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“Science teaching has suffered because
science has been so frequently presented as
so much ready-made knowledge, so much
subject-matter of fact and law, rather than as
the effective method of inquiry into any
subject-matter”
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Focus on the undergraduate student
Increase # of students in STEM careers
Increase # of students who stay in STEM
Recognized that Biology practice has
changed
Have a better understanding of how
students learn
Recognized the need for
◦ Less content, more interdisciplinary
◦ More research based inquiry
◦ Understanding concepts rather than memorizing
Strategy developed by BIO-EHR Working Group:
1. Conversations – listen for shared vision and the changes needed
to achieve it
2. Big Conference – crystallize initiative and partnerships
3. Report – articulate the vision, synthesize previous efforts;
recommend changes needed & roles; address sustainability
4. Implementation – make investments; implement commitments;
improve communication; leverage feedback loops
Approved by a joint meeting
of the BIO Advisory
Committee and the EHR
Advisory Committee in
November 2006
NSF supported regional conversations
during 2007-2008 – AAAS facilitation:
211 participants from…
community colleges, PUIs,
MSIs, major R1 universities,
museums, science centers,
education organizations, other
federal agencies, National
Academies, field stations,
professional societies…
2006
BIO –EHR
working group
2007
2008
Denver
San Francisco
Chicago
Boston
Washington
Atlanta
Image created with Google Maps
2009
www.visionandchange.org
A Call to ACTION!
Converging Efforts to Improve Biology Education
A New Biology
for the 21st
Century
Vision and
Change
Problem solving
Critical thinking skills
Student centered learning
Interdisciplinary curricula
Research opportunities
Web-based resources
AP Biology
Curriculum
Concepts:
-evolution
-biological systems
-interaction of systems
-organisms & information
-information technologies
-environment
-energy
-health
-food
Medical School
Admissions
-scientific competencies
-fundamental scientific principles
Yolanda George, Deputy
Director Education and
Human Resources Programs,
American Association for the
Advancement of Science