Three World-Changing Biology Experiments
A quick overview of three experiments that helped advance Biology:
- Pasteur’s swan-neck flask, disproving spontaneous generation
- Hershey-Chase blender experiment
- Miller-Urey experiment
Unit Planner Sample: The Nature of Biology
I’ve been trying to do a bit of Autumn cleaning on the site, as well as working on planners and curriculum jobs as MYPCo here at school. As a result, I’ve done a lot of reading of new IB documents (Concept-based learning, Approaches to Teaching and Learning etc) and review of older or more fundamental ones (Principles to Practice and so on).
Anyway, taking all this into consideration, I figured the unit planner was due an update and wanted to make one more useful for Biology. Here is an example:
For more (and a blank template), head over to the Unit Planning page. This is not an official IB product, so please treat it with due diligence.
Ben Goldacre: What doctors don’t know about the drugs they prescribe [TED Talk]
Here’s Dr. Ben Goldacre of Bad Science giving his TED Talk, which is an eye-opener into what happens in academic research and drug testing. A good link with TOK here:
- How do research groups and journals decide what to publish – what is publication bias?
- What are the consequences of not publishing negative results?
- To what extent does publication bias affect other academic disciplines?
This is a really interesting dilemma. Evidence-based medicine works, that’s why it is called ‘medicine’. Sometimes publication bias leads into misrepresentation of data and drugs get approved. But it’s not the same as promoting pseudoscience – ‘fake’ medicines which we know do not work and are supported by no peer-reviewed, controlled evidence.
Floating Spinning Magnet Trick
This is really cool…
For more of these demos and explanations, visit the Sixty Symbols YouTube channel. And of course Veritasium, for videos to make you think!
One Direction Do Physics
A bit of fun for my Grade 10 group to work through as we’re on PD days…
There’s a Quia Quiz here, if you want to have a go too.
Engineering a Classroom Brand
This looks like a great way to turn a classroom into a community, building ownership of learning, by Gary Abud. For a full post on the idea and more inspired ideas and some great posts on modeling chemistry (#ModChem), head over to his blog: Productive & Constructive.
The Sun’s Energy & Temperature Misconceptions
Here’s Derek Veritasium at it again, with two neat little videos. The first explores where the Sun gets its energy and the other shows a cool little demo regarding heat transfer. Enjoy!
Updated: Gas Exchange, Transport System, Digestive System
As the new school year starts, we’re launching right into the human body and its systems – always thinking about how structure relates to function and how homeostasis is maintained.
First up, 6.1 Digestion, 6.2 Transport System and 6.4 Gas Exchange. Visit each of the pages for resources, including animations, presentations and Crash Course Biology videos. My class, we’re flipping this content, so complete the Quia quizzes before class.
HBO’s The Weight of the Nation
This full four-part HBO documentary series is online in full on the HBO Docs YouTube Channel. Although aimed at a US audience, the messages are universal. The website for the series has lots more related short clips and resources that might be of use in class.
For more resources on Energy in Human Diets, go to the Option A: Nutrition and Health resources.
Part 1: Consequences
Part 2: Choices
Part 3: Children in Crisis
Part 4: Challenges
………o0O0o……….
My Rant
Kudos to HBO for making this available on YouTube worldwide.
For what it’s worth, I think all TV production companies should be hosting their documentaries – especially those on important social and environmental issues – online for free. At the very least, make episodes available for a minimal ($1?) purchase fee on iTunes.
I bet most people wouldn’t choose to download media illegally if access was easy and affordable. It reminds me of this cartoon from the Oatmeal.
i-Biology 