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NSF Conversation in Undergraduate Biology / AIBS Biology Education Summit
On May 15th and 16th AIBS and AAAS will co-host an NSF Conversation in Undergraduate Biology/AIBS Biology Education Summit at AAAS in Washington, DC. This meeting will focus on the role of scientific societies in promoting and supporting undergraduate biology and will include examining how professional societies can stimulate, support, and disseminate information about undergraduate biological sciences education reform. To this end, the meeting is divided into two segments the NSF Conversation taking place on May 15th and the AIBS/AAAS Biology Education Summit starting on the evening of the 15th and continuing until the afternoon of the May16th.
The following questions will guide both segments:
What are the main goals and learning outcomes for the 21st century undergraduate biological sciences curriculum, including suggestions about knowledge and skills needed for undergraduate biological sciences majors and non-majors.
What changes need to take place in undergraduate biological sciences teaching and learning, including laboratories, pedagogy, and learning technologies strategies.
How to best prepare faculty and structure departments and institutions for changes in undergraduate biological sciences education?
How foundations and professional societies can support efforts for change in undergraduate biological sciences?
Draft agenda (please note this agenda may change)
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May 15th
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NSF Conversations
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8:30 a.m.
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Coffee & Continental Breakfast
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9:00 a.m.
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Plenary Session: Introductory Remarks and Welcome
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9:45 a.m.
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Break
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10:00 a.m.
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Small Group Conversations
- Review of the issues, opportunities to add issues
highlight the most important
- Break Out Groups
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11:45 a.m.
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Working Lunch
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1:15 p.m.
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Small Group Conversations
- Discussion of specific issues chosen at the group's
discretion
- Break Out Groups
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3:30 p.m.
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Break
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3:45 p.m.
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Convening of the Groups — Groups Report Back
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4:30 p.m.
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Conversations with NSF Staff
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5:15 p.m.
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Adjourn NSF Session — Start AIBS Biology Education Summit
Buffet Dinner at AAAS
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6:00 p.m.
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Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education in a Changing World
Rita Colwell, Distinguished Professor, Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, and AIBS President
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6:30 p.m.
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Introduction to the Education Summit
Gordon Uno, Department Chair and David Ross Boyd Professor, University of Oklahoma and Chair of the AIBS Education Committee
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6:45 p.m.
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Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science & Year of Science 2009
Richard O'Grady, Executive Director, AIBS
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7:00 p.m.
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Biology Education Research
Participant Leaders:
Carol Brewer, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, and Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Montana
Diane Ebert-May, Professor of Plant Biology, Michigan State University
Charlene D'Avanzo, Director of the Center for Teaching and Professor of Ecology, School of Natural Sciences, Hampshire College
This session will provide participants with ideas for linking education research and science research opportunities, methods for conducting biology education research, and information on how to publish biology education research.
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8:00 p.m.
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The Education Publishing Transformation
Michael Lange, Vice President, McGraw-Hill Companies
In this brief session, participants will gain insight into the transformation currently taking place in the educational publishing business. Changes in demographics and technology as well as the rising cost of higher education are driving publishers to reconsider their role in the 21st century. The digital delivery of content, teaching tools, and services offer new opportunities but also many challenges.
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8:15 p.m.
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Evening Sharing Session & Dessert with Coffee/Wine/Beer
Participants present information on teaching strategies, biology education research, or society educational activities and receive feedback from the other participants.
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9:00 p.m.
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Adjourn for evening
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May 16th
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Part II: Programs and Projects at the National Level that Effect Biology Education
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7:30 a.m.
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Breakfast at AAAS
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8:30 a.m.
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Getting Under-represented Students into Programs and Getting them Graduated
Participant Leaders:
Earnestine Baker, Meyerhoff Program, University of Maryland - Baltimore County
Teresa Mourad, Director of Education and Diversity Programs, Ecological Society of America
This session will identify critical factors where biology faculty, programs, and societies can impact the pipeline of under-represented students entering and graduating in biology. Participants will consider the importance of these students entering the biological sciences and gain insights from two model programs that have successfully reached students. The session will discuss how biology faculty, programs, and societies can develop more effective recruitment and retention strategies to reach under-represented minorities.
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9:30 a.m.
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Teaching Evolution: Controversies and Issues
Participant leaders:
Gordon Uno , Department Chair and David Ross Boyd Professor, University of Oklahoma
Jay Labov, Senior Advisor for Education and Communication, National Academy of Sciences
Teaching evolution is an issue that affects mostly pre-college classrooms, however, science teachers are taught in undergraduate biology courses, and it is important for these prospective teachers to receive a solid foundation and the proper educational tools to be able and comfortable to teach evolution. This session will discuss what barriers exist that prevent the general acceptance of evolution, and how biology faculty may improve their own courses to help eliminate these barriers.
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10:30 a.m.
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Coffee Break
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10:45 a.m.
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Why National Standards and Accreditation are Needed for Baccalaureate Degree Programs in Biology
Participant Leaders:
Christopher D'Elia, Professor and Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of South Florida
John M. Moore, Department Chairman and Professor of Biology, Taylor University and NABT president-elect
This session will provide a forum for discussion on the current condition of undergraduate biology programs in the U.S. and the recent interest in course, curricula and programmatic review guidelines for undergraduate biology programs. The NABT guidelines for 4-year programs, Developing Biological Literacy and Professional Societies and the Faculty Scholar: Promoting Scholarship and Learning in the Life Sciences will be used as a framework.
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11:45 a.m.
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Best Practices in Undergraduate Biology Education: Promoting Disciplinary Problem Solving with Dynamic E-Science Resources
Participant Leaders:
Sam Donovan, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Pittsburgh and
Associate Director of BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium
Claire Hemingway, Education Director, Botanical Society of America
Collaboration and access to shared data and analysis tools characterize modern biological research. The constantly changing technologies that support today's scientists also offer undergraduate students opportunities to participate in scientific inquiry through web-based collaborations and e-science resources. This session will provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges involved in using diverse, dynamic e-science resources in undergraduate biology. The 'best practice' examples discussed will be drawn from existing national level projects, many of which can be adapted for use in your own courses.
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12:45 p.m.
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Wrap-up — Identifying how this conversation can continue.
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1:00 p.m.
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Boxed Lunches
Open Discussion Time — Identifying where you go from here.
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2:00 p.m.
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Departure
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Contact
For more information, contact Brian Stagg, Education and Diversity Programs Associate at or 202-628-1500 x 249.
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