Daily+Externship+Reflection

May 26, 2011 Email followup from phone conversation with Robert Sox concerning Kenan Fellowship direction and scope. He asked if I would like to use my interest in Biotechnology to create a teaching module for teachers, and he also asked me to register for DPI Summer Institute. (Recieved confirmation of registration 6/22/11)

May 31, 2011 Talked with Carol Kent, a researcher at Wake Forest University Babtist Medical Center. She is also the parent of two students that I presently teach. She has agreed to assist me in getting my foot in the door at the Biotech center.

June 3, 2011 Met with mentor Robert Sox to develop plan for fellowship. He created this wiki site (nckenan) to house information for the summer. We also discussed the possible use of website voicethread.com as a tool for the curriculum module that I create. He also provided me with the Proposed Framework for the Teacher's Training Teachers.

June 9, 2011 Attended WFUBMC Science Seminar for biotech information. The presentation highlighted the future of Biotech Park in Winston-Salem.

June 15, 2011 Attended WFUBMC Science Seminar presented by Dr. Anthony Atala. He is the main researcher for regenerative medicine. I also spoke with him about the possibility of working with him over the summer and observing his research. Carol Kent, my biotech sponsor, allowed me to tour her lab facility and meet Dr. Rudel. He is the research lab supervisor. Carol and Dr. Rudel work in the Lipid Sciences department of WFUBMC. They gave me the contact information needed to clear my visits to the universities lab.

June 17, 2011 Emailed Janet Bailey (DPI) requesting a meeting in July to discuss the new Essential Standards. (CC: Robert Sox)

June 20, 2011 Contacted Allyson K. from the Human resources department of WFUBMC and she gave me the information needed to submit a request to shadow Carol Kent. Highlighted in this conversation was the need to contact my doctor and have a present immunization record sent to Wake HR department and TB test. She explained that the application for shadowing, once complete, would be submitted to a committee for approval. I called my physician and set up an appointment for obtaining a TB shot. They asked that I call back in the morning to make sure insurance covers the shot. Looked over the New Standards. Major changes in my curriculum noted - Cell theory moved back to 7th grade where it will fit with their instruction of genes. A better place for the scaffolding of this material ! I never understood why they taught genes and hereditary information in 7th then we taught the cell in 8th. It will be an easy sell for this curricular move - it makes pedagogical sense.

June 21, 2011 Contacted my insurance carrier to determine if the TB shot would be covered and talked with my physician again. Emailed Robert Sox with information, concerns, and possible plan B if the University does not clear me to observe Carol. Met with Jeffrey Edwards,an additional Kenan Mentor, at Barnes and Nobels to discuss lesson plans and project ideas. He gave me information about a 30 day free trial of Camtashia. A way to use the new camera Kenan provided to assist in instruction. I will contact him after the NCCAT week to schedule another meeting.

June 22,2011 Played phone tag with the insurance company again this morning but finally found out that the TB test I need to enter WFUBMC will be covered. YAY! So, I called my doctor back to schedule the TB shot and followup. Of course, they only administer the test on Mon-Wed.. and today was full. They can get me on Monday - but I will be at NCCAT all week. I have made an appointment for July 5. This means that the review committee will not get to my forms until after the 4th. Curriculum investigation continues. Standard and Extended versions. It takes much longer to go through each grade level and see what is changing than I thought. Today, I am again concentrating on Middle School and Science, but I will also review other curricular items. In my search this morning in 8th grade science - I came to the realization that observing in the lipids lab will work well with the curriculum addition of Molecular Biology. (8 L.5) It actually fits in that Standard better than Biotechnology. Molecular Biology Standard 8.L.5 reads: 8.L.5 Understand the composition of various substances as it relates to their ability to serve as a source of energy and building materials for growth and repair of organisms.

8.L.5.1 Summarize how food provides the energy and the molecules required for building materials, growth and survival of all organisms (to include plants).

8.L.5.2 Explain the relationship among a healthy diet, exercise, and the general health of the body (emphasis on the relationship between respiration and digestion).

Carol and Dr. Rudel work directly with the effect of transfats and other fatty materials ingested on blood flow. (Primarily diseases like Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis). Since this is a new section to the standards for 8th grade creating a module that I can use that will fill a gap in what I already have in my arsenal of teaching tools takes on a whole new emphasis. It will also be a better sell to other teachers in staff development. EVERYONE wants to walk away from staff development with something that will directly transfer into the classroom. This afternoon I am going to investigate what the two diseases are and the other work of these scientist. It is going to awesome working with live animals ( mice and monkeys) in research. Besides a lab in High School when I taught a goldfish to swim on one side of an aquarium using conditioning I haven't had the opportunity. Awesome days ahead.

