Thursday, July 30, 2009

Reflection on final weeks of NU RET 2009

This has been a stimulating experience.  Mary and I have made two new plasmids, pUN63 and pUN64, so our names will forever be on file in the Cram Lab binder that lists plasmids made in this lab.  The plasmids were created for the RNA interference experiment which we set up on Monday of this week.  We will see the results on Friday and next Monday.  The yeast two hybrid experimental results are just in today.  The experiment was successful and showed a strong interaction between the proteins we are studying.

Working in a molecular biology lab has made me more mindful of what my chemistry students will face in biology class after they have had chemistry.  I plan to incorporate examples from biology at every opportunity so they will have an easier time transferring their chemistry knowledge to biology.

The interactions with the other teachers in the program have been invaluable.  I look forward to trying some of the other lesson plans as well as the one I am working on.  The blog will be very helpful to share ideas with one another to make the lessons run successfully.  When I taught freshman physics our school had a weekly workshop at which physics teachers planned the course curriculum and labs.  Those who had already done the lab with their students were able to warn the rest of us of potential problems and how to trouble shoot the lab.  They also shared ideas about points that were confusing for students and how to clarify the concepts.  I see the blog as serving a similar purpose for those of us at various schools.

cheers,
Margaret Farrar

1 comment:

Catherine Francis said...

Catherine Francis
High School Biology and Chemistry Teacher
North Reading High School
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Professor Beuning

It was a great opportunity to be part of the RET program at Northeastern University this summer. I gained valuable experience working in Professor Beuning's DNA lab. Learning how to use new lab equipment and technology will update my science skills for the upcoming school year. At the beginning of the year I give my students a project on careers in science, and now I have more examples to share with them. As a teacher, it's important to be a lifelong learner. If the teacher is enthusiastic about the subject area, that enthusiasm is usually conveyed to the students.