ATHENS – Athens State University has developed a special interdisciplinary workshop for science teachers that bridges their Biology Department with the Athens State based Alabama Mathematics and Science Teaching Initiative (AMSTI) and Science in Motion (ASIM). The course is titled Laboratory Technologies for Teachers
The course is designed to train current and future teachers, certifying them as instructors for selected labs in Levels 1, 2, and 3 in the Science in Motion series in their classrooms. This year, it will be focusing on Level 1 and 3 labs. After this training, teachers will be able to request and run entire, pre-designed labs for their classrooms through ASIM. Through this program, students will have access to exciting activities that include DNA extraction, mock forensic investigations, and analysis of human skeletons.
Athens State Assistant Professor of Biology Sara Cline states, “This is an excellent opportunity for a Biology teacher interested in preparing her or his students for college. Through ASIM, teachers have access to expensive equipment that many students are not exposed to until college. Equipment available through ASIM includes Visible-light spectrophotometers that measure the amount of chemical in a solution by color and Vernier® LabPro units that can measure things such as dissolved gases, pH and background radiation. I would love to see my college students coming into my classroom having already experienced these labs.”
AMSTI/Science in Motion (ASIM) Laboratory Technologies for Teachers (BI 457) will meet this summer and can be taken as a three hour biology course through Athens State. This workshop is also available to the general public, including practicing middle and high school biology instructors. Meetings are on the Athens State campus from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on July 7-11 and July 14-18. Prerequisites for the course include Principles of Biology I and II or permission of the instructor.
Contact Dr. Sara Cline at 256-233-6507 or Ms. Nancy Giles 256-216-6622 for more information.
MEDIA RELEASE/ATHENS STATE UNIVERSITY/GUY MCCLURE, JR.
