CURRICULAR GOAL
Produce a curriculum project (4-5 days of students’ in-class work) that translates the research done by this research group into a novel set of activities and thinking that are appropriate for your students.
We have send 3 labs, 3 lesson plans for the labs, and the State Standards for the labs via e-mail attachments.
Each lab is progressive and builds on the other starting out with the Measurement Lab, then the Indicator Lab, and finally resulting in the Spider Webbing Analysis Lab
The following aspects of the curriculum must be addressed in writing:
1. Big Idea and Concepts: Describe them.
The main idea or concept of our project is not to test spider webbing. Testing spider silk is just a tool or process to reach the real goals of the project. The real goals of the project is to subject students to several concepts that could be foreign to them.
Goal 1: Train the students to think outside their normal thought parameters. This not just a plug and chug lab, you will have to think!
Goal 2: To expose students to the real world of science verses impractical science for sake of a grade only.
Goal 3: Give the students at least a small view of real research at the top level (cutting edge research)!
Then:
a. An in-depth discussion of the particular aspects of the ASU research you selected to model with your students over 4-5 days.
Objective aspects (quantitative):
3 labs (send via e-mail), written assessment(still working on the assessment), and 3 short reports (send via e-mail). I will send copies of the assessments, copies of the student work as is appropriate, and pictures of the students in the lab.
Subjective aspects(qualitative):
Slide show/discussion (still working on the slide show), power point/discussion, and possibly a tour of the NMR lab(if I can get by the red tape and paper work).
b. Describe how you are translating these aspects of ASU research into appropriate student activities and thinking.
Dr. Yarger (project director) and Janelle Jenkins (graduate assistants) have been very helpful in translating the research to the level that the average high school student can comprehend. We have tried to make the labs more appropriate for the cogitative level of the high school student by posing a problem at their level and allowing them to solve that problem at their level. Using pictures (power point/slide show), since students are more visually oriented, with a discussion or just a question/answer period. Hands on with the 3 labs should engage most students, which should be interest based verses grade based.
2. Objectives, AZ state standards, Assessments
c. The specific objectives for student learning. (I gave you the ones that are generated from the literature on how people learn (recall the green sheet).
Send via e-mail attachment.
d. The Arizona standards that the curricular project addresses
Send via e-mail attachment.
e. Copies of the learning assessments to be given to students, assessments aligned with your specific objectives and the Arizona state standards.
The assessments will be developed later on in the school year. Depending on many variables that can only be determined in the future. Such as: supplies, student pretest, time permitted depending on the calendar schedule, curriculum covered, and curriculum that needs to be covered, review time etc.
The assessment will include 3 lab reports, 3 short informational reports (one page), a test that includes objective multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and one essay question.
3. A Full Description of each activity
g. So that another teacher of your class could do something similar with his/her students.
Send via e-mail attachment. *note: description of the indicators in lab 2 is on a separate e-mail attachment.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
July 15 MSTF Spider Silk
July 15, 2008
We are wrapping up all the labs, lesson plans, State objectives, and the poster. Everything is coming together quite nicely. We are seeing Dr. Yarger almost every day. He is checking up on the lab, asking questions, answering questions, and giving tours to individuals. Usually the tour he gives is to other researchers etc. All the full time employees of the NMR lab know that our last day is Thursday/Friday but they continue to ask if we need help or just want to talk. I believe on a small degree they will miss us. They tell us that we are welcome anytime we want to drop in and say hello or ask questions. The staff has always been friendly but lately we are getting to know them on a personal side with all their hobbies, likes, dislikes, etc.
I enjoyed the interview with the group in the afternoon. We were slow at first but within a few minutes we were up and running. We are all well versed in our research (Scott and Estaban especially). I’m fortunate to work with these guys. We just seemed to fall into place without any problems even if at times the materials were not easy.
We are wrapping up all the labs, lesson plans, State objectives, and the poster. Everything is coming together quite nicely. We are seeing Dr. Yarger almost every day. He is checking up on the lab, asking questions, answering questions, and giving tours to individuals. Usually the tour he gives is to other researchers etc. All the full time employees of the NMR lab know that our last day is Thursday/Friday but they continue to ask if we need help or just want to talk. I believe on a small degree they will miss us. They tell us that we are welcome anytime we want to drop in and say hello or ask questions. The staff has always been friendly but lately we are getting to know them on a personal side with all their hobbies, likes, dislikes, etc.
