Message:

John,

I would like to explore a possible specific collaboration with you and
Jeff and possibly some other teachers.

I am working with a school district whose minority students are crashing
on a state mandated exam in biology (I know that's a surprise). The
biology students in their block scheduled schools, 4-90 minute periods
per week for a semester are doing the worst. I have suggested to the
district that the teachers use computer simulations tied to the
curriculum for 30 minutes or so a day rather than wasting the time on
supposidly doing homework. The district may well work with me to set up
a random assignment controlled study to determine whether using
simulation will improve student scores. I may use some of the
simulations in the CLE but am looking for more or other biology
simualtions, either already available or to be developed.

The caveat I have about this is I don't want to turn it into an explicit
test of developing systems thinking. I am as opposed to standardized
tests as anyone but the district must use them and the sutdents must
pass them and it is my feeling that minority students should be able to
do just as well on them as other students. And, while I do want the
students to become systems thinkers, material that does not seem
specifically targeted to helping them learn biology will not be used by
the teachers. The probably cannot use it well anyway. I want material
that will develop their systems ability as a function of developing
their biology knowledge and skills rather than the other way around. I
don't mean to sound snotty about this last, but I have worked with these
school systems and teachers for a long time and know how they respond.

In sum then, please let me know if you think we may be able to arrange a
collaborative effort.

Sincerely,
Dan Burke

Follow Ups:

Curriculum - Biology (Burke) - John Heinbokel 12/7/2004 
Curriculum - Biology (Burke) - Daniel D Burke 12/18/2005
Curriculum - Biology (Burke) - Steve Kipp 12/7/2005
Curriculum - Biology (Burke) - Della Robertson 12/7/2005
Curriculum - Biology (Burke) - Susan Ragan 12/7/2005