This newsletter is for BIOME 2023 participants and some materials may be password protected.
Greetings from the BioQUEST Team!
In this Issue:
P.S. If you’re coming across this newsletter on the QUBES website or on social media, you can subscribe here to keep in touch!
2023 Working Group October Updates
Group members: Phil Gibson Sarah Straud, Margaret Goodman, Michael Sitvarin, Christin Monroe
Wins
Challenges
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There is still the ever-present challenge of meeting via Zoom. Even after a pandemic, it still has problems. I'm trying to improve my ability to keep everyone engaged although we are, by default, apart.
Connections & Wanted
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If anyone can see a way to connect your topics to a podcast episode or supporting resource, we would love to include you in the conversation. AI might be a really cool topic (hint, hint) for an episode. Send me a message if you would like to brainstorm.
Reach out to Phil Gibson to learn more!
Group members: Mary Mulcahy, Heather Rissler, Pankaj Mehrotra, Sheela Vemu, Stacey Kiser, John Starnes, Bharti Kaushik, Carlos Goller, Ashley Poole, Laurel Lorenz
Wins
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We are continuing to work towards implementing Project Leadership with different programs - be that faculty development programs or courses with team work.
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Bharti is currently using Project Leadership with her team of three staff/faculty to help each team member develop leadership skills.
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In October, we identified a paragraph structure to define team roles. The structure consists of describing why the role brings value to the team and individual as well as the specific responsibilities associated with each role.
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To gain first-hand experience in using Project Leadership, we are using Project Leadership as a working group. People select different roles and skills each week and receive feedback.
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For our next meting, we're each going to see how we can use ChatGPT to write team roles that help individuals develop leadership
Challenges
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Each of us has many commitments, so it can be hard to remember to sign up for roles in advance and to provide feedback. Perhaps we need a motivator role who motivates team members to take on new roles and try out new skills! Our most successful role has been Topic Selector, where team members think of thoughtful discussion topics to move our team forward.
Wanted Ads
If anyone could provide feedback on our draft of faculty team roles, we would greatly appreciate it.
Reach out to Laurel Lorenz for more information!
Group members:
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Implementation: Molly Phillips, Mary Mulcahy, Pankaj Mehrotra, Shawn Krosnick
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Finishing module WIPs (Works in Progress): Makenzie Mabry, Siobhan Leachman, Jennifer Girón, Bunmi Aina
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Storytelling module: Adania Flemming, Karina Sanchez, Jen Kovacs
Wins
The finishing the WIPs group has finalized two of our modules (Introduction and ORCID) so these two modules should be published through BCEENET soon! They also finished a draft of the Bionomia module that is currently being internally reviewed and have made great progress on the Wikidata module. Several people have implemented or are planning to implement one or more of the modules in their courses. The implementation team is also working brief assessments. The story telling module group has identified several resources that could be adapted for this project.
Challenges
This time of the semester is always hectic, so our teams have had to reschedule or cancel some meetings, but we are still moving forward!
Connections & Wanted
Storytelling modules! Anyone already use Scientist Spotlight in their classroom?
Reach out to Molly Phillips to learn more!
Group members: Tamara Basham, Kristen Butela, Brittany Cavazos, Melissa Haswell, Sharon Homer-Drummond, Jennifer Katcher, Melanie Lenahan, Sondra LoRe, Laurel Lorenz, Michelle McWhorter, Ann Showalter, Cora Varas-Nelson, Shawn Zeringue-Krosnick, Sarah Prescott, and Deb Rook.
The group is continuing with the curriculum and has no updates for this month. But check in for the December BIOME Bulletin to learn about what happened this semester!
Deb, Sarah and Sharon are happy to answer questions and a little more information can be found on our group page.
Group members: Jen Kovacs, Michael Sitvarin, Rhonda Hughes-Seefeldt, Tamara Basram, Derek Sollberger
Wins
We have continued to have themed meetings in October to talk broadly about AI tools in pedagogy
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Tamara: teacher tools
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Rhonda: ethics
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Michael: syllabi
Challenges
With our new Fall working group, we continue to try out new deliverables (within the 30 minutes/week that we were able to schedule)
Wanted Ads
We have a voracious appetite for information about how artificial intelligence may be changing the academic landscape.
Wins: What progress have you made on your goals and deliverables?
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We reviewed the idea behind the Faculty Resource Guide
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Pat is working on the outline
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We talked about the worksheets and the need for a comprehensive lexicon
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We discussed short videos to augment
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Shuchi created files to gather annotations/implementation notes
Faculty Resource Guide document
Faculty Resource Guide spreadsheet
In September and October we explored tools for faculty to assess potential biases and to reflect on how they might educate themselves. We explore explored students’ identities and needs in greater depth: Who’s Who in Class survey
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Kristen used to anonymously assess student demographics and make adjustments to course policies and assignments based on results
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Pat has also used in small and large class settings; can add in custom questions to see what students already know to inform assignment design
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Heather has used something similar
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Shuchi recommends including some examples that were discussed (case studies); provide some guidance on how faculty can use these tools
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Pat-how to integrate DEIJ into the syllabus and learning objectives, how to discuss with your students and guide the discussion calmly and rationally, etc.
https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/moving-safe-classrooms-brave-classrooms
Challenges: What barriers or obstacles to your goals have come up? How are you planning to address them?
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Biggest challenge has been finding a time to meet. Some of us are now working asynchronously.
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We also have so much information that we think a lexicon of terms and an outline for the guide is our next critical step as well as continuing to summarize resources.
Working Group Connections
Wanted Ads
During November, we would love people to review and contribute to our emerging resource documents.
Faculty Resource Guide document
Faculty Resource Guide spreadsheet
We would also love to have suggestions for the emerging outline for the guide
Current idea:
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What faculty need to know
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About themselves
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About their students
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About teaching controversial issues, including class rules
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About syllabus
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About social justice ideas
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About DEI
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About inclusivity and equity minded teaching strategies
Please visit their site for more details or reach out to the group’s facilitator Pat Marsteller.
QUBES Corner
Check out this knowledge-based article on “Creating a Personal Collection of QUBES Open Educational Resources” that shows you how to collect resources published to QUBES that will help you organize everything that you are interested in! This will also give you a great opportunity to search and view a hundreds of resources that have been published.
Have any questions? Come visit us during office hours, or email info@bioquest.org!
Connect With Us
Have questions about BIOME or beyond? Join us for BioQUEST’s open office hours Wednesdays at 12:00 PM ET & Thursdays at 2:00 PM ET. Visit this page for Zoom and other info!
Podcasting in STEM Education
Assessing Collaboration and Leadership Skills with Project Leadership
Inclusive STEM Teaching Project MOOC and Learning Community 