I enjoyed the interview with the group in the afternoon. We were slow at first but within a few minutes we were up and running. We are all well versed in our research (Scott and Estaban especially). I’m fortunate to work with these guys. We just seemed to fall into place without any problems even if at times the materials were not easy.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
July 14 MSTF Spider Silk
July 14, 2008
My partners and I continue to put the final details on the poster. There are many word errors that need to be corrected. We have the majority of the project completed. Estaban is heading up the poster since he is the best at Powerpoint. Janelle (graduate assistant) is very interested in any way she can assist us. All the people in the NMR lab always take the time to stop and help or just talk.
Brian the lab director just recently set up a large LCD screen for silk meetings, group conferences, or online conferences. He thought it would be interesting to put in a DVD to see the entertainment value since he just reset the resolution on the screen. It was a comedy. He put in the DVD and left without turning on the sound. We were busy working on labs, posters, etc. and occasionally looking up to watch the silent movie. Dr. Yarger doesn’t visit often, but he decided to visit today. He walked in, saw the DVD playing, immediately recognized the movie, named it, and said, “you can’t watch this movie without sound”. He turned up the volume, smiled, and left. Dr. Yarger and all staff in the NMR lab have a great sense of humor!
My partners and I continue to put the final details on the poster. There are many word errors that need to be corrected. We have the majority of the project completed. Estaban is heading up the poster since he is the best at Powerpoint. Janelle (graduate assistant) is very interested in any way she can assist us. All the people in the NMR lab always take the time to stop and help or just talk.
Brian the lab director just recently set up a large LCD screen for silk meetings, group conferences, or online conferences. He thought it would be interesting to put in a DVD to see the entertainment value since he just reset the resolution on the screen. It was a comedy. He put in the DVD and left without turning on the sound. We were busy working on labs, posters, etc. and occasionally looking up to watch the silent movie. Dr. Yarger doesn’t visit often, but he decided to visit today. He walked in, saw the DVD playing, immediately recognized the movie, named it, and said, “you can’t watch this movie without sound”. He turned up the volume, smiled, and left. Dr. Yarger and all staff in the NMR lab have a great sense of humor!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
July 11 MSTF Spider Silk
July 11, 2008
It was productive in the lab today. Dr. Yarger visited to see how everything was going. I was happy to report that it was all coming together. Thanks to Estaban and Scott working on the Wiki they figured out how to import my graphs . Without the graphs the information on the NMRs would not have made much sense. It took them quite awhile. The Wiki at times is not user friendly if you want to import video or graphs. Estaban is heading up the poster and should be ready for our input on Monday. I finally finished the lab and lesson plans. Estaban and Scott will take a look at them and make corrections. Brian, Rich, and Fred have been very helpful, not only to me but also with others in the MSTF program. They have given directions to those who needed it or have run out of ideas. The extra time in the afternoon is helping to complete the projects.
It was productive in the lab today. Dr. Yarger visited to see how everything was going. I was happy to report that it was all coming together. Thanks to Estaban and Scott working on the Wiki they figured out how to import my graphs . Without the graphs the information on the NMRs would not have made much sense. It took them quite awhile. The Wiki at times is not user friendly if you want to import video or graphs. Estaban is heading up the poster and should be ready for our input on Monday. I finally finished the lab and lesson plans. Estaban and Scott will take a look at them and make corrections. Brian, Rich, and Fred have been very helpful, not only to me but also with others in the MSTF program. They have given directions to those who needed it or have run out of ideas. The extra time in the afternoon is helping to complete the projects.
July 10 MSTF Spider Silk
July 10, 2008
Today we worked on the objectives for the spider web analysis lab. I don’t have excess to the Deer Valley server or my classroom, which contains all the objectives which are in alignment with the State curriculum. We translated the objectives with all strands, concept, and PO’s beside the subjects/topics and vocabulary etc. It makes the curriculum objectives extremely user friendly and you don’t have to start from the beginning with each new unit or topic. I will probably have to align the State standards from the State Education web site. It will take time but I will get the job done.
