I have profited immensely from the PKAL-Plant Biology sessions in Keystone, CO this past summer. Some highlights that I would especially mention are:
1. The Leadership Initiative sessions to begin the day each day. We are not in the midst of revising our biology curriculum and I have been made more sensitive to the dynamics of change.
2. The poster session on Sunday was a great opportunity to present what I am doing in botany laboratory with the inquiry approach, and to informally meet with colleagues and discuss topics represented in the posters. I would encourage the expansion of poster session opportunities, perhaps during the week in a place where people mill around for breaks.
3. Paul Williams' sessions on FAST Plants and growing techniques with small recyclable containers were super. I have already begun to implement some of the suggestions as part of my botany course this fall. It might be nice if some of his excellent sketches could be scanned and made available via the internet .
4. Likewise, Les Hickok's session on C-Fern was very helpful. I wouldn't have launched into this had I not gotten the hands-on experience he offered. This has reminded me of the importance of hands-on in my teaching, and has prompted me to begin using C-fern. I currently have the fern gametophytes growing on agar in the 12th day from starting and they are doing fine.
5. The session by Peter v. Sengbusch, Deanna Raineri, and Alice Bergfeld was very helpful and I plan to make use of the Botany-Online as a resource in my botany class. Our molecular biologist may be able to use the material presented by Deanna. Alice, keep up the good work.
6. The sessions with the professional societies was very informative an I am looking forward to using the video production from ASPP, and other resources provided in support of botany education. I think the professional societies are key to promoting botany education at every level and should be encouraged.
7. Finally, the field trip "Colorado Flora -- Field Work with Plants" with Rob Riensvold and Phil Gibson was fantastic. They demonstrated good teaching approaches in the field, consistent with the emphasis on promoting student observation, participation and inquiry. I have attached a few JPG photos of this experience.
Sorry I don't have more time to add additional information. I do have some internet links, most of which are commonly known at my homepage link at
http://www.cedarville.edu/dept/sm/silvius/netsites.htm
John
John E. Silvius
Professor of Biology
251 N. Main St.
Cedarville
University
Cedarville, Ohio 45314
E-mail: silviusj@cedarville.edu http://www.cedarville.edu/employee/silviusj/index.htm