June 23, 2011 I ended up just going to the Minute Clinic yesterday to get a TB shot. The nurse was "in-training" and when she was stooping to give me a shot she fell back on her feet and the needle came back up through my skin. Maybe this was not a good career choice for her. I have to return tomorrow to have the test "read." Today I contacted Ashly Morrison the other Kenan Fellow from Region 5. We are collaborating on our role in the Teacher's Training Teacher's within our region. It will really interesting to see what she has as a vision for her module. I requested the immunization form from the doctor. The records dept had earlier this week told me I could find these records online because they are public documents. Yeah right- I have spent several hours searching in all of the archived public document sites for Health in NC and haven't found the link. After extensive search the doctor's office called back to inform me that the archived records do not go back far enough for "older adults". OUCH. What ever they may think - my immunization records were not chiseled onto stone tablets. It seems I will have to allow the doctors office to draw blood then screen for all the required vaccines. Not great news. I sent a request to the HR dept for the documents I need to complete since I have not received these from Carol Kent thus far this week. These have been received.

June 24, 2011 Today I found out that the "titers" shot required to test for immunities would cost nearly $300.00. That puts my dream of working in the lab at Wake Forest on hold. I have spoken with my insurance and found out that it may be covered or I can always retake the immunizations. I am not faint at heart - but to think I will need to take 6 additional shots before observing for a week or two makes me uneasy. If nothing else, my journey to bring "real" science into to the classroom by observing real science in action is a lot more difficult than one would imagine. I also met with my mentor today, Robert Sox. It is always a pleasure to hear what he has to say about the trends of science education and where DPI may be heading in the next few years. What I love most is his analogies. The sign of a good teacher is that he/ or she can make concepts relate to prior knowledge. With each reference I could understand exactly what he was trying to tell me. I am sure his pending seminars will go well..because he is prepared and his method of delievery will be understood. After our meeting, I felt that even if I can not access the labs at Wake, I still have resources to see me through this fellowship. I can certainly rest at alot easier knowing I have excellent support. Next week I will be attending NCCAT with my fellow Kenan participants. I am excited and hope that our collaboration opportunities can sheds some light on what the other teacher's in my group may be doing with their projects.

June 27, 2011 1st day of NCCAT- What a beautiful facility and the staff is very accomodating and easy to talk to. I met with several T3's (someone's slang for Teachers Training Teachers) today. One fellow, Cate, said that she had completed a module that was recommended by her mentor. Hopefully I can remember to ask Robert which module this is and what purpose it has in our project. Today was spent primarily in getting to know you activities. I liked the collective resume.. that I can use again in the classroom. Dinner was spent in a park and then Carol Taylor and I climbed the mountain to a waterfall with the other fellows. She is also from Forsyth Co schools - I met her at the interview waiting in the lobby. We found out today that our children went to school together and had been friends. A very small world. It was interesting hearing what other fellows were researching. Each person had their own "story" about their experience thus far. Jeff, a guy from my group is going to Alaska with his mentor. How awesome is that ! He is working on berry's and their effect on cancer cells. Honestly, essential oils, berries, etc. may hold the key to cancer's cure... or it could do absolutely nothing to cellular mitosis or even stop the harmful effects of carcinogens. It is worth a try. The person from my insurance did not call as promised about the "titers" blood work. It could have been a missed call as I went into and out of service. I will need to remember to call tomorrow and check the progress. On the agenda for Day 2 - curriculum development. Day 3 Rafting down the river. I tested the water today and it is a bit chilly.

June 28, 2011 A beautiful day in the mountains. This is my kind of place! Everything, to the very last detail, has been provided to make my experience here wonderful. Only in a center for the advancement of teaching would the toilet paper covers come with hand written directions " pull up then out." Teacher's- you have to love their need to instruct even in situations that need no explanation. Also - I love the fact my room does not have a television. If I didn't have my laptop or cell phone it would be almost like a technology-free vacay. The most notable thing about today was finally sitting down with all 16 T3's from all over the state and hashing out the goals and plans for the Kenan modules. It was surprising how differently fellows were interpreting their mentor's directions. Cate and Austin have not even heard from their mentors but once since their introductory dinner. I feel very blessed that Robert has shared so much and given me such excellent guidance. I feel comfortable that I am on the right track. There is a "Call for Change" module that I have been informed that I must complete. Afterward there is a test to a check understanding. I hope there is a released version I can practice first. ( EOG joke.) A very large part of our day was spent learning the constructs of good lesson planning. The three men providing the instruction had some pretty cool activities but I felt the competition for presentation time looming like a elephant in the room. Teacher's can be pretty tough students - so they had their work cut out for them. My seat partner is Dianna and she is quite interesting to work with on activities. I am such a rule follower, and if they say add flags to label something - there I am making every single flag. She is more laid back and I am sure quite annoyed at my Type A behavior. Hopefully tomorrow will bring her some respite from my attention to detail. Which brings me to tomorrow's activity - Laughing in the face of death by aquatics (ie: whitewater rafting). I am excited- I am not going to lie.

