Eve Iversen
1953 22nd St.
San Pablo, CA 94806
ehiversen@ucdavis.edu


The Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program for Teachers is a wonderful opportunity for Agriculture teachers. The program covers both the theory of biology topic that will be covered that year and ways to transfer the material to the classroom. The emphasis is on increasing hands on learning (now called "inquiry based learning"). This is an approach that has been used in vocational education for years. As Agriculture teachers we can share our experience with "hands on, minds on" which is now entering high school level science classrooms.

I participated in the 1999 Biodiversity program. We covered diversity at three levels: microbiology, arthropods, and infectious diseases. There was an excellent balance of lecture, lab, and field trips. The program covers all expenses including travel, room, board, trips and pays a generous stipend. I have included a copy of our original schedule and some of the material from the Woodrow Wilson site. Since the program changes from one year to the next I recommend that anyone interested in applying to the biology program check the Woodrow Wilson Biology web site.
In 1999 there were also two programs in Environmental Science. The domestic site was at Princeton University and Rutgers University in New Jersey. They can be accessed at Woodrow Wilson Environmental web site.

The international program was located in Costa Rica. Check the web site to see the details of future international programs

Woodrow Wilson Costa Rica web site.



Diversity under domestication

Diversity and agricultural stability


There are many reason to protect biodiversity. One of the most apparent is the value that it gives to humans in the form of a varied and healthy food supply. Agriculture depends on the natural diversity of plants and animals that are domesticated. Taking agronomy for example the range of grains, legumes, and root crops is staggering. Even with the advent of genetic engineering the preservation of the widest possible selection of genotypes each species is critical to protect the food supply. The devastating effect of the potato blight that struck Europe in the mid 1800's is only one example of the problems that a lack of genetic variety can cause. Agriculture educators must communicate the importance of preserving diversity to their students and the public at large. The Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program for Teachers provides the background and experience that will assist educators to in incorporating this information into the curriculum.


This material is from the Woodrow Wilson site

Since 1982, 43 CORE (COntent-driven Reform in Education) Institutes have brought more than 2,000 high school and middle grades teachers in biology, chemistry, environmental science, history, mathematics, physical science and physics to Princeton and Rutgers-New Brunswick. From 1997 through 2000, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Science Foundation are funding, respectively, biology and environmental science institutes for middle grades and high school teachers. COntent-driven Reform in Education (CORE) institutes are intensive, residential, summer institutes that provide teachers the opportunity to sharpen knowledge, work with researchers, and network with colleagues from around the country.

GLOBAL CHANGE and Its Effects
1999 Environmental Science Institute for Middle Level and High School Science and Math Teachers
USA: 29 June through 22 July

Overview

The 1999 Woodrow Wilson COntent-driven Reform in Education (CORE) Institute in Environmental Science is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and open to science teachers (grades 5-12) in public and private middle level and high schools in the United States and Department of Defense Dependents’ school.

Here is an example of the schedule for the Woodrow Wilson Enviornmental Science Institute.

BIODIVERSITY
1999 Biology Institute for High School Science Teachers
29 June through 22 July 1999

Overview

Overview: The 1999 Woodrow Wilson COntent-driven Reform in Education (CORE) Institute in Biology is funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and open to biology teachers (grades 9-12) in public and private high schools in the United States and Department of Defense Dependents' schools. The institute will be held on the Princeton University campus in Princeton, New Jersey.

Here is an example of the schedule for the Woodrow Wilson Biology Institute.

Agricultural education practices that can aid school reform

Vocational education has employed many of the approaches that are now being incorporated into the academic curriculum. Our decades of experience of "hands on, minds on" instruction would be very beneficial to our colleagues in science, math, social studies and languages, including English. It is time for vocational and academic school reformers to sit down and exchange ideas. There is no point in reinventing the wheel. I have listed below four topics that I think would provide a basis for productive discussions. The time we take to compare notes and see what parts of vocational education are transferable to the academic side of the house will save scarce resources all around. These are the areas of mutual interest:
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The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
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Technical contact: lpt@woodrow.org