Scientists have discovered a bacterium that can convert arsenic to phosphorus. All of life on Earth uses phosphorus as its DNA backbone... except this bacterium. Wow.
In other, more relevant news, I'll be photographing the Winter Ball this Saturday! For those of you ladies that read this blog, don't overdo it on the foundation make-up! It shows up really well with flash photography, and not in a good way!
Also, how are you going to get photos? As you know, I have a Facebook, so I'll post the photos there. I can't tag you, but you can see them all and make your favorite your profile pic. You might be able to tag yourself and others, but I don't know for sure! My page is http://www.facebook.com/mrs.medeiros27 for future reference.
What if you want to buy prints? Most likely, this will be through Shutterfly! Stay tuned...
The endeavors of a spirited teacher who hates wearing shoes. Follow me as I navigate teaching, chemistry, technology, grad school, vodcasting, blogging, horseback riding and more... all while trying to avoid traditional footwear (or shoes altogether).
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Expect an exam...
We've been flying through cells in biology, and covering lots of stuff about bones in anatomy and this of course means that I have to test you on it.
But not to fear young ones, I am also a super pretentious grad student! One of the classes I'm taking, as you may know, is "Educational Assessment." In other words, "testing your learning!" My final project in this class is to create an assessment that covers a unit of instruction (i.e. "cells" or "bones"). It has to have 50 multiple choice questions, a table that shows the "level of learning" for each question and a project or essay or the like that has a rubric for grading.
I haven't decided which class I will choose to do this for... biology or anatomy... but that class should consider themselves very lucky to be tested so thoroughly. Teachers that take the time to do this for every unit are likely to have students that perform very well. I think I will be able to write up a really good study guide for the exam, too. Doing a project like this will enable me to analyze the types of multiple choice questions I'm asking, and to take a step back from the assessment in question and say "what is the outcome I want from this unit?" I have already asked myself, "what do I want my students to walk away knowing about [unit]?" And I also thought about what a "good grade" looks like on the next exams.
The averages on the last exam were pretty good, right around 76-82. I want to bring that up this time... let's aim for 83-86 in all the biology classes.
That's all for now... time to start making those exams and writing up my project outline!
But not to fear young ones, I am also a super pretentious grad student! One of the classes I'm taking, as you may know, is "Educational Assessment." In other words, "testing your learning!" My final project in this class is to create an assessment that covers a unit of instruction (i.e. "cells" or "bones"). It has to have 50 multiple choice questions, a table that shows the "level of learning" for each question and a project or essay or the like that has a rubric for grading.
I haven't decided which class I will choose to do this for... biology or anatomy... but that class should consider themselves very lucky to be tested so thoroughly. Teachers that take the time to do this for every unit are likely to have students that perform very well. I think I will be able to write up a really good study guide for the exam, too. Doing a project like this will enable me to analyze the types of multiple choice questions I'm asking, and to take a step back from the assessment in question and say "what is the outcome I want from this unit?" I have already asked myself, "what do I want my students to walk away knowing about [unit]?" And I also thought about what a "good grade" looks like on the next exams.
The averages on the last exam were pretty good, right around 76-82. I want to bring that up this time... let's aim for 83-86 in all the biology classes.
That's all for now... time to start making those exams and writing up my project outline!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Anatomy!
We just started the skeletal system. I have to say, aside from the Nervous System & the brain, this is my favorite system to study!
Here are a few pics from the lab we're doing:
What's going to happen?!
Here are a few pics from the lab we're doing:
.JPG) |
| Chicken leg bone in vinegar. |
.JPG) |
| Chicken leg bone in bleach. |
What's going to happen?!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Mars Hill!
We did it! Shadow & I trekked the 1 mile up to the Mars Hill wind turbines! Here's a breakdown of the trip in a few key phrases:
- 1st 30 feet: OHHHHH MYYYYYYY GAWWWWWWDDDD my shins BURRRRRNNNNNNNNN. Shadowwwww slow down... I can't go this fast!!! [We're traveling about 1mi/hr.]
- ~halfway up: *pant pant* [that's me panting] We're gonna do this Shadow!
- Standing next to a massive wind turbine: WHOA. Shadow even got to be off-leash! He was so well behaved, not going out of my sight, checking out the scenery... I was SO happy (see Facebook/Tumblr photos).
- We walked up an ATV trail for a bit, but when it got too steep, we turned around. Kinda bummed we didn't get to see Mt. Katahdin. I guess that leaves us with a reason to go back up again!
- On the way down, I let Shadow be off-leash for most of it, considering I would step on a loose rock, stumble, yell "I'm gonna diiiiiiieeeeeeee," and repeat until the bottom...
- My shins, along with most of my body, will probably be hating me very much tomorrow.
The view from the top was totally worth it, though!!!
Who wants to go with me next weekend?
- 1st 30 feet: OHHHHH MYYYYYYY GAWWWWWWDDDD my shins BURRRRRNNNNNNNNN. Shadowwwww slow down... I can't go this fast!!! [We're traveling about 1mi/hr.]
- ~halfway up: *pant pant* [that's me panting] We're gonna do this Shadow!
- Standing next to a massive wind turbine: WHOA. Shadow even got to be off-leash! He was so well behaved, not going out of my sight, checking out the scenery... I was SO happy (see Facebook/Tumblr photos).
- We walked up an ATV trail for a bit, but when it got too steep, we turned around. Kinda bummed we didn't get to see Mt. Katahdin. I guess that leaves us with a reason to go back up again!
- On the way down, I let Shadow be off-leash for most of it, considering I would step on a loose rock, stumble, yell "I'm gonna diiiiiiieeeeeeee," and repeat until the bottom...
- My shins, along with most of my body, will probably be hating me very much tomorrow.
The view from the top was totally worth it, though!!!
Who wants to go with me next weekend?
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Getting busy!!!
It's actually been a very fun weekend so far! Shadow got to hang out with his buddy Minnie - the Connors' doggie. They both did an AWESOME job walking on leash around the town...! I was very proud of both of them. I'm glad we all got to walk so much yesterday and today, but it has set me behind a little. I'm late in turning in a bunch of grad school assignments... and I want to have more stuff graded for bio than I do... but I have Sunday, right!?
Back to work!
Back to work!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
How was harvest break?
Feels good to be back... sort of! I slept too much, so I'm having a rough time adjusting to teacher schedule.
I found a couple of FREE APPS for iPhone/iPod, and I want someone to check them out for me!
General Ed Apps:
http://www.appstoreapps.com/top-50-free-education-apps/
Anatomy:
Speed Anatomy Lite
Biology:
I will probably use a couple of these!
Other Science-y Apps:
Periodic Table
Science Glossary (FREE!)
Idea Sketch (like OmniGraffle)
I found a couple of FREE APPS for iPhone/iPod, and I want someone to check them out for me!
General Ed Apps:
http://www.appstoreapps.com/top-50-free-education-apps/
Anatomy:
Speed Anatomy Lite
Biology:
I will probably use a couple of these!
Other Science-y Apps:
Periodic Table
Science Glossary (FREE!)
Idea Sketch (like OmniGraffle)
Friday, October 1, 2010
MORE DOUBLE RAINBOW!!!
This is the first video I took... DON'T MOCK ME FOR IT, I WAS SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!
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