Thursday, August 11, 2022

Resources for teaching about genetics


The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History put together an exhibit called "Genome: Unlocking Life's Code."  While we can't all take field trips to go see it, you can use the resources to bring it into your classroom. The resource library has lesson plans, videos, timelines, and other things you can use in your classroom.  My favorite resource is the animated genome video.  It explains the triplet code and its role in DNA replication, talks about how diet and exercise impact, your DNA, and even the forensic and geneological uses of DNA. replication

Friday, August 5, 2022

Women in STEM Role Model Posters


Of its STEM Role Models posters collection, Nevertheless podcast explained, “The women featured serve as amazing role models in their fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (or STEM as it’s often referred to). You can listen to our episode on STEM Role Models here.

of women who are transforming teaching and learning through technology, “commissioned another four female illustrators from South America, Africa, the Middle East and China” to create a new set of STEM Role Models posters for its growing collection. Nevertheless now offers a total of eight inspiring posters, each celebrating a different woman innovator everyone should know, and they’re all available to download now

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

New Mobile Game Let's Students Investigate and Solve Global Disease Outbreaks

Dr. Spencer Striker, an Associate Professor of Digital Media Design at Northwestern University in Qatar, has released a new mobile game. Dr. Sara: Disease Detective is a fully interactive digital learning mobile game about epidemiology.

The game is designed to get kids interacting and having fun while developing problem-solving skills, logic skills, increasing their scientific vocabulary, and learning more about pandemics.  In this character-driven simulation of Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) detective work, students search for the index case, racing against time to find clues to a cure.

"Dr. Sara: Disease Detective features high stakes time pressure, compelling characters, narrative design, challenging puzzles, and the natural gameplay dynamics that emerge from network science and contact tracing," Dr. Striker said. "We hope this new visual novel mobile game will inspire students to develop an interest in science, medical technology, and public health."

This fun and immersive game features interactive dialogue, innovative character design, minigames about social distancing, hidden object investigation, eureka style logic puzzles, collectible scientific vocabulary, game-based learning techniques, cinematics, visual effects, original music, and immersive sound design.


Dr. Sara: Disease Detective is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. For more information, visit https://www.spencerstriker.com/work/disease-detective.

Take a look a quick overview of what this game is all about.



Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Crossword Generator


Crosswords can be a fun way for students to review or a great activity for the students who finish early.  The problem is that it is hard to find a crossword puzzle that goes along with the content you are teaching.  Crossword Lab is a free site that allows you to easily make your own crossword puzzles.  All you need to do is to enter the word that should appear in the puzzle and then the clue for it.  For example: dog man's best friend.  In this example dog would be the word that would be in the puzzle and man's best friend would be the clue written.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!