Life Sciences Wyoming Academic Transition Initiative

Life sciences, including biology, zoology, chemistry, physiology, etc., are important, popular, and often required courses both in high schools and post-secondary institutions.  The life sciences content area is where the Wyoming Academic Science Initiative (formerly known as Lost in Transition Initiative) began in 2006.

The K16 Life Sciences Summit celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016.

In 2010, the Partnership also facilitated a "site swap" program.  Additionally, in 2007, three regional conferences were held across Wyoming to increase statewide participation.  These events are coordinated by the Wyoming School-University Partnership and the University of Wyoming Life Sciences Program.  Some events were funded by support from the Qwest Foundation.

Join the Life Sciences K-16 WyoGroup community.  Find past agendas, readings, and connect with other K-16 Life Science teachers.  Visit https://uwyo.instructure.com/courses/233006.  You can self-enroll in this ‘course’ by going to the following website (https://uwyo.instructure.com/register) and using the join code 9JJGPM.

Or follow the Life Sciences community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/K16LifeScienceSummit/timeline?ref=page_internal.

Past Events

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10th Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 19, 2016, Casper WY

Number of participants: 32

10 K-12 Faculty
  5 Community college faculty and staff
15 University of Wyoming faculty, staff, and students
  2 Community Members

Conference focus: Active Learning

Conference materials:

Agenda

Evaluations

Freeman et. al. (2014) article

 

9th Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 20, 2015 in Casper, Wyoming

Number of participants: 24

9 K-12 faculty
2 Community college faculty
11 University of Wyoming faculty
2 Chadron State College

Conference focus: Active Learning

Conference materials:

Agenda
Freeman et. al (2014) Article
Evaluations summary 

8th Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 21, 2014 in Douglas, Wyoming

Number of participants: 45

22 K-12 faculty
5 Community college faculty
15 University of Wyoming faculty
3 Other

Conference focus: Quantitative Reasoning

Conference materials:

Conference agenda

Evaluations summary 

 

7th Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 22, 2013 in Casper, Wyoming

Number of participants: 30

16 K-12 faculty
4 Community college faculty
8 University of Wyoming faculty
2 Education organization representatives

Conference focus: Student Success in Science Writing

Conference materials:

Conference agenda

Student success in science writing survey results

Evaluations summary

(Note: the 2012 Life Sciences Summit was canceled due to inclement weather.)

 

6th Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 23, 2011 in Douglas, Wyoming

Number of participants: 47

20 K-12 educators
7 Community college educators
17 University of Wyoming educators
2 State education organization representatives

Conference focus: "Engaging Students in Multiple 'Blooms" Levels Across Grade Levels"

Conference materials:

Conference agenda

Article: Crowe et al., 2008.  Biology in Bloom: Implementing Bloom's Taxonomy to Enhance Student Learning in Biology. Life Sciences Education, 7, pp. 368-381.

Evaluations summary

 

5th Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held May 5, 2010 in Casper, Wyoming

Number of participants: 53

23 K-12 educators
10 Community college educators
17 University of Wyoming educators
3 State education organization representatives

Conference focus: Examine student work to identify struggles and strengths

Conference materials:

Conference agenda

Article: Crowe et al., 2008.  Biology in Bloom: Implementing Bloom's Taxonomy to Enhance Student Learning in Biology. Life Sciences Education, 7, pp. 368-381.

Examining student work instructions

Evaluations summary

 

4th Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 20, 2009 in Casper, Wyoming

Number of participants: 35

15 K-12 educators
7 Community college educators
10 University of Wyoming educators
3 State education organization representatives

Conference focus: Evolution and science education

Conference materials:

Conference agenda

Summit preparation handout

Article: Peshkin, M., 2006. Addressing the Public About Science and Religion.  American Institute of Physics, Physics Today.

Article: Nehm et al., 2008.  Does the Segregation of Evolution in Biology Textbooks and Introductory Courses Reinforce Students' Faculty Mental Models of Biology and Evolution?  Evo Edu Outreach.

Evaluations summary

 

3rd Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 22, 2008 in Casper, Wyoming

Number of Participants: 45

30 K-12 educators
4 Community college educators
10 University of Wyoming educators
1 State education organization representatives

Conference focus: Teacher expectations, student learning, and big ideas in biology

Conference materials:

Conference agenda

Ground rules hand-out

Examining student work instructions

Evaluations summary

 

2nd Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 23, 2007 in Douglas, Wyoming

Number of Participants: 54

28 K-12 educators
8 Community college educators
17 University of Wyoming educators
1 State education organization representatives

Conference focus: "Science as Inquiry" and examining student work

Conference materials:

Conference agenda

Summit invitation

Examining student work instructions

Evaluations summary

 

2007 Regional Life Sciences Summits

Three conferences were held in Evanston, Gillette, and Worland, Wyoming to examine and discuss student work.

Learn more:

Regional summits press release

Regional summits executive report

 

1st Annual Life Sciences Summit

Held February 23, 2006 in Casper, Wyoming

Number of Participants: 53

26 K-12 educators
10 Community college educators
16 University of Wyoming educators
1 State education organization representatives

Conference focus: Setting the foundation: building connections between secondary and post-secondary, examining student work

Conference materials:

Conference flyer

Evaluations summary