June 29, 2011 Awesome trip down the Nantahala River today. It is a dam release river and was wickedly cold. During our trip we lost Carol out of our boat twice - but overall it was an wonderful experience.(Maybe not for her !) I certainly used the skills I had learned in scouts to help paddle the raft. My seats were behind the lead so I had some of the water shielded - but it I was soaked by the end of the 7 hour trip. Half way down the river my foot and leg went to sleep so I felt seriously concerned that if I had fallen out it would have hindered my ability to swim. Luckily, I stayed in the raft. Also along the trip down we stopped several times to learn about the botanical flora and geologic history of the region. Our guide also pointed out the Trail of Tears walkway. Tonight I spent several hours in the computer lab entering information into the Moodle created to upload timesheets and reflections. It was laborious but I did have excellent company. The other fellows are willing to help and the laughter and personal stories made the night go by quickly. The evening ended around midnight after a "Call for Change" module attempt in the commons area. Austin, Karen, Willow, Cate and I finally threw in the towel and decided to complete the 90 module on our own. I finally found a way to log in - so as soon as I have an opportunity to get back to the NC site I can complete the pre-symposium requirements.

June 30, 2011 This morning I spoke with my insurance again about the "titers" and gave the representative the Code given to me by the doctor's office on Tuesday. It seems the code was not correct so I am back to square one. What a frustrating tangle of medical jargon. It seems I still need to talk to my doctor and "get back with them." By lunch time, I had spoken on and off with my doctor's office and the insurance company and worked out a way to get all of the lab work done - minus the Tetanus booster which is out of date and hopefully put all this behind me. I have set an appointment for 2 pm on Tuesday. (Monday is a holiday) Though I was in and out of the morning presentations I was still able to get alot of valuable ideas for my project. I talked extensively with one of the presenters that had knowledge of biotech education. He and I agreed that my idea of concentrating on the common skills used in the lab that are taught during the middle grades, careers, and ethics were a good focus for my module. He reminded me not to present a replica of the labs - he felt the kids would lose the real intent of the science in all of the high tech jargon. I certainly agree with his points and hope to create a module that is both student engaging but allows me to show teacher's how to incorporate fundamental 21st century skills and good teaching practices. The afternoon has been spent completing the "Call for Change" module and other housekeeping for the Kenan administrators. Logs, summary time logs on an excel spreadsheet, and time detailed Word Processed logs are important but it seems they could be turned in on one platform. Of course, there is the final step of uploading all three of these documents to a Moodle. If nothing else the word "Moodle" makes me smile. Also -Hooray for the person, entity, staff person that put the Diet Pepsi's and popcorn in the kitchen for us to use.

July 1, 2011 I traveled home today from NCCAT. My engine light came on after I had been on the road about 5 minutes. After calling my husband he and I decided that I would go ahead and try to "make it" home and we would have the car checked as soon as I drove into Lewisville. I actually ended up meeting a mechanic about 30 min after arriving back home. $300 dollars later the car was fixed and back on the road.After unpacking everything I reflected back on what a great week it had been with all of the Kenan crew in the mountains. I am looking forward to seeing them all again in August.

July 3, 2011 I received a call from Cate that she and I will be able to meet with one of the science reps from DPI on Wednesday morning at 8:45. I will contact Robert after the holidays to see if he would like to meet while I am in Raleigh. He needs a break too.I also contacted Carol Kent again about the necessary paperwork that I am taking with me to the doctor's office on Tues. (tomorrow). After the tests come back I can start observing as soon as I am cleared.

July 4, 2011 Happy 4th of July ! I was thinking how many lives have been lost in a quest for our freedoms and how many people are so quick to give them away.

July 5, 2011 I printed off the multitude of forms that I will need at the doctor's office today to submit for my blood work. A few trees later, I had the packet I needed to cover signatures and immunizations for a small army. Packet in hand I went for my blood work and the nurse didn't even want them. She insisted that I return with it on Thursday when I go in for the necessary shots and titers reading. Overall, the blood work experience was pretty painless. Thankfully!I researched the Teacher's new evaluation tool today. When I read it in the fall, I did so with as little effort as possible. Next year I will be evaluated on the new instrument and I will need to be much more adept at the new measurement of effectiveness. It was surprising to see how difficult it would be to be accomplished. The standards have certainly been raised... about time!I contacted my mentor Robert to see if we could meet at DPI in the morning. He and I hope to meet around 10:30am. Hopefully our meetings will be over.

July 6, 2011 This morning I left for Raleigh at 6am and traveled to DPI for a meeting with Beverly Vance and my mentor Robert Sox. Cate had arranged the meeting with Ms. Vance to discuss Science curriculum for the new 2012 rollout.Ms. Vance met with us for approx.. 45 minutes and numerous topics were discussed. Most interesting were flow charts she provided on the vertical alignment of Science education for NC as well as her role in the curriculum design. I was rather shocked that the flow chart is still a work in progress - but I am sure they will continue to tweak the fine points and additional definitions of the standards up until the day it is printed and handed to LEA's.After the meeting with Ms. Vance, I was able to meet with Robert. He and I discussed my role in the Summer Institute that will occur next week on Thursday and Friday. It was really good to know exactly what my role will be for the two days. It seems I will get to hear firsthand the Science information delivered by DPI and I am excited about that. After the morning sessions, I will use my Kenan flip camera t record the LEA's in action. It will be interesting to see the interaction between the people that work in my own LEA. I am looking forward to that.

