Teaching Biology Around the Table--Hands-On, Discussion-Based Learning

Leaders: Rich Benz, educational consultant, Lake County Metro Park Environmental Learning Center and Wickliffe High School, retired

Chris Matlack, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH

This course will introduce teachers to the Harkness philosophy of teaching. Hands-on, discussion-based biology instruction around an oval table is the teaching method, named after its benefactor at Phillips Exeter Academy, that will be explored by participants. We will introduce some main themes of biology by utilizing the Harkness teaching philosophy (question, think, discuss and do). The role of homework in exposing the students to the material before every class much like “flipping the classroom” will be modeled. Participants will also see how hands-on laboratory work can be used to introduce new material, strengthen developing ideas in current material, or bring closure to material at the end of a unit.

Teaching Biology Around the Table

Through classroom exercises chosen from Phillips Exeter Academy's Biology curriculum and designed with the Harkness teaching philosophy in mind (question, think, discuss, do), participants will see how hands-on lab work can be used to introduce new material, strengthen developing ideas in current material, or bring closure to material at the end of a unit.

Sunday:

• Intro to the Harkness Table
• HW for Monday: Read the Matlack Article, Read "Stupidity In Science" and What Is a Biological System? Develop a definition to discuss.

Monday:

• Harkness Mapping and Role Playing
• What is Science? Puzzle Activity--What is a System? Is Yeast a System? A living System? Design a lab.
• Homework for Tuesday--Download and read the article --"The Experiment" by David George Haskell--

Tuesday:

• Homeostasis in Biological Systems.
• What is Homeostasis? Discuss "The Experiment" article.
• How do humans use homeostatic mechanisms to maintain healthy systems?
• HW for Wednesday: Systems. Read paper on Plant Blindness

Wednesday:

• A Taste of Genetics--Paper strips and Strawberry DNA
• Plant Blindness--A Harkness Discussion Dissection
• HW for Friday. Review The Stomata Lab at Stomata Lab

Friday:

• Connecting Cells and Systems.
• Stomata Lab-- Asking the Essential Question-- "Are Shade leaves structurally different from Sun leaves?" Collecting data and drawing conclusions. Data driven discussions.