It was enjoyable showing the NMR lab to the other teachers. We are very fortunate to be working in spiderlab.
Today we worked on the objectives for the spider web analysis lab. I don’t have excess to the Deer Valley server or my classroom, which contains all the objectives which are in alignment with the State curriculum. We translated the objectives with all strands, concept, and PO’s beside the subjects/topics and vocabulary etc. It makes the curriculum objectives extremely user friendly and you don’t have to start from the beginning with each new unit or topic. I will probably have to align the State standards from the State Education web site. It will take time but I will get the job done.
It was enjoyable showing the NMR lab to the other teachers. We are very fortunate to be working in spiderlab.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
MSTF July 8 Spider Webbing
July 9, 2009
I continue to develop the spider web analysis lab. I’m trying to make the lab “bullet proof” which means the lab is explained in detail. You should be about to hand the lab directions to the average student and have them proceed with very little help from the instructor. I will e-mail the lab to Estaban and Scott and have them make any corrections that need to be done. I have been trying to thank like a beginning chemistry student without making any assumptions about pre-learned knowledge. This is not easy because I have learned that most students have not developed analytical deduction (common sense) to a great extent at this point in their cognitive development. No matter how well I explain the lab in writing, I will need to demonstrate or model the procedure. I would like to let the student struggle a little bit but with a tight time table in the curriculum I cannot afford that luxury. The lab has a long procedure but that is better than a short procedure that leaves the student confused and frustrated. I have added various inclusions that I normally don’t have in the average lab. I’m hoping the added short report that is due before the lab can add to the gained knowledge. Having time to work on the lab in the afternoon is a great help.
I continue to develop the spider web analysis lab. I’m trying to make the lab “bullet proof” which means the lab is explained in detail. You should be about to hand the lab directions to the average student and have them proceed with very little help from the instructor. I will e-mail the lab to Estaban and Scott and have them make any corrections that need to be done. I have been trying to thank like a beginning chemistry student without making any assumptions about pre-learned knowledge. This is not easy because I have learned that most students have not developed analytical deduction (common sense) to a great extent at this point in their cognitive development. No matter how well I explain the lab in writing, I will need to demonstrate or model the procedure. I would like to let the student struggle a little bit but with a tight time table in the curriculum I cannot afford that luxury. The lab has a long procedure but that is better than a short procedure that leaves the student confused and frustrated. I have added various inclusions that I normally don’t have in the average lab. I’m hoping the added short report that is due before the lab can add to the gained knowledge. Having time to work on the lab in the afternoon is a great help.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
July 8 MSTF Spider Silk
July 8, 2008
All three of us split up into separate groups (divide and conquer). Estaban is refining the power point, Scott is continuing to work on the biology lab, and I’m working on the chemistry lab. Each one of us will stop to ask or answer questions dealing with our particular responsibilities. It is fun and interesting when Tom the graduate assistant sits down with us just to talk. I had many questions concerning the chemistry lab equipment and how to substitute expensive equipment for inexpensive equipment that meets relative error adequacy for the high school level. Electronic or manual calibrated micropipettes cost $100 and up whereas plastic micropipettes can measure to the tenth of a mL. High school students in general cannot be trusted with this sensitive equipment. Plastic micropipettes are extremely cheap and unbreakable. They are not near as accurate but will clearly do for the purpose of our lab. Janelle had the idea of using drops from a bottle and each student calibrated their own dropper which is actually more accurate than a plastic pipette. This could be a separate lab within itself concerning measurement, calibrations, conversions, and mathematical logic. I will probably use this lab before I do the spider silk lab. I know I have said it before but I’m going to say it again, “I enjoy the all the help we get in the lab research area and the people. They are obviously intelligent, but also are very humorous. I look forward to each morning in the lab.” I will definitely miss all of them. I hope we can have contact in the future!