July 7, 2011 I went to school this morning for a meeting with my principal. As a teacher leader in the school, many of my duties continue on through the summer. After our meeting I went to the doctor’s office where I finalized all of my immunizations and paperwork for my shadowing that will begin after the Institutes.Speaking with the doctor at length about immunizations was interesting. It seems that "my generation" weren't immunized in the same manner as the youth of today. We were left to contract the diseases and given only polio and small pox immunizations before we entered school. That would at least explain why he did not have a record of my shots. I didn’t have a single one! Do remember a very spotted childhood... chicken pox... German measles... etc. My blood still carried the titers for MMR but had lost the marker for chicken pox. Great - this definitely means a chicken pox booster in my future. I had the nurse administer a TDap so I am at least good for that until I am 61. That seems a million years from now. When she said it, it was like renewing a driver’s licenses - I had that momentary "I wonder what life will be like when I am 61."After I returned home after my 2 hour doctor visit.. really 2 hours for a shot... 1 1/2 was spent waiting before during and after.

July 8, 2011 This morning I contacted Carol Kent to begin submission of my paperwork. She advised that I wait until Monday morning to fax the papers to her office so that she can transmit them to Human resources at WFBMC. I am interested to see how long it is going to take to have the papers reviewed by the panel for shadowing. She mentioned that this week she hosted a graduate student in Molecular Biology. It would be quite interesting to talk with them about what type of research they are conducting in biomedical research.Today I also began researching the type of work conducted in the research lab. I tried to gain a working vocabulary of terms used in Lipid Science. I learned quite a bit about LDL ( bad cholesterol) and the types of medications used to treat the onset of heart disease. The lab that Carol works in utilizes state of the art equipment to determine each type of lipid in the blood. She has volunteered to run a fat content of my blood if I want her too. I can't image wanting anyone to take blood again anytime soon. Matter of fact, my arm is so sore from the my shot I can barely pick up a bucket of water. After lunch - I also unpacked the flip camera and started loading the software and preparing the camera for taping LEA's next week. Technology can be so cool - but I am a bit intimidated at times. The Kenan camera is very easy. I have completed the preliminary downloads that I think I need - filmed my kitty walking around the den and tried to send the video to my daughter in college. Next step is to sort the library and determine how to clear the camera to ready it for re-taping.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 11, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">At around 9 am I went to my relative's house that has a fax machine and started (attempted) to fax the papers to Carol. After 17 tries, the line was busy that many times, I successfully transmitted the papers. I received confirmation from her that the papers were received and sent to HR the afternoon.I detailed some of my project ideas to Carol and crafted a time frame for my shadowing her work. I will hopefully begin on Monday the 18th. My goal will be to find out what type of research she is conducting and start to relate that to my standards. I have started to consider a "Hook" for the 1st lesson and thin it may contain a replica of a vein and blood cells.If I use a clear tube of some type, I can add red sphere's to represent red blood cells ( like candy RedHots, and then use grains of rice afterward to represent fat cells (LDL) -I will add H20 to simulate the flow of blood cells through veins and arteries. Each table will be given different amounts of rice. think the amount of water that will flow through the tube will be determined by how many grains of rice added. Consequently, as the rice expands it will constrict the flow of water even more. Much like cholesterol clogging arteries, I have to think this through more - but the idea that the students can simulate the flow of blood through a tube will make this idea more concrete. The red candies will also make the water run red... another cool effect. I am all into the drama effect.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 12, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Today, I wore my teacher hat again and attended an IEP conference for a child from my team last year at school. I have never been to an IEP conference that lasted from 9am to 4:45pm. We did not even break for lunch. When the invitation to conference went out I thought they were kidding when they said bring a lunch. I even remarked I would stand to the side since there weren't enough chairs - the DPI facilitator told me I would need a chair the meeting may run "long" - she was not kidding.After the marathon meeting I had to remind myself why I teach. I think I may have more grey hair now.This evening I have emailed Cate to see how her sessions went yesterday and today. Hopefully she can give me some pointers.My goal for tomorrow is to practice using my camera on unsuspecting subjects. Also, I am going to begin writing my first introductory lesson for my Lipid Science module. I'm rather excited about that - I truly like trying to come up with many different ways to deliver instruction.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 13, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">As the process to get into the lab seems to close - another hurdle is thrown into the mix. I was contacted mid-afternoon by Carol Kent that I would need to have a second TB shot. Of course I would need to have it done before I started with Carol on Monday. So I went to CVS - had another shot and will go by after my Summer Institute with DPI ends on Friday.I contacted Robert via email and text to let him know that the start day in the lab may be moved to Tuesday because of the need to fax my TB information to Mae Witherspoon late Friday afternoon.I spent most of the afternoon preparing for tomorrow's big DPI Summer Institute. I reviewed the crosswalk documents and some of the resources available on the DPI Website.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 14, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">DPI Summer Institute Day 1! <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The science session was very informative. Janet Bailey, the science lead for the group, gave some very interesting information concerning alignment and had the group demonstrate their knowledge through a flowchart activity. I videoed the activity and hope it can be used for reflection later.The afternoon session was specifically with WSFC's LEA group. I had not realized how dysfunction our LEA actually appears to outsiders. Internal bickering, people typing on their blackberries, those with agenda's quite willing to rant- It was almost embarrassing. They appeared to be interested in my role at DPI. One even asked me after the session if I was going to go back into the classroom next year. It was as though I had skipped a layer of power protocol and hadn't done my "dues" in Central Office. Give me a break - I avoid the place like a yearly exam. Their politics is renowned throughout the county and why would I want to join that arena.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 15, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">DPI Summer Institute Day 2 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">First thing this morning Janet asked that I not video any longer. Beverly Vance wants to look at the legality of Kenan's videotaping sessions. Fair enough - I was just doing what I was asked to do so for me it was not a problem to put the camera away for today.I have engaged in excellent discussion with other Science lead educators on the future of science in NC. What struck me is the willingness of LEA reps to just let change happen without asking questions. It is obvious that some have been out of the classroom too long. If you haven't delivered instruction in years, you miss the impact of change. It is easy to say "it will not be a problem" but when it is presented to teachers that have taught that particular subject area for years - they will be hesitant to start all over without tools and resources. My particular LEA did not have a single teacher in attendance. (Of course except for me) So when information was presented on testing - I was the one asking the questions on crosswalk items and online testing format. Are they really talking about social topics in their little learning groups?