Summer 2005
Utilizing Bioinformatics to Integrate Technology into the High School Biology Classroom
Teachers were introduced to bioinformatics, the merge of biology and computer science. Initial instruction focused on learning to use the Biology Workbench, a web-based tool that allows biologists to search many popular protein and nucleic acid sequence databases, and the resources of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). This was followed by the creation and development of inquiry designed scenarios, based on current science research data, which teachers could utilize in their classroom. The course consisted of demonstrations, hands-on work sessions, seminar/lectures, lab and group presentations.
Overall Objectives:
- To introduce teachers to the tools and databases currently used by researchers in molecular biology.
- To learn to use the Biology Workbench, an NSF-funded set of bioinformatics tools to compare DNA and protein sequences.
- To isolate, amplify, sequence, and analyze mitochondrial DNA.
- To design an “Inquiry Page” this will be posted on the Internet.
- To create an activity to utilize data available at Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
Addresses Pennsylvania Department of Education Academic Standards for Science & Technology: 3.2 Inquiry and Design; 3.3 Biological Sciences.
This 2005 Summer Course for Teachers is a Collaborative Project designed by the SouthEastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE) Committee of Chief Academic Officers and funded by a grant from the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development.
Participants
Participant |
School |
| Anne Davidheiser | Downingtown West High School |
| Brenda Frost | Garnet Valley High School |
| Charles A. Gallagher Jr. | Msgr. Bonner High School |
| Chris Grasso | Upper Darby High School |
| Christine Toto | Council Rock HS - South |
| Laura Dusablon | Bishop Shanahan High School |
| Mary Paxton-Boeni | Springfield High School |
| Paul Castanzo | Pottstown High School |
| Paul Joyce | Henderson HS West Chester School District |
| Robin Shemesh | Harry S Truman High School Bristol Township School District |
| Rosemary Elliott | Swenson Arts and Tech HS Philadelphia High School |
| Ryan Boylan | Pennsbury High School |
| Theresa Diamond | Upper Darby High School |
| Tim Zietz | Coatesville High School |