All three of us split up into separate groups (divide and conquer). Estaban is refining the power point, Scott is continuing to work on the biology lab, and I’m working on the chemistry lab. Each one of us will stop to ask or answer questions dealing with our particular responsibilities. It is fun and interesting when Tom the graduate assistant sits down with us just to talk. I had many questions concerning the chemistry lab equipment and how to substitute expensive equipment for inexpensive equipment that meets relative error adequacy for the high school level. Electronic or manual calibrated micropipettes cost $100 and up whereas plastic micropipettes can measure to the tenth of a mL. High school students in general cannot be trusted with this sensitive equipment. Plastic micropipettes are extremely cheap and unbreakable. They are not near as accurate but will clearly do for the purpose of our lab. Janelle had the idea of using drops from a bottle and each student calibrated their own dropper which is actually more accurate than a plastic pipette. This could be a separate lab within itself concerning measurement, calibrations, conversions, and mathematical logic. I will probably use this lab before I do the spider silk lab. I know I have said it before but I’m going to say it again, “I enjoy the all the help we get in the lab research area and the people. They are obviously intelligent, but also are very humorous. I look forward to each morning in the lab.” I will definitely miss all of them. I hope we can have contact in the future!
Monday, July 7, 2008
July 7 MSTF Spider Webbing
July 7, 2008
Today was a quiet day in the lab after the power outage on Thursday. They still have not determined the problem or why the system did not reroute the power as it was designed to do. Some information was loss from the 400 NMR’s but no problems with the 800 NMR. We are continuing to design an experiment for the high school level. We have developed problems how to evaluate the lab on a quantitative scale. I came up with the idea of testing the viscosity of each fluid with different sizes of glass tubing and comparing it to a standard. This is not a very good quantitative test because it has qualitative values but this is the best we have. We are limited to lack of equipment and the student expertise to operate that equipment. I’m starting on writing the lab directions. It is becoming long but I need to make sure that the students can do the lab with minimal help from the instructor. If you make the directions unclear the students will either default the lab or ask so many questions that the instructor does the lab for them. We also continued to discuss the power point due on Tuesday. Janelle, Emilee, and Tom the undergraduates and graduate assistants are always friendly, patient, and helpful! It was good to spend a little time in the afternoon to work on the projects in are research groups.
Today was a quiet day in the lab after the power outage on Thursday. They still have not determined the problem or why the system did not reroute the power as it was designed to do. Some information was loss from the 400 NMR’s but no problems with the 800 NMR. We are continuing to design an experiment for the high school level. We have developed problems how to evaluate the lab on a quantitative scale. I came up with the idea of testing the viscosity of each fluid with different sizes of glass tubing and comparing it to a standard. This is not a very good quantitative test because it has qualitative values but this is the best we have. We are limited to lack of equipment and the student expertise to operate that equipment. I’m starting on writing the lab directions. It is becoming long but I need to make sure that the students can do the lab with minimal help from the instructor. If you make the directions unclear the students will either default the lab or ask so many questions that the instructor does the lab for them. We also continued to discuss the power point due on Tuesday. Janelle, Emilee, and Tom the undergraduates and graduate assistants are always friendly, patient, and helpful! It was good to spend a little time in the afternoon to work on the projects in are research groups.
MSTF July 3 Spider Webbing
July 3
Today was the first day we did not have any set plans. It all worked out for the good. I took the time to talk to Scott about loading video on the Wiki and the Power point on Tuesday. Later I did some research on NMR’s. I discussed how to simplify the NMRs process for other teachers or students with Tom. He was extremely helpful. Trying to simplify the NMR process is like trying to simplify calculus. It will not be easy but I will try. Just when I thank I’m making progress, the power goes out! This could be a serious situation with the 800 MNR(the big one-2.5 million dollars) concerning a 3 day experiment half way done and possible loss of gas which displaces oxygen. We had to evacuate the building!
In the afternoon we learned more about the robotics program and watched the robots compete in various situations concerning a maze run and ball collection.
Today was the first day we did not have any set plans. It all worked out for the good. I took the time to talk to Scott about loading video on the Wiki and the Power point on Tuesday. Later I did some research on NMR’s. I discussed how to simplify the NMRs process for other teachers or students with Tom. He was extremely helpful. Trying to simplify the NMR process is like trying to simplify calculus. It will not be easy but I will try. Just when I thank I’m making progress, the power goes out! This could be a serious situation with the 800 MNR(the big one-2.5 million dollars) concerning a 3 day experiment half way done and possible loss of gas which displaces oxygen. We had to evacuate the building!