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 18, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Reflecting on my "To Do" list for the Lipid Science lab included talking with Mae Witherspoon and getting the clearance verified and ordering a badge and parking pass. The morning hours was spent talking with Human Resources and Carol Kent planning what is needed to start in the lab. The afternoon was spent on lesson planning and reviewing the new standards for Molecular Biology. I found many websites with information but most of the material was significantly above 8th grade. Luckily, the information flow chart provided by Mrs. Vance at my DPI meeting helped to narrow the scope. The "Next generation of Science Standards Framework" provides information that gives in depth curricular topics for this essential standard. It also helps that I also received the 5 E model from Janet at the Summer Institute. Together is helps me plan lessons that will hopefully fill the gap the 8th grade teachers will have when they move Molecular Biology to Middle School.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 19, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">First day in the lab- Yes, I spent my working- lunch listening to 5- year Molecular Scientists discuss the fecal content of transgenic mice ! The most interesting thing was the passion of their discussion and the fact I knew about 25% of the words that they spoke for an hour. The Pathology and Lipid Science lab that I am working in engineers "knock-out" mice and researches the effect diet has on their health. These transgenic mice have had genes turned off (KO) so that the researchers can trance fats through their diets. They hope to see if they can trace fats that cause heart disease and then one day turn off the gene that causes the same disease in humans. It is ground breaking research that will have a significant impact on human health in the future. These are the same scientists that brought us the "Trans Fat" dietary information and are now blowing a hole in the "olive oil" industry. (It seems - Rachel Ray may need to look for something to cook with besides her favorite "EVOO" ) From the information provided by Dr. Rudel and Carol, labs across the globe are working on similar health issues and these collaborative efforts are giving a better picture Arteriosclerosis and Atherosclerosis.My hands-on lab experience included preparing tubes of plasma and food types through gas chromatography and all the measurements and procedures that are used in lipid extraction. I was bummed to hear that I had not been given clearance to actually visit and work with the live monkeys and mice. (Only their arteries- ewwww). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I am not so sure now why I had to undergo such extensive testing. I did learn all about the types and purpose of both the primates and rodents. It appears very few people actually ever visit the monkey/mice farm - the researchers just "order" what they want extracted and a lab tech provides what they want. Most of what Carol and I ran today was food given to one of the knock-out mice colonies. It gave me a whole new thought of the term- lab rats. I can see why many people have ethical issues with using animals for testing.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 20, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I was actually allowed to suit up and help with the experiments today. Carol and I were preparing Lipid extraction tubes for a cohort University in Israel. Since we were working with human plasma- it was important to wear all of the safety gear including a full face shield. I felt like a dental hygienists actually. It was funny to hear a researcher talk about the safety steps and the need for safety gear and she didn't even wear gloves the entire time, much less a face shield. (She had on regular glasses.) It was interesting to use the fancy pipettes and other lab equipment I have only dreamed about. WFBMC it seems has very deep pockets for some research projects and some rely on grants. This lab has numerous Wake grad students, about 10 PhD scientists and a few assistants. Kathryn, the animal specialists, has a station right next to Carol. So, I may not get to hang out with the monkeys but I can certainly hear about them. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Today, Kathryn and I talked about protestors, ethical treatment of animals, and appropriate habitats. It was interesting to hear that they put such emphasis in rodent health. With so many rats in and around Winston in the city - to think they are limited and monitored sounds like bureaucracy instead of safety. She and I also talked about radioactive particles. I told them about the ppb and ppm that were allowed of certain contaminates in the water supply and they had no clue. I told them to look in their water bills and they would sometimes find a pamphlet that detailed the treatment process and allowable trace amounts of toxins and particles in their water supply.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 21, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I spent most of today in and out of the cryo freezer... brrr. It seems Carol spends a lot of time using frozen plasma and tall columns of material. I helped her unpack supplies for the lab and make come elise plates. It was tedious and not quite my forte. I was very glad when "Josh" the undergraduate intern came to take over. After the morning adventure of plate making and freezing - Carol talked about the excel sheet and data she collected for the plates created. The language was very technical and I understood about 30%. So much of what Carol does is repetitive and requires purifying and purifying again clear proteins.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 22, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The lab was very slow today and I spent most of the day on my job shadow brainstorming with Carol all of the ways she uses measurement in her research. I took several pictures of her demonstrating the techniques of her research as well as pictures of the equipment. Several times in the course of the day, she hinted that I needed to see other things and started to inquire within other departments. On our “seeking something to do" tour of the lab... I met an investigator from Moscow. She invited me to her lab on Monday where she will be sacrificing mice and removing arteries to be study. That should be interesting.I also met an African- American lady from Tenn. that was working on cloning. She had cloned bacteria. I was pretty impressed and she seemed to want to tell me more. We were interrupted by the head of the dept., a lady that just so happens to have a student that went to my school. She spent at least 25 minutes talking about why she should have come to her son’s science class for an in-class demon of what she does. After her mini-rant on education and what she thinks of coarse scheduling in the high schools - I was finally able to escape back to Carol's lab.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 25, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">RIP- little transgenic mouse that gave up his life today so that we can study his arteries. This little black mouse had so much fat in her body - she must have had the equivalent to birthday cake each day for her entire life. It was amazing to watch the investigator initially remove the blood for the little mouse body then a small snip and she ripped the skin back. Up to this point I thought the little black mouse had been killed before the blood extraction - but no. I could clearly see her little heart still beating. The scientist assured me that the mouse could " feel nothing." But I seriously had thoughts of grabbing that little thing off the table and making a break for the door to mouse freedom.It was clearly not getting more comfortable for the sedated mouse as the researcher cut her belly and rinsed the bowls with saline. Her little legs move and her mouth opened and closed. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">About at this point I thought I would hurl. When - the little thing was ripped from the table where she was pinned down - whisked across the room to another lab table and pinned down spread eagle on a pad with a microscope. The Moscow researcher took over the dissection from here. In very hard to understand English - she explained the long process of organ identification and removable. And there - a tiny heart was still beating, slowly and quite faint, but still beating. I asked the researcher how long the mice hang on during surgery and she said not long after she sniped out the bowls. And with a snip ... out came the intestines, then spleen, the liver, kidney, etc. She placed each organ in its own little tray and the assistant started the process of cutting the organs into smaller pieces and putting them in dry ice. She was right - the little mouse died shortly after the intestines were removed. I said a tiny mouse prayer and was glad her suffering had ended.What seemed like an hour later all the organs had been removed but the veins, arteries and heart. She showed me under the microscope the aorta and it branches into the legs. She then painstakingly removed the entire aorta from the mouse’s body. Snip - out came the heart. She bisected the heart -put it into a small tray and poured gel on top.Before she even had a chance to clean up all the blood that had splattered the table - her assistant plopped another skinless mouse in front of her. It was mouse killing day at the research center. