In other classes you have the teacher guiding you along telling you what to learn or how to learn it, but in this program you kind of go your own path and you do your own learning.
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Bio21 Bioluminescence Web Site (2009)

(3 comments)

2009 Fall Semester Bio21 Web Site Finalist



Media: website    Company Name: Amber Pantalena  
Program: Bio21    School:  East Haven   Year: 2010
Discipline: Science

21st Century Skills:




image

Description:
Bio21 is a lab-intensive science course that covers the most exciting fundamentals of life science in the context of biotechnology. This course introduces cutting-edge technologies, current issues, people, practices, and future ideals. The techniques and knowledge students gain will begin to prepare them for careers in such fields as medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, forensics, public health, and more.

The work featured here was presented by a student at the culminating experiential learning event held at Manchester Community College in Manchester, CT on October 30th, before an audience of their peers. The student's web site were selected by popular vote as a top finalist in the day's competition.

Challenge Statement:
Biomimicry is the process of emulating nature’s designs in order to develop sustainable human technologies. This year’s Bio21 project challenges students to develop a sustainable and healthier human product or technology using nature as the model. To accomplish this, student explore nature’s ideas and then imitate one of its designs and processes to solve a human problem. During the school year, students work independently during the first semester on their project and then advance one idea into the second semester portion of the challenge. During semester two, the class as a whole develops the one idea into one large project for presentation at the Expo in May.

The Challenge: Semester I

Students work individually to propose a new product or technology based in biomimicry.

Each student will ultimately:
Conduct research on a topic of interest
Develop an idea for a product or technology that is inspired by nature OR improve upon a product or technology inspired by nature that already exists
Identify and interact with a science advisor
Build an ePortfolio
Develop a project plan
Create a presentation of your idea and present it
Develop a Web site that contains:
idea summary
research notes
references/Links
science advisor information and correspondence details
project presentation
project plan
The Challenge: Semester II

Each class will decide on one of the individual projects from first semester to develop into the Expo project. Each team will ultimately:

Identify and interact with a small team of science advisors
Continue working on your individual ePortfolio
Develop a project plan
Build a prototype of the idea in some fashion (a model, manipulative, interactive, computer-based, etc.)
Create a presentation of the idea and present it at the Expo
Develop a Web site that contains:
Gantt chart: develop and display an accurate Gantt chart illustrating all departments and their tasks, start and end dates, and the person(s) responsible.
Idea summary: a brief, 1-paragraph summary of the team’s idea.
Research notes: a summary of the team’s notes.
References/Links: a works cited in MLA format.
Science Advisors: names, titles, place of employment, contact information and correspondence details (meeting minutes).
Presentation: an outline of your presentation, other.
Project plan: the project plan in PDF format.
Video and photo footage of the development of the team’s project.
PR, marketing, and advertising plans.
Financial review board activities.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills:
 Communicate Clearly

More from: Amber Pantalena |  Bio21 |   East Haven



Amber Pantalena, Student
Posted on January 21 2010 10:53 AM


Mrs. Noonan and Ms. Knudsen, Thank you very much for your comments. Though my project was not chosen for the team assignment, I still have an interest in seeing whether my idea is a possibility or not and I will be sure to keep you updated if I find any more interesting information. If I were to continue researching this into college, I assume that it would be less difficult to find a professional willing to help me out.


Marilee Noonan, Teacher
Posted on January 20 2010 2:11 PM


I had Amber as a student last year in Honors Chemistry. She is a very bright but very quiet young woman. This forum provides her with a new venue for communicating her knowledge and ideas. Having viewed her site, I can see that she is exploring multiple content areas related to her idea of transplanting a bioluminescent gene in evergreens.


Gladys K. Knudsen, Teacher
Posted on January 19 2010 8:43 AM


Amber's idea to insert the bioluminescence gene from a mushroom into the DNA of evergreeens shows an advanced understanding of the role of recombination to alter the phenotypic expression of an organism. Her rationale is based on sound principles and her research extended beyond the classroom. She was frustrated by the inability to connect with a scientific mentor to help her further develop her idea.

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