Biology of Plants

Age

7th Grade

Methods of teaching

In 7th grade, my teacher was really into showing
us videos to teach us science. Maybe not the most
effective way to teach, but I remember being really
excited about it. We watched "Life," which taught
us about different types of plants in the world.

Response

Didn't give students experience

I currently don't remember the
details of those videos, so
maby not the most effective
strategy

Videos don't give experience, so they
are a good strategy, but not the best.

I did get excited to watch those
videos though

On the otherhand, students do enjoy them.

Sensory connections

The video was very green, that's about all I remember about it

I remember something about the venus fly trap. It looked
very uncomfortable to touch

Type of learning

Non-declarative - I remember some of the video, but none of the facts it wants me to.

9th grade

Method of teaching

In 9th grade, I remember my teacher made us do
dissections of plants, and them label a diagram
with the parts.

Response

As a 9th grader, I didn't care for this.
I remember being confused and
annoyed at this assignment. I don't think
I liked my teacher very much.

Do I currently remember anything I learned
from 9th grade about plant biology?
No. All of my current understanding comes from
college courses.

Implications

Dissections are great. They teach
a lot! But you have to do it in a way that
makes kids excited to learn about them,
and do them. Don't make it boring or a
chore.

Correlation into other subjects

Human Anatomy

Animal Biology

Sensory connections

Emotional

I remember being annoyed at this assigment

I didn't like my teacher, so that
contributed to my lack of motivation

Physical

Plants have a very distinct texture

We had to find our own flower to dissect, I
remember mine being very colorful with
bright petals

Type of learning

declarative

dissections help students remeber concepts through doing and phycially seeing a concept

12th grade

Method of teaching

In 12th grade, my teacher took us out to a field
with a variety of different plants, and had us design our own plant experiments.

Response

This was a really great teaching
strategy. Taught us a lot about the
process or research.

Implications

It is good to teach students how to research.
That way, they can know how to answer
questions they may have and foster an interest
in science.

Allowed us to put what we had learned
into real world situations.

Implications

letting students put what they learn into effect
solidifies learning and helps them see it in a new
light.

Allowed us to learn for ourselve - self
learning.

Implications

Allowing students to research teaches them
how to answe questions.

Correlation to other subjects

Research in Chemistry

Research in Physics

Learning to research for essays

Sensory Connections

Emotional

It was exciting to go and do our own experments

Independence

Joy to be skipping other classes to go on
weekly field trips

Physical

We went in the Spring, so it was very warm

We live in Oregon, so it was very green and beautiful

Type of learning

Probably non-declarative, as it was learning through experience.