| About | Grand Challenges | Discovery Environment | Communities | News & Pubs | Events | Contact |
Educators
Higher Education
Genomics in Education: Gene Annotation and Comparison
This objective of this project is to develop a community platform for genome annotation and comparison in educational settings and beyond. This collaborative workspace will allow students to edit gene models and compare genes from key plant species such as Arabidopsis, maize, Mimulus, poplar, and rice. Annotating and comparing genome sequences can enliven elements of gene structure and function that previously could only be approached as abstractions. Assembling gene models and comparing genes also enhances student learning by covering a range of conceptual and process knowledge. Once developed, the Dolan DNA Learning Center (DNALC) will conduct up to 10 two-day workshops at sites nationwide to introduce the iPlant portal and gene annotation/comparison tools and curricula. At least half of the workshops will be held at institutions traditionally serving underrepresented minorities or those with high numbers of economically disadvantaged students. Discussions are underway to develop community-driven projects focusing on maize genomics and genetics, phenology of a common plant, and chloroplast evolution and phylogenetics.
Workshops
iPlant offers periodic workshops for faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars and practicing scientists. Please check the upcoming Events or click on past workshops (Genomics in Education and Computational Biology for Biologists) for more information.
Other Workshops and Courses of Interest
The iPlant Collaborative aims to provide a centralized directory of upcoming courses, and workshops the reader may find of interest. If you have a course workshop you'd like to have listed on iPlant's website, please contact the webmaster.
Precollege
Distributed Research Projects
Distributed research projects provide an opportunity for educators and students to participate in collaborative research projects with other groups nationally and internationally, sharing data, tools, strategies and results. Currently iPlant is supporting the development of projects in phenology in conjunction with the grand challenge team, iPlant Genotype to Phenotype.
iPlant Teacher Research Fellowship
During summer 2008 and 2009 iPlant provided fourteen high school biology, mathematics and computer science teachers opportunities in 21st century biological and computational education and research. Educators spent six weeks immersed in cutting-edge plant science research alongside UA researchers. Teachers from both cohorts continue to receive support in piloting modules during the academic year, developed from their research experiences.
iPlant K-12 Administrator Lisa Howells and Teacher Fellows, Summer 2009 (photo: T. Lee)
Curriculum Modules
iPlant Teacher Fellows develop and implement modules related to research experiences and related topics, which can be integrated into high school biology and mathematics classes.