preparing all students for advanced academic

PREPARING ALL STUDENTS FOR
ADVANCED ACADEMIC
ENDEAVORS
P R E S E N T E D B Y:
LY N N K I R B Y, T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S AT
AUSTIN
N I TA G A N G U LY, T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F
T E N N E S S E E AT K N O X V I L L E
Education – Poverty BUSTER!
•  Research from UNC Chapel Hill showed
that disadvantaged students arrived at
college with poorer study skills
•  Research has also shown that
disadvantaged students are less likely to
participate in class, and report feeling
intimidated or isolated
•  Disadvantaged students are less likely to
graduate college
Specific Skills – College Ready
• Working with your table, develop a list
of skills you think would help a student
be successful in college.
• Think about your own success, but
also think about what would have
helped you avoid struggling that first
year.
RESEARCH SHOWS WE CAN HELP!
• A more active approach to
learning effectively
teaches those skills
• They may benefit more
from a structure that
demands participation and
cooperation
AP SKILLS
•  Graphing
•  Estimating
•  Use SI units
•  Design experiments
•  Use technology
•  Use the scientific
method
•  Develop and test
hypothesis
TEKS
•  Collect data
•  Analyze data
•  Communicate conclusions
•  Draw inferences
•  Construct graphs, tables,
maps and charts
•  Describe changes over
time
•  Connect concepts with the
history of science
GETTING TOGETHER
• Assessment of where students
come in academically
• List specific skill outcomes
expected of students for each
class
• Strengths of teachers
Vertical Team Approach –
Environmental Science
Level
Foundation
Intermediate
Advanced
Activity
Oh Deer!
Using Color to
Survive in Nature
Biome Research Project
Topics
Carrying capacity
Adaptation,
mimicry and camouflage
Ecology, climate, species
diversity
•  This box will have a list
of the labs we
mapped from middle
school to Food
APweb, trophic level and
Owl Pellet Lab
Population growth lab
Endangered Species
Research Project
energy transfer
Exponential population
growth
Endangered species,
biodiversity, human impact
Skills
Data Collection
Graphing
Data Collection
Graphing
Research, writing, oral
presentation
Identification of organisms
Data collection, math
calculations, graphing
Research, writing and oral
presentation
Simulation of biodiversity
using cars
Population dynamics using
Drosophila
Research federal laws and
international treaties
Biodiversity
Exponential population
growth, carrying capacity
Environmental legislation
Statistics, calculations,
graphing
Designing an experiment,
mathematical
calculations, writing formal
lab report
Research, writing and oral
presentation
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO TAKE
YOUR STUDENTS?
•  Higher level
science and math
courses
•  AP courses
•  Success on AP
exams
•  College entrance
•  Science/Math
careers
Evaluate your existing curriculum – Where are the
skills used?
• Use of technology
• Active v.s. Passive
POINTS TO PONDER
•  Time
•  Content
•  Curriculum
Development
•  Materials
•  Budget
•  Expertise
•  Support
REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE
SUCCESS
• Increased
communication
• Student
achievement
• Student involvement
• Improved curriculum