Beyond the Classroom Walls

Providing Leadership Opportunities to your Biomedical Science Students

What, Why, Where, Who• student-run workshop of hands-on science,

focusing on physiology concepts and health• to get kids excited about doing science– expose BMS students to younger students in the

community – provide an opportunity to demonstrate classroom

learning– potential performance assessment to PLTW skills and

concepts• high school cafeteria• 60 freshmen students from PBS• 20 senior leadership students• 150 5th and 6th grade students

PhUn Week at Edison High SchoolFresno, CA

• Monday-Thursday: classroom practice– high school students learning lab activities and

teaching each other (I teach you…)

• Friday: Science Day Event– high school students leading small groups of

younger students through lab activities in a rotational setting (You teach them…)

Framing the Day EventEarlier in the week:•teach activities to high school students•train leadership students as chaperones•assign BMS students to one lab activity, table booth, and shift, submit clear list to office, post shift roster in classroom for student reference•have primary classroom teachers arrange their students into teams of 5-8, provide different colored string to teachers to tie on student wrists the day of as team color bracelets•create table signs in corresponding colors to student bracelets•pack boxes of supplies separated by table booth•photocopy lab papers and sharpen pencils

Framing the Day Event

Set-Up the Day Of:•first shift of students carry boxes from classroom to their table booth, set up supplies•students take seats, begin practicing on each other for one last review•audience chairs arranged so that each color group will have their own row of seats, marked by construction paper corresponding to team colors•powerpoint equipment set up, microphone and speakers set-up and tested

Framing the Day EventExecution:•2 leadership students assigned to each student group, greet at bus drop-off zone and escort through campus to cafeteria•students seated in rows of chairs, greeted by PLTW teacher with short overview of day, hear from visiting professor about what physiology is•student teams assigned to starting booth to begin activities, led by BMS students•every 20 minutes, teacher announces time to rotate and groups move clockwise to next booth•students brought back to rows of chairs for final 10 minutes for a recap of what was learned, then escorted back to bus by leadership students

How does this relate to BMS?

• expensive equipment can be used to reach more than just your students

• already teaching these concepts through BMS labs and activities

• could be used to enhance the lessons you’re currently teaching with additional hands-on lessons

• could be set up as a performance assessment for BMS students

Examples of Possible Application

• professional guest speaker aligned to career journal topics

• displays set up of BMS student projects– Brochures, models, posters

• demonstrations led by BMS students of higher-tech labs (calorimetry, electrophoresis)

• incorporate probes into lab activities– Nervous system, cardiovascular system

Benefits of Hosting an Event• provides leadership opportunities for students• links high school campus to feeder primary

schools in your area for vertical alignment• allows for networking opportunities centered

around a specific event with a common goal• provides an opportunity to showcase your BMS

program to community members or administrative personnel

• moves students out of the classroom, teaches them the power of investing back into others

Contact: Leslie Worton

Edison High SchoolFresno, CA

leslie.worton@fresnounified.org559-457-2650 ext. 74833

Why Work With The American Physiological Society?

• http://www.the-aps.org/mm/Education/K-12/EducationProjects/PhUn-Week

• website has many activity resources• provides gift bags for students and t-shirts for

educators• encourages networking with local college

professors in the field• flexible design to fit your needs