In the afternoon we learned more about the robotics program and watched the robots compete in various situations concerning a maze run and ball collection.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
July 2 MSTF Spider Webbing
July 2
We did not do to any wet lab research today, but we evaluated the results from yesterdays lab work. To review, we mixed up acid solutions, at different molarities, and subjected webbing to each of 15 simples of acids. We evaluated the simples of acid and webbing immediately and 24 hours time intervals. Our evaluation was strictly on a qualitative level with three categories: color, clarity, and viscosity. We approached Tom with the problem of quantitative analysis of the tested simples. He needed time to thank of possible solutions to the problem and will give us an answer tomorrow. Dr. Yarger is interested in our results. Scott took some great video of the spiders silking which we will post on the Wiki in the next day or two.
In the afternoon we discussed modeling and many different ideas and concepts involved. It is good for teachers to discuss, brainstorm, and even to argue. It would be helpful to model the models!
We did not do to any wet lab research today, but we evaluated the results from yesterdays lab work. To review, we mixed up acid solutions, at different molarities, and subjected webbing to each of 15 simples of acids. We evaluated the simples of acid and webbing immediately and 24 hours time intervals. Our evaluation was strictly on a qualitative level with three categories: color, clarity, and viscosity. We approached Tom with the problem of quantitative analysis of the tested simples. He needed time to thank of possible solutions to the problem and will give us an answer tomorrow. Dr. Yarger is interested in our results. Scott took some great video of the spiders silking which we will post on the Wiki in the next day or two.
In the afternoon we discussed modeling and many different ideas and concepts involved. It is good for teachers to discuss, brainstorm, and even to argue. It would be helpful to model the models!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
July 1 MSTF Spider Webbing
July 1 MSTF
Today we mixed up various solutions of acids and with molarities from 10 molar to 1 molar. Labeling the containers, mixing the small but accurate solutions, and massing the webbing which is not easy, took longer than I thought. We worked into lunch to finish the testing. We could have finished tomorrow but it was more appropriate to finish up today. It was rushed as usual but we finished!
In the afternoon we toured the Polytechnic campus. I really enjoyed the tour of the research labs. I especially appreciated the LARB lab. I never thought algae could be so interesting and useful. I hope to follow the research in the future. Dr. Summerfield in charge of the program was an excellent source of information and a very good communicator. The first hour of the tour feel like freshmen rush week. Which was OK, but the time could have been better spend in the research labs. We didn’t have the opportunity to visit the Hydroponic lab which was disappointing. I would be willing to visit the campus in the future just to see the advances that are being made in this field. It was a long day but a good day.
Today we mixed up various solutions of acids and with molarities from 10 molar to 1 molar. Labeling the containers, mixing the small but accurate solutions, and massing the webbing which is not easy, took longer than I thought. We worked into lunch to finish the testing. We could have finished tomorrow but it was more appropriate to finish up today. It was rushed as usual but we finished!
In the afternoon we toured the Polytechnic campus. I really enjoyed the tour of the research labs. I especially appreciated the LARB lab. I never thought algae could be so interesting and useful. I hope to follow the research in the future. Dr. Summerfield in charge of the program was an excellent source of information and a very good communicator. The first hour of the tour feel like freshmen rush week. Which was OK, but the time could have been better spend in the research labs. We didn’t have the opportunity to visit the Hydroponic lab which was disappointing. I would be willing to visit the campus in the future just to see the advances that are being made in this field. It was a long day but a good day.
Monday, June 30, 2008
June 29 MSTF SPIDER SILK
June 29
Today Tom took me to the chemistry research lab to collect the 5 acids. We are going to test the web concerning N/A, dissolve, or hydroxylation (or both). We collected the acid and will figure the molarity of each acid with the % assay value. We will mix the dilutions tomorrow. We could have done the dilutions today but were running out of time and we didn’t want to lose track of all the dilutions and bottles etc. After mixing the dilutions we will probably have to test the webbing Wednesday since we have to go to the ASU PT Campus (Williams Air force Base) and will be short on time. The acid may have an immediate effect or may take more time which is what we are short on. Not a lot was accomplished today but that is going to happen. Too much to do not enough time! We are still brain storming how to bring the concept to the classroom. The concept seems direct but the details are not in place yet. We are hoping everything will fell in to place by the fourth week. It was still a good day spending time with the graduate and undergraduate assistants.
