Paul Strode is a biology teacher at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado. Throughout his career, Paul has taught a variety of science courses in both high school and university settings. In addition to his work in the classroom, Paul is a powerful and prolific communicator about the Nature of Science and Science Education. Paul has also created materials and and presented teacher workshops for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. A particularly popular resource Strode has created for HHMI is on the teaching of Math and Statistics in Biology. He has also has published peer-reviewed scientific articles, middle school science textbook chapters, and a book titled “Why Evolution Works (and Creationism Fails)” with Physicist Matt Young. Paul has been interviewed about bird migration and climate change on NPR’s “All Things Considered” (May 3, 2006) and about teaching evolution on KGNU Denver/Boulder’s “How on Earth” (June 28, 2011). Paul’s recent published work includes the article “Hypothesis Generation in Biology” in The American Biology Teacher and his contribution of “Getting Students to Think Like Scientists” to the Unity & Diversity writing Project. Paul also blogs about his teaching as Mr. Dr. Science Teacher. Paul earned his Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 while studying the spring forest ecology of migrating songbirds. Strode earned a Masters of Science Education from the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1996.
Show Notes:
- Berkman and Plutzer Research on Teaching Evolution
- Aaron took the “I Heart Stats” MOOC through edX to brush up on stats
- Paul teaches an IB Biology course.
- How to quantify the noise when comparing means.
- Paul’s discussion of stats reminded me of Nate Silver
- Calculating statistical variance between means
- Paul helps Aaron fix how he teaches the hypothesis
- Aaron’s honor’s biology classes are now completing the Edvotek GMO Foods lab (without a hypothesis)
- Paul clarifies what “Going Gradeless” really means.
- Paul credits his wife Sarah M. Zerwin for pushing to go gradeless based on her experience.
- She has also surrounded him with a lot of texts that focus on de-emphasizing grades including: “Creating Self-Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Students’ Self-Awareness and Learning Skills,” “Writing without Teachers,” “De-Testing and De-Grading Schools: Authentic Alternatives to Accountability and Standardization,” “Grading Smarter, Not Harder: Assessment Strategies That Motivate Kids and Help Them Learn,” & “The Unstoppable Writing Teacher”
- Paul quotes Alfie Kohn’s “The Case Against Grades” to drive home his point.
- Paul also referenced Theodosius Dobzhansky classic essay. One of Aaron’s Favorites.
- Paul’s tries to exercise for 1 hour a day, which seems like a good idea.
- Paul recently enjoyed the movie “Across the Universe”
- Paul and Aaron both have Cycleops bike trainer, but Aaron’s gets dusty if there is not a triathlon on the schedule. Paul uses his time to listen to Quality PD.
- Aaron is still figuring out how to copy the “Horizontal Transfer” format.
- If you need to have your students brush up on a topic, just send them to Bozeman Science. (like Aaron did with This One last week)
- Aaron enjoys other books by Sean Carroll including “ENDLESS FORMS MOST BEAUTIFUL” and ”The Making of the Fittest”
- Aaron found another way to bring up “Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues” by Martin J. Blaser
Pick of the Week:
Paul: The Serengeti Rules by Sean Carroll, University of Wisconsin Molecular Biologist and Vice President of Science Education at HHMI
Paul reviewed the book for the American Biology Teacher in the March 2016 issue. He is also under contract with Princeton University Press (Sean’s publisher) to create curriculum materials for The Serengeti Rules for teachers to use in the classroom (to be available in early 2017).
Aaron: Animal Microbiomes Are Unique and Beneficial