Jen is the scientist-in-residence and Science Department faculty member at North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Illinois. She has been teaching a range of life science courses, including AP Biology, at the high school level since 1996. Jen advises students in an Advanced Open Research Course, a capstone course focusing on authentic faculty-mentored research in the sciences. As scientist-in-residence, she works to promote an appreciation and understanding of science at a cross-curricular level among students from PK–12 and within the greater North Shore community.
Jen is currently co-chair of the AP Biology Development Committee. She has given numerous presentations at national conferences on how to incorporate quantitative inquiry-based instruction and assessment in the redesigned AP Biology curriculum. She serves as the high school science director of the Illinois Science Teachers Association and on the Introductory Biology Taskforce of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT). She has served as an AP Biology Reader, Table Leader, Assistant to the Chief Reader, and Exam Leader. For her efforts in both the classroom and in the biology community, she was awarded both the NABT Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Illinois and the Illinois Science Teachers Association Exxon Mobil Outstanding Teachers of Science Award in 2014.
Show Notes:
- Jen’s first roommate at the read was Paula Phillips, and this was the first of many great friends she made through the experience.
- When John Lepri became the chief reader, Jen was able to become Assistant to the Chief Reader.
- Aaron’s first summer training was with Joan Carlson, who Jen describes as a wickedly smart woman!
- Jen encouraged Aaron (and others) to apply to be an AP Reader
- Jen wonders if we still need to have a textbook
- Jen is excited about the NABT Introductory Biology Task Force
- Aside from teaching, Jen spends a lot of time coaching Volleyball
- Congrats to Knuffke’s on baby Lyra
- The sporadic Pfannerstill Twitter account
Pick of the Week: (Share a resource or news story that has grabbed your attention recently)
Jen – “Reflecting on Graphs: Attributes of Graph Choice and Construction Practices in Biology” Aakanksha Angra and Stephanie M. Gardner
Aaron – Scientific Research vs. The Media Headlines
The BMJ Research Article: “Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes”
Science Daily: “Three to four cups of coffee a day linked to longer life”
Time magazine: “3 Reasons Why Coffee Is So Good for You”
Credits:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LOTS
Music by: https://exmagicians.bandcamp.com/
Show Notes at Lifeoftheschool.org
You can follow on twitter @MrMathieuTweets or @lifeoftheschool