You are browsing the archive for 2008 August.

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by Brad Williamson

BugGuide Recommendation

August 23, 2008 in KABT News, Nature, Teaching Resources

Recently, I came across a great resource for biology teachers and naturalists that teach some aspect of entomology: BugGuide. This site represents some of the best of the collaborative nature of the Web. The site is a rich resource. If you can’t find your information–just post an image or leave a question–someone will probably get back to you. For instance I found that the galls on sumac that I had found were caused by aphids. The site had images and a number of resources about the sumac galls.

Today, Nuthatch, who blogs at Bootstrap Analysis about such things described her efforts to survey her yard for various insects. She posted the following image at BugGuide:

She found out that her wasp is an undescribed species. You can read her account here.

BW

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by Brad Williamson

Biology Challenge

August 23, 2008 in KABT News, Nature

There are a lot of cool things happening outside, right now as we transition from late summer into fall. This challenge is an attempt to get a discussion started. Notice the ant in the lower part of this close-up photo I took this morning at the Prairie Center in west Olathe. Ant on EFN

Here’s the challenge:
1. Can you name the plant? (I know it’s tough without the flowers but not impossible.)
and
2. Can you name the structure that seems to be the center of the ant’s attention?

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by Brad Williamson

KABT Fall Meeting: Web 2.0 at the University of Kansas

August 19, 2008 in KABT Meetings, KABT News, NABT news

BLOGS, WIKI’s, and Facebook–oh my…

Plan on attending KABT’s fall meeting scheduled for Sept. 13th at KU. We’ll meet on the first floor of the school of education’s JRP building just west of the football stadium at 8:30 a.m. for preregistration. We are charging a modest $10 registration fee. There is no registration form but leave me a comment to this post if you think you are coming so we can get an idea of the numbers. KU’s school of education tech department has graciously made their computer labs available for this meeting. Most of the meeting will feature hands-on computer explorations of WEB 2.0 applications and their impact on biology education. The day is scheduled in 45 minute blocks. Two blocks have concurrent sessions.

Read the rest of this entry →

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by Scott Sharp

Curriculum Corner Launch!

August 12, 2008 in KABT News

With the help of Brad Williamson, I am happy to announce that we now have a “Curriculum Corner” on the KABT website. My goal with the Curriculum Corner is to be a place for you as a biology teacher to have access to free and customizable curricula. My hope is that the Curriculum Corner will meet your needs whether you’d just like an idea for a single lesson on a given topic, or you’re in need of an entire curriculum. The great thing about having these curricula on the KABT BioBlog site is that each document allows for teacher feedback. Since these curricula are entirely electronic, the documents can evolve as better ideas come from you using the documents and providing thoughtful feedback. With the help, input, and better ideas of the KABT community, my hope is that the Curriculum Corner will evolve into a resource that will be of great utility to teachers in Kansas and beyond. I would also like to see the Curriculum Corner expand with the addition of Anatomy & Physiology, Zoology, Environmental Science, Genetics, Botany, etc. The usefulness of this resource will grow with contributions and feedback from teachers like you.

I have uploaded documents for the three classes I currently teach at De Soto High School: General Biology, Kansas Natural History, and AP Biology. To help see if any of these curricula can be of use to you, I’ll describe a bit about each class below. Read the rest of this entry →

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by sandycollins

Kansas Outstanding Biology Teacher (OBTA) Selected

August 10, 2008 in KABT News

Congratulations to Kim Houtz, Kansas 2008 recipient of the National Association of Biology Teachers’ Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA).

Kim has been teaching at Marysville High School since 1999. Since that time she has taught a variety of biology classes, including Human Anatomy and Human Physiology and has introduced a new class entitled “Forensic Science”. Her education background includes a B.S. in biology, a B.S. in secondary science education and an M.Ed from Kansas State University in education administration. Kim continues to strengthen her knowledge of biology and science teaching through involvement in state and national conventions, summer institutes (for example, “Strengthening Science Instruction Using Forensic Science”), workshops (as “RNA and Origins of Life”) and involvement in programs as Kansas State Curriculum Leaders. Read the rest of this entry →

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by Brad Williamson

“Is it Alive” Update from Candy Surdez

August 5, 2008 in Labs

Summertime is a time for catching up.  Last spring, I described a lab that Candy Surdez shared that used vinegar eels and other organisms to explore the boundary of what is alive.  Just recently Candy completed and sent me the the documents for the “Is it alive” lab lab that she had written as well as a teacher guide.   She has graciously shared the documents in Microsoft Word format so that if you choose to use them you can also edit them to fit your classroom situation.

Thanks, Candy, this kind of resource sharing has a great deal of potential to help all biology teachers.

BW

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