Eastside Catholic teachers launch ‘Biomed’ class

Three teachers at Eastside Catholic High School, each previously recognized by the National Association of Biology Teachers as the state’s Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year, launched a new class this fall. Instructors Mary Glodowski, Laurie Matthews and MaryMargaret Welch named the class “Biomed.” It combines curriculum from Advanced Placement biology with studies of biotechnology and bioethics to give students a much more in-depth exploration of the subject. The class runs for two hours instead of the usual one, which provides more time for students “to investigate,” said Welch. “Half of the class is biotechnology, the other half of the class is to allow kids to ask their own questions,” she said. “Students ask their own questions and then develop their own protocol to answer those questions — this is the authentic work of a scientist.” Students will experience real science not only through complex labs in the classroom but also through the work of professional researchers. “We have several partnerships,” Welch said. “We’ll be working with research scientists to allow our students to collaborate on research projects.” A presentation at the Student Biotech Expo, a regional science fair for advanced science students, will also pull students out of the classroom and delve further into a subject that interests them. “The class in part is to really take young people who have had a good background in science and to allow those young people to really develop scientific thinking,” Welch said. Eastside Catholic High School Principal Greg Marsh said in an e-mail that he’s excited about the course and the three teachers who are making it happen. “The most important person in the learning process is the teacher, and we are delighted to have such a stellar group of educational professionals leading this effort,” Marsh said. Each teacher is highly decorated with education-based awards, such as the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and Teacher of the Year for different schools and school districts. Now they’re using their expertise to create something new. “We’ve known each other for about eight to 10 years, and we’ve admired each other’s work,” Welch said. “Now it’s an opportunity to work together at one school to really bring the best of our individual work together.”

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