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.
Friday, February 19, 2017, Casper, WY
Number of Participants: 25
2 K-12 Educators
9 Community College Educators
11 University of Wyoming Educators
1 WDE member
2 Other
Agenda
Evaluation Feedback
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
Freeman et. al. (2014) article
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
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:
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:
Student success in science writing survey results
(Note: the 2012 Life Sciences Summit was canceled due to inclement weather.)
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:
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.
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:
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
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:
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.
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:
Examining student work instructions
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:
Examining student work instructions
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
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:
Evaluations summary