The Biology Institute at Exeter is a lab-based experience for high school educators to explore content and phenomena-based instruction in biology through the lens of equity and inclusion. During the five-day conference, participants will be introduced to the collaborative, student-centered Harkness pedagogy, participate in whiteboard sessions, and take field trips in the New England coastal area surrounding Phillips Exeter Academy’s campus. Participants will engage from both the student and teacher perspective while delving into the topics of ecology and evolution.
Participants will visit the Great Bay Discovery Center, and spend a half day kayaking and exploring the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve ecosystem. Activities will include engaging with researchers from the center, gaining a better understanding estuary science, and learning about the impacts of climate change. Participants will learn how the Reserve's monitoring programs contribute to data driven investigations that shape our understanding of change within ecosystems.
Daily programming runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with optional evening activities. Mornings begin with article review and the first of two daily labs. Harkness discussions, teacher talks and reflections, and data analysis follow the labs. A detailed schedule will be emailed to participants in June.
I thoroughly enjoyed this conference. The teachers who taught and participated were all great! I left the conference with a bag of good, useful information and resources. I will use a good deal of it to beef up and improve my courses next school year."
Occidental College professor Andrew Shtulman
Contact:
Lauren Rosen, conference manager
lrosen@exeter.edu
603-777-4471
Tanea Hibler, Biology Institute director
tthibler@exeter.edu
603-777-3708