All Biology resources

Journal Article

For as long as people have had stories to tell, folklore and tall tales have been a part of social gatherings. Storytelling helps us convey our history and learn our languages (Bowman and Carpenter 2004; Mzimela 2016). In addition, many of these tale...

By Kimberly Ideus and Miles Engell

High School Biology Interdisciplinary Life Science Literacy Multicultural

Journal Article

Beavers From Space!

Beavers are social mammals who live in groups, known as colonies, and they construct dams and lodges, which modify the surrounding landscape. In their role as “ecosystem engineers,” beavers are considered to be a “keystone” species. A keyston...

By Jill Nugent

Middle School Biology Citizen Science Environmental Science

Journal Article

Outdoor Teaching and Learning in Natural Spaces and Outdoor Classrooms

On a humid, sunny day in late July, a group of middle school science teachers closed out three days of teacher professional development (PD) on a nature hike at a forest preserve. Here they engaged as learners, looking for evidence of life cycles to ...

By Samantha Lindgren, Meghan McCleary, Susan Gasper, Amanda Nieves, Kara Stengren, and Amira Shabana

Biology Life Science Research STEM Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Inheritance: It’s More Complicated Than That

For the past 60 years, teaching and learning the science of inheritance and biological variation has largely been centered in Mendelian genetics. In classrooms, genetics instruction generally focuses on traits controlled by a single gene, with genoty...

By Whitney Thwaite, Sara C. Porter, and Hilleary Osheroff

Biology Interdisciplinary Life Science Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Using iNaturalist to Support Place-Based Learning and Data Analysis

Often, we think that to learn about nature, students must be in a “natural” place to experience the environment, but this assumption can be problematic on multiple levels. Not all schools have the resources to take hundreds of students on a field...

By Amanda V. Garner and Joshua Rosenberg

Middle School Biology Citizen Science Life Science STEM Technology

Journal Article

Inspiring the Next Generation

How many times have you found yourself sitting in a cafeteria or classroom staring at a professional development PowerPoint being presented by someone who hasn’t been in a classroom or practiced science in years? There is another way! Teachers all ...

By Adriana E. Martinez and Alejandra O. Martinez

Middle School Pre-service Teachers Biology Careers Chemistry Curriculum Earth & Space Science Environmental Science General Science Labs Life Science Physical Science Research STEM Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

An Online Introductory Biology Laboratory Utilizing Inquiry-Based Methods Leads to High Student Satisfaction

Online laboratories can be an effective way to introduce students to lab concepts while providing flexibility, increased access, and reduced costs. However, online labs might lack the authentic research experience that can be gained by doing hands-on...

By Colin Harrison, Clarke Britton, Hannah Shin, and Yassin Watson

Biology Distance Learning Inquiry Research

Journal Article

Low-Level Learning

More than 8 out of every 10 college students are not STEM majors, yet we have little understanding about learning expectations for them. We used the results of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute BioInteractive learning objectives survey of 38 instru...

By Austin Heil, Cara Gormally, and Peggy Brickman

Biology Preservice Science Education STEM

Journal Article

Emphasis on Quality in iNaturalist Plant Collections Enhances Learning and Research Utility

Following the switch to remote online teaching in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plant taxonomy course at the University of Georgia (UGA) switched to iNaturalist for the specimen collection portion of the course requirements. Building off ext...

By Mason C. McNair, Chelsea M. Sexton, and Mark Zenoble

Biology Citizen Science Preservice Science Education

Journal Article

Undergraduate Learning Assistants Foster Students’ Resilience During Transition to Online Learning in a Large Microbiology Classroom

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a series of emergency transitions to online learning for academic institutions around the world. Previous studies have shown that undergraduate Learning Assistants (LAs) improve student engagement in classroom activities ...

By Kathleen Hefferon and Esther Angert

Pre-service Teachers Biology Distance Learning New Science Teachers Preservice Science Education

Blog Post

Biological/Chemical Waste Management

By Ken Roy

Middle School High School Informal Education Administration Biology Chemistry Safety