Meeting Abstract
In recent years, it has become clear that we need for new approaches to STEM education to increase scientific literacy, engagement, and student retention. While several interventions have been made at the university level, interventions are also paramount in high school (grades 9–12). Nearly 20% of students in the ninth grade, an important year that marks the transition to high school, are not enrolled in a single science course. For those do take a science class, it’s important to show students that what they are learning is both applicable to their lives today and the entry point to exciting future careers. BiteScis (bitescis.org) is dedicated to engaging students by exposing them to current science research that provides context to the content they are expected to master. BiteScis lesson plans are developed in collaborative partnerships between high school teachers and early career STEM researchers. The development process provides relevant, useful, and unique professional development for both “BiteScientist” partners. For the researchers, the proves offers an opportunity to practice effective communication and to achieve broader impact goals. Educators get to develop and share high-quality, standards-aligned and easy-to-implement. Both learn from each other. This poster will describe our model and present some of the biology resources currently available, free and fully-editable, on our webpage. Like all of our lessons, they affirm for students that the knowledge they are gaining in the biology classroom is the foundation for emerging research, from looking at ancient skeletons in search of an answer to osteoarthritis to growing bacteria on a giant Petri dish to understand antibiotic resistance.
