AI & ME

What is life?  Or, at least, how is life defined in scientific terms?   Are you curious about how cells and DNA work?  How do we get nerves, muscles, skin, etc. when the cells in our body have the exact same DNA?  Do you wonder what science might reveal about the origin of life?

When did genetic engineering begin?  How is selective breeding different than genetic engineering?   What is recombinant DNA and why was it so controversial in the 1970's?  Should it still be?  What are some major accomplishments that have come from genetic engineering?  What is the difference between biosafety and biosecurity?  What are some bioethical issues experts are currently debating?  What are some bioethical issues you think are important?

How good are those DNA tests at determining my ancestory or predicting my medical fate?  What type of medical issues can DNA sequencing help doctors address?  When might I want to consult with a genetic counselor?

What's with all the "omics"?  How do they apply to ecology?  Is anyone interested in building a biosphere?  Of what use might one, or a hundred, be?

Jeff Bezos wants to relocate damaging industries on the moon to avoid wrecking Earth.  Who else is in the race?  What biotechnologies might hitch a ride?  Biosafety Level 4, 3, 2, 1 ...

Could we fund a $200 million ecological study that fosters high school-university partnerships connecting 50 communities throughout the country?  Could high schoolers help curate 4 biodomes at or near their school, one control and three experimental (CO2, heat, and fertilizer), and assist college students and professors collect samples to process at a university lab?  I'm asking for a friend.

NGSS is a 3-dimensional STEM teaching framework built around science and engineering practices, cross-cutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas.  Often, lessons that teachers have already developed can be modified to emphasize inquiry and evidence-based reasoning, but sometimes, a ground-up approach might be warranted.  I can help teachers unpack these standards so they can develop lessons that align and engage.

Defining what students should be competent in is half the battle.  The other half is assessing whether they are.  I will share lessons learned from Somersworth High School and describe a template for assessment that synthesizes the concepts of digital portfolios, Marzano-style grading, and metacognition.

Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) are invaluable for students and don't have to be that much more work for you.  Build a network in the greater community to advise your curriculum and provide student internships.  Build a network of colleagues to serve on assessment panels.  Maybe even make a couple of extra bucks ...

ChatGPT and other AI-bots synthesize language you give it with the internet and then calculates the least wrong thing it can say.  The more nutrient dense message you feed it, the richer the response.  You'll want to read everything before you hit print, but you can create a whole lot of useful text quickly.   Curriculum aligned to whatever you can think of, lesson plans that have a lot of variety, practice materials tailored to student interest, and quality assessment questions and prompts are all just seconds away.

$1000 for 25 or $1200 for 30 sessions - 90 minutes (at least once a week), and additional time as needed at $50 per session (6 students max).  10% discount for families able to form a class of 4-6 students.

There is a lab component to my courses!  I can fit basic equipment, kitchen chemicals, and digital sensors in the trunk of my car.  I am open to visiting homes or a gathering space arranged by student families.

Course time alone is not sufficient for students to prepare for college work.  Independent practice and research needs to occur between sessions.  During sessions, we will mix mini-lectures with Q&A, homework review and planning, skills practice, lab work, and assessment.

(Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) - Currently available through Sylvan Learning

$50 per hour (plus expenses if applicable)

$50 per hour