Today Tom took me to the chemistry research lab to collect the 5 acids. We are going to test the web concerning N/A, dissolve, or hydroxylation (or both). We collected the acid and will figure the molarity of each acid with the % assay value. We will mix the dilutions tomorrow. We could have done the dilutions today but were running out of time and we didn’t want to lose track of all the dilutions and bottles etc. After mixing the dilutions we will probably have to test the webbing Wednesday since we have to go to the ASU PT Campus (Williams Air force Base) and will be short on time. The acid may have an immediate effect or may take more time which is what we are short on. Not a lot was accomplished today but that is going to happen. Too much to do not enough time! We are still brain storming how to bring the concept to the classroom. The concept seems direct but the details are not in place yet. We are hoping everything will fell in to place by the fourth week. It was still a good day spending time with the graduate and undergraduate assistants.
June 27 MSTF "Spider Silk"
June 27 End of the second week at ASU
My group started the morning discussing various issues with the project. At 9:30 Janelle started to show us how to run the NMRs. Brian who is charge of the NMR lab heard us talking and stepped in to answer our many questions. My questions were more concerning the physical structural of the NMRs and Janelle answered the data interpretation questions. Brian was involved in production of NMRs and knew just about everything that is known about NMRs. It was too much information to absorb in one session, but was enjoyable trying! I need to take a few more classes to truly understand the majority of the information. Janelle asked if I used NMRs in college and my answer was a “no” with a laugh. NMRs were only theory at best in the 1970s. I believe I could really enjoy working with NMRs with a few more up to date classes in physical chemistry. I like the idea of working with webbing on the macro scale with feeding, labeling, and silking then on the other end of the research looking at the atomic level of the protein structures. The middle ground is up to another research group.
On a side note, I noticed how well the research group including Dr. Yarger and most of all the individuals involved communicated. This is absolutely necessary for progress to occur in research, no “Lone Rangers”! This is just one out of many concepts that I can bring back to the classroom.
My group started the morning discussing various issues with the project. At 9:30 Janelle started to show us how to run the NMRs. Brian who is charge of the NMR lab heard us talking and stepped in to answer our many questions. My questions were more concerning the physical structural of the NMRs and Janelle answered the data interpretation questions. Brian was involved in production of NMRs and knew just about everything that is known about NMRs. It was too much information to absorb in one session, but was enjoyable trying! I need to take a few more classes to truly understand the majority of the information. Janelle asked if I used NMRs in college and my answer was a “no” with a laugh. NMRs were only theory at best in the 1970s. I believe I could really enjoy working with NMRs with a few more up to date classes in physical chemistry. I like the idea of working with webbing on the macro scale with feeding, labeling, and silking then on the other end of the research looking at the atomic level of the protein structures. The middle ground is up to another research group.
On a side note, I noticed how well the research group including Dr. Yarger and most of all the individuals involved communicated. This is absolutely necessary for progress to occur in research, no “Lone Rangers”! This is just one out of many concepts that I can bring back to the classroom.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
June 26 MSTF SPIDER SILK
Today we had a silk meeting with everybody involved with the research. Dr. Yarger asked several questions to each person involved from graduate to undergraduate students and their particular area they were assigned to research. Dr. Yarger also stated or restated the priorities or the number one research goal. Dr. Yarger also addressed our team of teachers and graduate assistants concerning the progress of dissolving verses hydroxylation of webbing in various acids. He was very interested in our progress, which wasn’t much except on a simple qualitative level. We need more time to quantify the experiment. I suggested we use various concentrations of acids from 10 molar, 5 molar, and 1 molar. The problem is finding the specific concentrations and using dilution rates. It would be easier to use Deer Valley acid stock bottles and dilute from that point. It is surprising how much is not known about webbing in acids. It has not been researched from the standpoint of information that has been published. I enjoy being involved in real research that could assist the team in the characteristics of webbing!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
MSTF JUNE 25
Today was not very interesting, but very fruitful. Emilee continues to help us to determine what medium will webbing dissolve or hydrolyze in. The results from yesterday show on a qualitative standpoint verses a quantitative standpoint that webbing will disappear in the acids (the base seems to have no affect on webbing). Estaban and I are starting to discuss lab procedures to qualitatively test solubility of webbing in common household products. We have a long way to go before we are done with the final product but we are at least having a specific direction. The details will come in the next three weeks. Scott is headed in a little different direction which is understandable because of teaching life science verses physical science. Tomorrow we are scheduled to sit in on a silk meeting with all the people involved on the research, which should be time well spend. On Friday we are learning to operate the NMRs (the basics only). I asked Tom several questions concerning the maintenance of the NMRs and refilling with liquid helium and nitrogen. The cold liquids keep the superconductor working on an acceptable level. I enjoy sitting at the conference table and discussing several topics concerning the silk research and the MSTF project, it is a good way to start the morning.
