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B BiologyR RealignmentA andC CurriculumE Enhancement
Fayette County Public SchoolsToyota USA Foundation Mini Conference
Friday, June 29, 2012Georgetown, KY
BRACE
Based on teacher needs identified by Science Department Chairs and District Administration
New Science Literacy Standards
ACT Biology Quality Core – End of Course Exams
Real world experiences which prepare students for career and college readiness
Challenges
Comfort with biotechnology and expensive equipment
Quality Core End of Course Assessments
New content and practices not taught (or known) during teacher preparation
Challenges
Communication/collaboration beyond department, school, and district
Competition - yes, it is still there
Silos: “I am not an English teacher”
Unease - working with IHE partners
Participants Biology teachers
IHE partnerDistrict leadership
Participants Biology teachers
IHE partnerDistrict leadership
Twenty Nine Teachers from ALL High Schools
Martin Luther King Academy
The Learning Center at Linlee
Locust Trace AgriScience Center (hosted all meetings)
Bryan Station High School
Henry Clay High School
Lafayette High School
Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School
Tates Creek High School
IHE Partner
Dr Robin Cooper, Professor of Biology, University of Kentucky
Created an atmosphere of higher ed and secondary ed working together for the students benefit
Put teachers at ease with regard to working with higher ed
Seen by participants as an approachable resource
District Presenters
Mr David Helm Science Resource Specialist, Fayette County Public Schools
Ms Heidi Anderson NBCT Science Teacher, Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School
Dr Scott Diamond, Science Teacher, The Learning Center at Linlee
Goals
Teachers learn biotechnology-related content and techniques they weren’t taught in “teacher school”
Teachers work with teachers from other schools in the district
Teachers make connections between literacy and science education
Teachers believe ALL students can “do” biotech
BRACE Meetings 5 Release Days
Collaboration with IHE PartnerTeachers as presenters
LOTS of work, activity, and discussion
Collaboration
District and school personnel collaborated with the IHE in:
Planning
Training
Content Resource
Facilitation
Positive Attitude
The BRACE Agenda Day 1: Meeting the Challenge of the Quality Core – GAP Analysis and Sequence
Day 2: Science Literacy and the Common Core – LDC Argumentative Piece
Day 3: Formative Assessment, Targets for the Quality Core and LDC Argumentative pieces
Day 4: Intro to Biotech – gel electrophoresis and genetics
Day 5: Biotech Day 2 – rapid colony transformations, PCR, genetic engineering
Accomplishments
All biology teachers trained in biotech methods
Enhanced biological science content knowledge
Developed comfortable relationships with IHE
Accomplishments
All biology teachers trained in biotech methods
Enhanced biological science content knowledge
Developed comfortable relationships with IHE
Accomplishments
Each school has 1 LDC argumentative task read
Five days of Quality Core training for biology teachers from ACT through district funding
Accomplishments
Each school has 1 LDC argumentative task read
Five days of Quality Core training for biology teachers from ACT through district funding
Teacher Response
Anecdotal data indicates a positive response from teachers – when they ask if you can do it again, you are doing the right things!
“Can we do this again next year?”
“I started this thinking it would be a waste of time away from my kids – boy was I wrong!”
“Dr. Cooper from UK is just awesome!”
Teacher Response
Anecdotal data, continued:
“I really enjoyed getting to work with teachers from other schools.”
“Before this I wouldn’t have ever thought of doing these things with my kids”
“How do I reserve the materials?”
“I didn’t realize what great resources we have in the district (people and materials)”
Further Evaluation
Comparison of EOC results between FCPS and the State will be made to look for positive differences
Use of the new biotech materials will be monitored – request are already coming in
Increased use of literacy tools through LDC
What Next?
Initial planning in place to continue working with higher ed in an effort to prepare our students to be career and college ready:
Content Academies
Content Resource
What Next?
Funds allocated to continue LDC training for ALL Biology teachers next year
4 release days
2 stipend day
Content Academies are being scheduled for additional training sessions after school
Continued District support for Quality Core
Thank You!
QUESTIONS???