MYTHBUSTERS: the holiday edition

So this will be my last blog of the 2009 Fall Semester..As you all know I am subbing my life away. While subbing in a chemistry class this past week I was fortunate to watch Mythbusters which I have briefly heard about clicking through channels on TV. I did not realize how much this show is based on the great world of science! Normally students will talk and text during a movie, but this show held alot of their attention. It was a great pick by the teacher and I highly recommend it for any teacher taking a sick day in the near future!

Making Connections: NYS Lab.

So as if the assignments weren't piled on this semester, ;) in our computer applications class we had to make an educational video on a science topic. My group chose to make a "fun, yet educational" video describing the steps in one of the NYS required labs. We had a great time making the instructional guide to "Making Connections" and below is a nice link describing the build-up of lactic acid, which is one of the themes that the labs touches upon. I love how it incorporates the world of sports into it! Check it out!

http://www.exploratorium.edu/hockey/fitness2.html

Science Fun in the Sun!

Before pursuing a career as a teacher, I wanted to pursue a career in Marine Science. I spent one summer interning at Atlantis Marine World out east in Riverhead, NY. I was a marine mammal assistant and worked with the animal trainers with the seals and sea lions. It was a great and enriching experience for me as an undergrad. I totally would have went through with it as a career, however the salary was 20K a year, aka (not financially stable enough for life on LI). So sadly, I gave up that dream for teaching, but I do hope that one day after retirement I will pursue that field again. Take a look at what Atlantis has to offer you!!!

www.atlantismarineworld.com

Definitely a great place to bring a class for an interactive day of science!!

Teaching Neuroscience!

Being that I like to think of myself as a science educator, everyone has a preference when it comes to a particular topic that they like in biology. One of my favorites is the nervous system (which sadly is given a week tops in the curriculum which really saddens me.) Anyway, I try to make that the BEST week ever! (haha..sorry photosynthesis you just don't cut it for me.) The web site I will list below was used by one of my professors in college and I routinely check it for the "latest" developments in the neuroscience world. Check it out!

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

Happy neuron firing!

Making a website..it really helps!!

Hello Hello!!
So I know I have been on the slacker spectrum of things in regards to maintaining my blog. But have no fear, end of the semester is here!! Which means its time to pick up the pace and update this thing!!

So I do have some real RELEVANT science updates. First on a personal level, in my computer application class we were required to make a website. I was initially totally put off by this idea. But after realizing that this was a requirement of my grade in my class I really had no choice but to complete it. With help from a fellow and patient colleague, I actually got into making my website. I left class feeling accomplished and proud of my pretty lame, (but functional!) website. While in school the next week I was approached by a couple of students taking AP Biology. There exam...on glycolysis and the Krebs cycle...KILLER! Being that I just completed a website and had featured a few links on the exact topics I showed them my website!! I saw them a few days after their test and was delighted that they had done well and that they liked the links I showed them. You can find them below.

http://www.johnkyrk.com/glycolysis.html
http://www.johnkyrk.com/krebs.html

Have fun sharing those ATP's!!! ;)