Michigan Science Teachers Association Conference 2019 (MSTA): Using Debate to Assess Model Based Learn...

Using Debate to Assess Model Based Learning

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Model Based Biology (MBER) and AMTA biology introduce the characteristics of life at the beginning of the school year. Our biology team used a structured debate, centered around whether viruses are living or non-living, to assess our students at the end of this unit. This was done after students developed a model of what it means for something to be a living thing. The outcomes of the debate FAR exceeded our expectations! We will share snapshots of this experience with our students, and a lengthy pile of positive outcomes that went quite beyond our vision for this activity.

Presenters

Edward Johns

Teacher, Cedar Springs High School

This is my eighth year teaching at the high school level. For the past four years I have taught Biology and Chemistry at Cedar Springs High School. Before working at Cedar Springs I was an Academic Interventionist and teacher at Houghton Lake High School for four years.

Heidi Schuitema

Biology Teacher, Cedar Springs High School

In my 18th year of teaching, I am very excited that SCIENCE gets it's turn in the spotlight, with our NGSS; based in a wealth of learning research. Next Generation Science Standards inspire and motivate me and I have confidence our students will thrive in a new science setting that... Read More →