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I had seen enough.After the killing fields I went to another researcher’s station that was working on introducing human protein to the cells of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. (The Chinese really don't like females much do they.) Apparently, these hamster cells are the only ones that do not have this protein. The researcher actually bought a vial and has kept it growing in a tissue room for close to 5 years. That is some serious mitosis.It by far was the most interesting day in the lab that I have had yet. I did realize that I need to stick to teaching and leave the pathology to someone with a stronger stomach and a little Kevorkian of the inside.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 26, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Today I shadowed a lab technician named Matt than has been in the biotech center for 17 years. He loved quizzing me to see if I knew how to make serial dilutions and calculations for mixtures. At first it ticked me off - then I realized that was his way of including me in his day. I got every problem correct, but I was very concerned about my mental math skills. I have become very calculator dependent.I was allowed to assist in running several DNA plates and spent quite a bit of time in the freezer -36 Celsius. I took several pictures of the lab and the activities. It was a rather cool day - seriously.When I got home the fun really began. I have worked from the moment I came home to 2am- 3am each night since beginning my lab work getting my lessons together. It is time consuming since I feel like I need to not only make a lesson for what I am connecting for science - but also for DPI. It is over-whelming.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 27, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I spent the morning in the lab running plasma samples through different phases of the experiment. There is a student intern with Carol as well so we spent the morning walking around behind her like baby ducklings. We spent quite a bit of time freeze drying the food samples for Thurs. So - I spent several more hours in the refrigerated room. I wore a jacket today. It wasn't quite as bad. Carol had to leave after lunch so I left as well. From 2:00 pm until 4 am in the morning I worked on lesson plans.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 28, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">This morning Tam Nguyen a PHD student presented her work. She has been working on a very complex process of tracing fats through the Endoplasmic Reticulum. The research was titled: Mechanism of Intestinal Transport in Mice Thoracic Duct Lymph Lipoproteins. Basically she used 4 or 5 different transgenic mice breeds to show the reaction of the enzymes ACAT 1 and ACAT 2 and how they make cholesterol esters. I honestly understood maybe 40% of what she said. Thank goodness I had been in the lab working or I would have understood even less. It was very interesting hearing her field questions from the other scientists in the room to defend her project. I was very amazed at how composed she seemed. So after the 2 hour PHD extravaganza I went to the lab to finish some of the food samples that I had started on. The most interesting/ grosses thing of the day had to have been the little vials with tiny little toes that came in to the lab today. Katherine, the person in charge of the transgenic mice has a desk right beside my work station. She told me the toes are used to determine if the newborns have a particular DNA. It kind of made me a little sick - Frankenstein-ish. Well it is 8:04 and now and I have been working on my lesson plans for Lesson #2 for 3 hours. I also uploaded Lesson 1 today and sent copies to Jeff Edwards and Robert Sox my mentors. I am sure it will be a very long night. Tomorrow I will be in the lab where they make Human body parts. The second and fourth floor of the Dean Biotech Building is Wake Forest Regenerative Medicine -Talk about Frankenstein.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">July 29, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I said goodbye to my friends on the Lipid Science floor today. They were already busy on another project and barely had time to stop and chat. Yesterday I looked for a small gift for my shadowing host, Carol. At a cool artsy store in Winston I found a small marble apple and a silver mouse butter knife. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate gift. It blended perfectly the summer externship themes. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">After the short visit I met Jessica Grey from Regenerative Medicine in the lobby for the tour. The school group was very late so she canceled their visit. I however was given a private tour of the facility by Ben Hairston, one of the led investigators. It was interesting having access to the super science. I was glad to have an all access pass to the science of the future. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The second floor of Regenerative medicine was brand new so naturally where the tour began and ended. Our first stop was the new clinic trial areas. They were cleaning one of the rooms behind the glass with “bunny suits.” That means they are dressed in all white will just their eyes showing. The scientists are getting the rooms ready for implantation into humans of their organ. The building now has an on- site medical facility in a science laboratory. What an interesting concept. Igor didn’t meet us at the door, but he certainly could have. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The next tour stops were the regenerative labs. There were huge vats of some type of liquids with tubing flowing into smaller beakers and inside the beakers were bladders and kidneys. When we went around the corner there were huge work stations that had enormous amounts of supplies and numerous vacant desks. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The final stop was the state of the art break room/ conference area. It was high-tech and decked out in expensive furniture and modern art. It was obvious regenerative medicine pays well. Here the tour guide/ mega- million dollar scientist said goodbye. His final words to me were “A lawyer works in a community and will make a lot of money, a doctor helps a community and makes a lot of money, a scientist can do both and save the world. “ My final thought on that was…. I hope his head isn’t so big he can still fit through that door.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 1, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Today was spent with the Kenan staff and CIBL designing lesson plans. It seems that I was struggling because I really hadn't considered a vision and scope for my unit. So, I am ditching the first lesson ( or at least parts of it ) and thinking about what exactly as a classroom teacher what I would want to know about my experience in research, and more importantly, how can my lesson deliever instruction of the new Essential Standards for science. Seems simple doesn't it- well it isn't. Much like deciding what to do on vacation- there are so many directions to go in at first it can be overwhelming. Finding and finally deciding on the best path is difficult, but once it is made what follows next easy.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 2, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Last day of meetings with the Kenan staff and fellow Kenanites. It was cool hearing about their lessons. I could have used an entire day just writing with everyone around to bounce ideas off of. I guess the next time I will see all of these people will be Oct.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 3, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Mounds of laundry awaited my return home - so I spent much of today writing new lessons and doing laundry. I have decided to do several lessons around the Molecular Biology theme. I am calling it The transgenic Mouse's Tale (Tail). It is flowing much more easily now that I have a theme.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 4, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I have been looking on the moodle several for the second session Survey and still can not find where I am to post my answers. I hope it is placed there soon -so I don't forget to do it for the Kenan staff. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Today I worked through several parts of my lessons. What sounded like a good idea has turned into a difficult lesson to research. So much tweaking goes into lesson planning.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 5, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Picked up my daughter from Appalachian State today. So much stuff in one apartment. I know she is glad to be finished with Summer School. She wants to major in Education- smart girl. :)

