Genes determine and influence so much in our world. From the frequency of a trait in a population of crickets to the color of a cat’s fur coat, the microscopic gene plays a leading role.
In this 5-day face-to-face professional learning course, participants work to make sense of the relationship between genes and traits by exploring populations, DNA’s various structures and functions, cellular and sexual reproduction, and genetic diversity. Throughout the course, participants engage in active discourse as they work to understand the science for themselves as adult learners.
Interwoven with the science are Literacy Investigations that provide participants with an opportunity to engage with contextualized discussions that focus on the unique nature of discourse in science. Teaching Investigations provide an opportunity to connect their own adult learning to the classroom context.
As part of the resources included in this course, participants have access to the Making Sense of Student Work PLC protocol and the Energy Formative Assessment Task Bank. An optional Next Generation Science Toolkit is also available. The toolkit supports building a deeper understanding of energy in the context of Next Generation science as described in the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Teaching.
At last we have an outstanding professional development resource that takes into account both students’ and teachers’ ideas and leads teachers through a collaborative process that makes a measurable difference in their teaching and student achievement.
Page Keeley, author of the Uncovering Student Ideas in Science series
- Audience: For teachers of 6–8 science
- Time: In-person | 5 full days
- Learn more about this course by downloading the course overview.
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Facilitation Academy
Prepare staff developers to facilitate a specific MSS Course. Attendees experience the course as learners and delve into the techniques needed to facilitate it for participants.
Genes & Traits Course Materials
This comprehensive set of materials supports the professional learning in our 5-day Genes & Traits course.
Surveys & Assessments for Teachers and Leaders
Use our surveys to collect professional learning feedback and determine teacher self-efficacy and confidence. Our assessments gauge student and adult science content knowledge assessment, teacher NGSS knowledge assessment, and teacher pedagogical science knowledge.
Genes & Traits Formative Assessment Task Bank
These formative assessments involve gathering and analyzing evidence of students’ thinking, then using what is learned to inform instruction.