MSTF JUNE 24
Today we discussed with Emilee how to research what chemicals would webbing dissolve or hydrolyze in. Dr. Yarger is interested in our results. With the help of Tom we went to a chemical research room which could supply some common acids/bases. We choose phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, formic acid, sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide. All the acids and a base were at high concentrations. After using the vortex to stir/shake the vials all the acids either dissolved or hydrolyzes the webbing. We need further investigation to determine whether the webbing actually hydrolyzes or just dissolved. My job was to mix up a 10 molar solution of KOH. It seemed the webbing was being affected by the KOH but it was taking longer than the acids. The research was more qualitative then quantitative at this point. It was a bit rushed, but was a beginning to more detailed investigations. There is not enough time in the morning to get much done. Real lab work is time consuming but very interesting. I look forward to tomorrow in the lab. This research can be applied to the high school classroom!
Monday, June 23, 2008
MSTF ASU June 16
Its hot and the first day at ASU for the Math Science Teacher Fellowship. We were assigned to project groups during a continental breakfast. I'm assigned to the "Spiderman" group which includes Estaban Flemons from North High School and Scott Greenhalgh from Tempe High School. Estaban teaches physical science and chemistry, Scott teaches biology, and I teach chemistry and honors chemistry. What is the "Spiderman" group? The research group in the Interdisplinary Science and Technology building is investigating the molecular structure of spider dragline webbing/ silk, which has the real world applications from super light weight bullet proof vests to human tendon implants. Spider dragline has much higher tensil strength than steel and is highly flexible, with only a fraction of the size and weight of metal alloys! It struck me as fascinating, but it was research with a goal of application verses theortical reseach for its own sake. The research lab was impressive and secure. Dr. Jeff Yarger is keeping it real. He is not only an intellectual, but highly creative, not just in the research/application but how to raise research funding. The research is organized with separate research groups and areas of expertise in different locations in the US.Labels: MSTF ASU June 16 2008
MSTF ASU June 20
It's the end of a very interesting week. It was good to brainstorm with Scott, Esteban, Janelle, and Dr. Yarger. We are trying to pick a direction for the group project and lab activity. We took the opportunity to ask Janelle several specific knowledge questions concerning web biochemical mechanics, now that we are a little more educated on the research. Janelle is very good at bringing the amino acid protein concepts to a level the high school students could understand.
She drew a model of webbing, biochemically, that made sense. Jenelle is extremely helpful.
I'm looking forward to learning how to use the NMRs in the lab on Tuesday. Dr. Yarger stepped in around 10:00 and continued to assist us in ideas. He is very down to earth and creative. He directed us in a direction I would not have thought of. Instead of models, or in addition to, we are looking at doing chemical tests on webbing to compare/contrast dissolving verses hydrozation of spider webbing subjected to common household chemicals by comparing chemicals that have no effect, chemicals that dissolve webbing, and chemicals that cause hydrozation.
It was good to end the week with Dr. Yarger!
She drew a model of webbing, biochemically, that made sense. Jenelle is extremely helpful.
I'm looking forward to learning how to use the NMRs in the lab on Tuesday. Dr. Yarger stepped in around 10:00 and continued to assist us in ideas. He is very down to earth and creative. He directed us in a direction I would not have thought of. Instead of models, or in addition to, we are looking at doing chemical tests on webbing to compare/contrast dissolving verses hydrozation of spider webbing subjected to common household chemicals by comparing chemicals that have no effect, chemicals that dissolve webbing, and chemicals that cause hydrozation.
It was good to end the week with Dr. Yarger!
