Reading Apprenticeship Inspired Assignment or Lesson
Reading Apprenticeship Inspired Assignment or Lesson
- Explain the process of speciation
- Distinguish between allopatric & sympatric speciation
- Identify & explain the different mechanisms that maintain different species in the same geographic region
- Provide examples of sympatric speciation
This class takes place in the middle of the course and have covered learning about the chemistry of life, the cell, and genetics. Prior to coming to class students should have read two chapters (18.1, 18.2), watched supplemental videos and completed a vocabulary exercise. The activity is prefaced with a short lecture and in class practice of the exercise prior to breaking out into group.
Assessments for this activity include participation in groups, communication of findings and knowledge checks as a class after the activity embedded in the short lecture.
Students will have the opportunity to discuss about the case studies in small groups to collaboratively draw conclusions on the reproductive isolation mechanism maintaining the integrity of the species living in the same geographic area. Representatives from each group then share their groups' findings with the class, which reinforces concepts and further supporting their learning. Students also develop scientific communication skills and contributes to building a learning community.
This lesson plan can be carried out as a synchronous remote or in person activity. Students will spend 15-20 minutes in their respective groups of 3-5 students working on their respective case studies. One or more representatives from each group will then share their findings to the class for approximately 15-20 minutes. Peers have the opportunity to add questions, comments or suggestions and the instructor provides feedback for each team.
Prior to coming to class students should have read two chapters (18.1, 18.2), watched supplemental videos and completed a vocabulary exercise. The activity is prefaced with a short lecture and in class practice of the exercise prior to breaking out into group. In groups, they collaboratively work on a case study to learn about the biology of their organism(s) to draw conclusions on the reproductive isolation mechanism maintaining the integrity of the species. The case studies were chosen based on representation on the two types of reproductive isolating mechanisms and the links were chosen based on the similarity in structure and information provided on the organisms.