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 8- 13, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">This week was vacation week for my family. I did spend many evening hours on the laptop developing my lesson. It is finally coming together and I feel I am ready to submit the draft for review soon. I have learned so much about Transgenic Mice, particularly Knockout mice. Did you know that a UNC Chapel Hill professor won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2007 for his work with Knockout mice and diseases. I met one of researchers that works with him. Awesome and inspiring. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Just a note to Robert - I did use your idea for sharing the "How to's " on job shadowing in biotech. Great idea. If I were a teacher and saw the list I am not so sure I would go through with it though. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I completed my Moodle Survey this evening.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 14, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I sent my completed lesson 1 to both Robert and Jeff today for review. They are enormously busy so I can't imagine them havng the time to comb over my multipage lessons. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">What I did a little differently this time around - I eliminated all of the additional 21st century goal information and Professional Standards insert and concentrated on just a section called Teachers Training Teachers doe my DPI Kenan Link. This is where I am acutally training teachers something about teaching the lesson. I figured that would be the best use of my many years of classroom experience. That is the name of our fellowship anyway ! <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 15, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Thank goodness it was a rainy day today. I worked most of the day completing my draft of Lesson 2. In the TTT section of this lesson - I am teaching teachers about PowerPoint presentation use in the classroom. I sometimes wish I could show it to a few college professors. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">This part of the fellowship is exhausting.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 16, 2011

