Dec 13, 2010 - biology as more than just a body of knowledge ... uncover 'the best worksheets in school biology'. Institute of Biology starts law suit over a.
Journal of Biological Education
ISSN: 0021-9266 (Print) 2157-6009 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjbe20
Journal of Biological Education: the first fifty years Michael Reiss To cite this article: Michael Reiss (1991) Journal of Biological Education: the first fifty years, Journal of Biological Education, 25:4, 239-240, DOI: 10.1080/00219266.1991.9655214 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00219266.1991.9655214
Published online: 13 Dec 2010.
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Focus dimensional understanding of objects that they have only seen in two dimensions. Sectional drawings abound in textbooks and observation work may include looking at thin sections through a microscope. Simple activities that may aid pupil understanding of sections include cutting drinking straws at different angles (to help interpret transverse or longitudinal sections of stems, blood vessels, the medulla region of the kidney) or cutting, with a razor blade, tangled, long and thin strands of modelling clay (to aid interpretation of the kidney cortex). A more demanding requirement might be to build a threedimensional model of an object usually met in sectional views in lessons. It may be best to start with objects which pupils are familiar with in three dimensions as well as in the form of sectional diagrams, such as teeth or eyes. Less familiar objects, seen only in section through a microscope, such as a transverse section of a plant cell, may present more of a challenge. Illustrated examples of these and other approaches to work in the biology
laboratory have been published in this journal and elsewhere (Lock, 1989, 1991a, 1991b). The need for an enhanced range of approaches to teaching is, perhaps, more pressing now that the National Curriculum ensures that all pupils study biology to 16 years of age. Perhaps too, we need to view biology as more than just a body of knowledge and skills; through approaches to teaching such as those outlined here, we may bring more pupils to enjoy and understand biology. Roger Lock University of Birmingham References Lock, R. J. (1989) Some less usual approaches to pupil work in school biology lessons. Journal of Biological Education, 23(2), 142-146. Lock, R. J. (1991a) Creative work in biology-a pot-pourri of examples. Part 1: Expressive and poetic writing, cartoons, comics and posters. School Science Review, 72(240), 39-46. Lock, R. J. (1991b) Creative work in biology-a pot-pourri of examples. Part 2: Drawing, drama, games and models. School Science Review, 72(261), 57-64.
Out of focus Journal of Biological Education the first fifty years Now that the Journal of Biological Education is fifty years old, its editors thought it appropriate to review some of the major events of the second twenty-five years of its publication. 1992 Editors of JBE announce new competition to uncover 'the best worksheets in school biology'. Institute of Biology starts law suit over a patent on a transgenic organism. 1993 Government drops testing of 7-year-olds. Both entries to JBE worksheet competition awarded prizes. Single European market leads to closure of Kent schools through teacher shortages. Government encourages 'flexible learning and better use of library staff. Journal of Biological Education (1991) 25 (3)
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1994
Government announces major review of 16-19 education in England and Wales. 1995 Government drops testing of 11- and 14-year-olds. 1996 Institute Past-President appointed Minister for Science by the new Liberal Democrat Government. 1997 Last blue whale dies. JBE 'scratch-and-snifF pheromone capsules cause riots in school labs. 1998 New Philip Harris biotechnology kit for use in schools enables genes to be swapped between vascular plants. 1999 Oral male contraceptive perfected. Korean laboratory announces complete in vivo synthesis of E. coli from inorganic precursors.
2000
Institute's law suit on transgenic organism settled out of court. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reach 400 ppm. USA government denies link between carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse effect. 2001 One hundred millionth person dies of AIDS. USA government scientists announce that vaccine against HIV 'imminent'. Animal rights movement succeeds in getting UK commercial fishing banned. 2002 JBE ceases hard-copy production. In common with most scientific journals is now only available electronically. 2003 Huge increase in its numbers leads to sea eagle being declared a pest by Home Office. 240
2004
First complete DNA sequencing of a dinosaur genome following discovery of perfectly preserved dinosaur nests.
2009
First ever winter in England without a single frost. Polar ice caps 40 per cent of what they were 20 years ago. Houses of Parliament flooded. Birch trees start colonizing Antarctica. Philip Harris launches teaching pack to allow school in vivo synthesis of Compsognathus, a cat-sized dinosaur believed to feed on lizards. Fears that it might escape from schools dismissed as 'nonsense'. Compsognathus feral in Kent and Sussex. First issue of JBE transmitted to subscribers by telepathy. Slow lizard extinct in Britain. Dog owners express concern at Manchester Zoo's latest breeding success—two baby sabre-toothed tigers 'doing well'. Government announces major review of 16-19 education in England and Wales.
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Michael Reiss Journal of Biological Education (1991) 25 (4)