MSTF ASU June 19
Day 4 at ASU. Today we dissected blackwidows to expose the web glands with the help of Jenelle the graduate assistant. Janelle did most of the work. It was surprising how large the glands are for the size of the spider. The major gland looked exactly like the drawings, white translucence yam shape gland. Halfway through the morning Tom (undergraduate) took us on a tour/ field trip to see a few of the other labs. It was tough to take in all the new labs when I was starting learn just a little bit about the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Lab. The 4 labs were small in an older building verses NMR lab which is very large and in a new building. All the labs are extremely interesting. The tour included the machine shop (my line of work). To operate in a true research lab you have to be proficient in many practical fields from glass blowing to machining parts. Tom was extremely knowledgeable in all the labs. The graduate and undergraduate students were very friendly, knowledgeable, and excited about their projects.
MSTF ASU June 18
The third day at ASU. We had the privilage of silking blackwidow spiders. It was definitely a different experience. Janelle the lab graduate assistant was instructing and answering all of our questions. Janelle was knowledgable and enjoyable to work with. The procedure was as follow: 1. Capture the spider.
2. Put the spider in a passed out state for lack of better words with carbon dioxide in a closed container.
3. You have approximately 30 seconds to pin the spider down with masking tape on a petri dish. The tape is not to tacky and puts off the legs of the spider.
4. Under a field microscope with the twizzers pull the dragline webbing on a small glass drum spinning slowly by an electric motor. Blackwidows will produce dragline for approximately 45 minutes.
5. You must periodically check to make sure the dragline hasn't broke and needs to be repulled and started again.
6. You usually collect webbing from several spiders before cutting the webbing off the drum.
The webbing is difficult to see. The webbing will store indefinitly. It will take several days and many silkings to collect enough to test with the NMR. During the silking the spiders will be force fed the water, nutrient, and most importantly the isotope mixture being tested and isolated as the experimental factor. Blackwidows will live 2-3 years in good conditions. In the stressful lab conditions due to the lack of natural diet, the blackwidow will live 4-6 weeks. The hope is by introducing the isotope to yeast and feeding the yeast to flys (common house fly) and feeding the flys to the spiders, the life spans should increase. This will increase the efficiency and production rates of the webbing.
Time goes fast in the lab!
2. Put the spider in a passed out state for lack of better words with carbon dioxide in a closed container.
3. You have approximately 30 seconds to pin the spider down with masking tape on a petri dish. The tape is not to tacky and puts off the legs of the spider.
4. Under a field microscope with the twizzers pull the dragline webbing on a small glass drum spinning slowly by an electric motor. Blackwidows will produce dragline for approximately 45 minutes.
5. You must periodically check to make sure the dragline hasn't broke and needs to be repulled and started again.
6. You usually collect webbing from several spiders before cutting the webbing off the drum.
The webbing is difficult to see. The webbing will store indefinitly. It will take several days and many silkings to collect enough to test with the NMR. During the silking the spiders will be force fed the water, nutrient, and most importantly the isotope mixture being tested and isolated as the experimental factor. Blackwidows will live 2-3 years in good conditions. In the stressful lab conditions due to the lack of natural diet, the blackwidow will live 4-6 weeks. The hope is by introducing the isotope to yeast and feeding the yeast to flys (common house fly) and feeding the flys to the spiders, the life spans should increase. This will increase the efficiency and production rates of the webbing.
Time goes fast in the lab!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
MSTF ASU June 17
On the second day, we met at the lab. We started to cover background information concerning molecular structure of spider dragline. We covered the molecular structure/protein/anatomy of a spiders' silk glands, ducting, and spineretts. Most was the structure of dragline silk gland proteins and molecular structural changes that occur from the gland down through the duct, solubility verses dehydration, which ended in molecular beta sheeting in the duct. The spineretts were another issue which will be be tackeled by the molecular biologist and enginereers in the different research group in another location. I did not understand all that was discussed, but I did follow the general knowledge of the chemistry content. We are running into problems of how to meaningfully bring this research to the high school classroom. This problem will be worked out in the next few weeks. All the high school teachers were highly engaged with many questions. I'm still amazed at the down to earth attitude of Dr. Yarger. A point of interest or misconception that affected me was the decentralization of reasearch which apparently is far more practical , efficient, and effective. It was a highly enlightening and interesting morning!
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