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I worked extensively on my Lesson 3 and 4 today. School starts tomorrow and I am sure getting back to these lessons will be difficult.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 17, 2011

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I completed lesson 3 and 4 and submitted them to my mentor to review. After receiving some feedback from Jeff Edwards, I also sent him a copy.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 21, 2011

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Started working on the final lesson 5 tonight. It seems like this lesson is going nowhere fast. Something about a culminating lesson for unit - it is always hard to come up with something creative and a good culminating exercise. I hope to do something with ethics that teaches a new way to discuss topics in the classroom. The Socratic Method is pretty cool - maybe I will use that.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 25, 2011

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">1st day of school! I had hoped to be finished with my lessons before today. Only one left- I am too exhausted to work on it today.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">August 28, 2011

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Spent most of today completing lesson # 5 and finally submitted my drafts for review. Talk about a load off my shoulders. Whew. Now I am going to submit my time spent on the project and reflections. Two days to spare.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I haven't received any feedback from Robert about any of my lessons - hopefully they are acceptable.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 1-7, 2011

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Spent this week trying to get in touch with Benika Thompson the head of science curriculum for WSFC schools. She has avoided my emails and my principals emails. often wonder how people keep their jobs. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I spoke with the curriculum coordinator at my school and she and I started planning the Essential Standards workshop for our next vertical meeting. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I have checked the Moodle many times to see if anyone has read my lessons - nothing yet.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 8-15, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Finally heard from Benika this week and she has put me on the Oct 31st system wide Science meeting. YAY ! <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">No news on my lessons. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I have also written a request for a substitue for the Oct 19-22 Kenan meeting. I certainly hope they provide that for me.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 17, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Checked the moddle again today and no feedback has been posted on my lessons. Oh well.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 19, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Used the DPI site today to make copies of the Crosswalks for all the 6th grade teachers in my building. I have finally had several people realize I know alittle about the new Essential Standards. It was great.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 20, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">My sub days were approved for the Fall Kenan meeting in Raleigh! That is awesome. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I had several people on the Sit committee talk with me about how proud they were of the work I had done over the summer. In a building of our sie we rarely know what anyone else is doing to improve their pedagogy or professionalism.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 21, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Received an email today from Robert Sox. It was great hearing from him. I haven't responded yet.... that is at the top of my to do list.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 22, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I emailed Matt today to tell him I have not had my lessons reviewed. It makes me really concerned that I might not be on time with revisions this time. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Also - today I copied the extended standards for 6th grade and talked with the head of our SIT team about attending the fall conference. It is great that so many people are on board with the implementation of the new standards. My assistant principal reminded me to send her an email documenting my teacher as leader role from my evaluations. At this late point in my career, head of the department, and the only one that knows where all the chemicals are in the building - I don't sweat the evaluations.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 23, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">My principal stopped me in the hall and said that he went to the teacher of the year banquet for the school system and could not believe that I wasn't among those receiving awards. That was pretty cool. It doesn't seem to matter much what I do at the school, in the community, or beyond... it goes to the teacher with the most friends in the building. Such is life at Jefferson Middle. It has been that way since the building open it's doors in 1999. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">( Last years winner wanted to fail my homebound student because she wasn't at school. Well...duh... that is why it is called homebound. I lost alittle professional respect for her after that comment. )

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I received an email from Matt telling me my lessons had "slid through the cracks." Hopefully I will hear soon so I can get started with revisions. Still haven't heard from Jeff Edwards about lesson 2-5 - he said 1 was great. Maybe I should just drop the rest :)

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 28, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I received feedback on my first lesson from Lisa. It seemed that everything was okay. There are a few additions that need to be made but overall a good weekend and I can get the lesson in shape. She didn't see my Student Worksheet that was another document in the folder. I might just cut and paste it to the end of the lesson so it can be assessed easier.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sept 29, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">I spent today afterschool at North Carolina A&T with the head of the Chemistry Dept. Through a STEM grant I have been allowed to partner with a researcher locally. (If you call 45 minutes away local.) Anyway, I mention that I was a Kenan Fellow and he wanted to hear all about the program. Hopefully, the chemistry department at A&T will someday want to have a Kenan fellow join them in the lab. It doesn't hurt to promote the Fellowship through the community, especially at universities that are getting grants in the STEM areas.