Workshops for Teachers
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A 40-foot, fully customized mobile learning machine visited campus Jan. 11-12, 2010. The Connecticut BioBus, outfitted with the latest in bioscience equipment and technology, prepared about two dozen elementary, middle and high school teachers from across the state for a visit to their schools this academic year.
"Ultimately, we want teachers to feel more empowered to bring quality hands-on science into their classrooms," said Kerry Donahue, senior staff scientist at Connecticut United for Research Excellence, within which BioScience Explorations is an educational outreach program.
Approximately two dozen additional teachers were trained for BioConnection, an equipment loan program that is part of Connecticut United for Research Excellence. The materials are intended for students in grades four through 12.
"It's great for the University to support this type of activity," said Donald Webb, director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Center for Science Teaching and Learning. "We do anything we can to support the advancement of learning."
The BioBus, which visits schools free of charge, requires an investment of time and effort by teachers and the school. The investment of time includes teacher training, which this visit will satisfy. The BioBus program prepares the participating teachers and schools for the bus' visit as well increase the teacher's knowledge of the subject matter, Donahue said.
For more information about the BioBus, please visit bioscienceexplorations.org.
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| Donald Webb (at left) leads a workshop for middle and secondary school teachers. |
The Center held its Inquiry Institute program during the summers of 2003-06. K-12 teachers from the Connecticut communities of Avon, Groton, Hamden, New Haven, Norwich, Stratford, Wallingford and West Haven worked with Quinnipiac faculty from the Department of Biological Sciences and School of Education to learn about inquiry approaches to science education.
Farm River State Park Wildlife Cameras
There are two cameras located at Farm River State Park in East Haven. One is located within a group of trees and is set up to view the resident ospreys. The other is located over a fiddler crab habitat.
Ospreys are one of the largest birds of prey in North America and are fascinating to watch and study. They typically build their nests near waterways as their primary food source is fish.
Fiddler crabs have unique social interactions and are excellent subjects for behavioral studies. This camera has been made possible by a generous donation from Briarpatch Enterprises of Milford, Conn. We thank them for their support.