Using Tactile & Visual Models to Teach Cellular Processes

Monday Nov 7th 3 pm
Biology Education Group Meeting

Dr. Kathy Vandiver and Dr. Amanda Gruhl

Topic: Boston Public Schools Pilot: Using Tactile and Visual Models to Teach Cellular Processes
Location: Koch Institute, 76-459 (4th floor large conference room)

Dr. Kathy Vandiver is the Outreach Director at the MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences (CEHS). Dr. Amanda Gruhl is an Outreach Coordinator for CEHS and an Instructor at MIT's Edgerton Center.

Using models of DNA, RNA and proteins created with LEGO pieces, Dr. Vandiver and Dr. Gruhl teach middle and high school students as well as teachers and adult learners how DNA directs the assembly of proteins. Given the difficulty in explaining to students processes that they themselves cannot touch or see, the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Science Department was interested in determining whether the LEGO molecules would help students learn how proteins are encoded and expressed within the cell.

BPS, CEHS and MIT's Office of Educational Innovation and Technology (OEIT), teamed up last year to pilot a program in Boston’s high schools. Through this collaborative effort, Dr. Vandiver and Dr. Gruhl created lesson materials, provided two-day teacher professional development workshops, and assembled 10 LEGO DNA Learning Center Sets for the biology teachers (each set had 17,893 LEGO pieces!). At this HHMI Education Group Meeting, you will hear more about the successes of the pilot project and will be able to try your hand at expressing a gene -- in LEGO. For more information, click here. Refreshments will be provided.