Forums

I met a teacher today who is interested in new Biology SciPacks, specifically about cells and genetics. I also heard today that a new SciPack is being created on Cell Division and Differentiation.

Question:
Are there any other topics you'd like to see developed into SciPacks?

Just a thought-provoker.

I would like to see a SciPack about taxonomy.

I think a SciPack about Classification and the Kingdoms would be very useful. It is difficult to know how in depth to go on each kingdom without overwhelming and boring students.

Dear All, Here are the SciPack titles in the works....coming soon to the Learning Center: + Cell Division & Differentiation + Cells & Chemical Reactions + Regulation & Behavior of Organisms + Flow of Matter & Energy in Ecosystems + Heredity & Variation + Biological Evolution + Natural Selection + Interdependence of Life Flavio.

Thank you, Flavio. Remind me when will those new SciPacks will be available?

As an earth science person, it would be great if the SciPack touches on concepts that relate taxonomy to the fossil record and how we learn about ancient environments.

The new Sci Packs that Flavio mentioned that will be coming out (soon, I hope) are very meaningful and important topics for biology teachers. It will be good to have that information for teachers to review--especially the Evolution and Heredity.

I would like to see a sci pack on cellular transport. I proctored an exam taken by 9/10 graders on the topic, and the misconceptions they have about prokayotic and eukaryotic cells and transport was really alarming.Quite a few of them could not even identify the function of the nucleus. They were answering that ALL prokaryotic cell were singular and had no organelles.The textbook obviously is not giving complete information. Terry Houghton

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing.

I am a life science teacher, but I found many of the concepts in the Earth, Sun, Moon SciPack to be very powerful tools for students. The explanation of seasons would be great to use when preparing to teach photosynthesis. There is a great description of the Earth axial tilt that I am planning on using to teach why plants lose their leaves and how photosynthesis is not beneficial for most plants during the winter months. Check out some of the other SciPacks, there are some great details in the SciPacks.

The sooner we can get these up to speed, the better - lots of grades six and seven are life and environmental science oriented... Thanks for all so far!

Thanks for providing the information the new SciPacks - I've added the list to my quick reference.

The new Sci Pack topics look terrific!

I agree that a Sci Pack on Biological Evolution will provide a great service for educators.
Will there also be Sci Packs on Chemical Evolution and Evolution of the Universe?

I'm curious, how often will Sci Packs be reviewed and their content updated?
Scientific discovery moves forward so quickly these days!

If a Taxonomy/Classification Sci Pack is designed, I would recommend adding information the Domain level of classification (above kingdoms) and the recent revisions to Kingdom Moneara - Now 2 Kingdoms - Eubacteria and Archaebacteria. Many teachers are not yet aware of these latest revisions to taxonomy. (time lag for text updates and/or old classroom text books).

Dorothy Ginnett

Although I know it will have to go on a back burner, it would be nice to develop SciPacks that would directly address the content that elementary teachers need to teach. I believe that elementary teachers should understand science content at a level higher than that of their students, but I also know that the science courses that they take varies hugely from university to university. I was at one university that substituted Anatomy and Physiology for the biology course(s) required in elementary education. Elementary teachers don't teach human biology. In addition, the content taught at the college level is often beyond what the students will need to teach so they may not get reminded about the content between primary school and teaching primary school. For young teachers in survival mode, it would help them to at least have a PD Indexer for general elementary science content and SciPacks that address the content. I know that elementary teachers aren't our largest membership populations, but such support may increase their participation in NSTA.

I would like to add that improving the quality of elementary level science education is critical to the product we are expected to deliver at the middle and high school levels. In an effort to improve reading and math (at least in this area) science may be almost ignored in the early grades. Most elementary school teachers get a very light dose of science in their initial preparation, and the methods courses are light on inquiry and project-based learning at that level. It has been my observation that many elementary teachers are math and science-phobic, and need more support to get over it to effectively teach. That said, the SciGuides provide excellent materials for developing lessons to achieve science standards at all levels. They could be excellent starting points for teachers who are not familiar with the content, but want to integrate more science into their curriculum. It helps provide a better structure as well for the specific content.

Dear All, Coming soon - hopefully, within the next two weeks (if not in early January) - is a new SciPack in Life Science: Cell Division and Differentiation. Here is a short blurb: The Cell Division and Differentiation SciPack explores the cellular processes, including the selective expression of specific genes, which allow for the differentiation and specialization of cells. Additionally, this SciPack looks at cell division (mitosis) and the cell cycle, including the cycle for unhealthy (cancerous cells); the hierarchy between cells, tissues, organs and the organism; and the difference between specialized (differentiated) and unspecialized (undifferentiated) cells. Stay tuned! Flavio.

Hi Flavio (and all other posters), I'm excited to see so many new SciPacks are being developed. Like Adah, I think an evolution SciPack would be very helpful to teachers, so I'm thrilled to see that evolution is included on the list. Another SciPack that I think would be useful is Biodiversity. Maureen

Any thought of doing SciPacks about environmental issues? Watersheds, invasive species, land use?

I think an Evolution SciPack would be awesome as well.. I would also like to see a pack on Human Systems/Reproductive System/Sexual Health. I think this would be great to provide further content, and share the misconceptions that students have. I teach diseases every year, about 3-4 weeks, and students are very confused and misguided. HIV/AIDS is a particular one that students do not understand, luckily I took a HIV/AIDS class in College, so I am re-teach them :) Happy New Year Liz

Hi Flavio and Everyone!
They are here! The promised new sci pack and sci objects on cell differentiation! I am so excited. I have included the product guide info for the 2 new sci objects:
Cell Division and Differentiation: Variation and specialization of Cells

Cell division and Differentiation: Multicellular Organization

I can't wait to go through them. Thanks, Flavio!!!
Carolyn

Thanks Flavio. Something already mentioned it, but along the lines of taxonomy, I find that the kids like to build dichotomous keys and then have their own peers try to categorize certain objects/organisms according to the keys they built. Maybe a scipack in the future could address this as well? They really understood the concept when I made a simple key about how to categorize people. For example: 1) Male or female? Male...go to 2, Female, go to 3... 2) Over 20 years old...go to 4, under 20 years old...Justin Bieber 3) .... 4) ETC.