This is the time of year that school teachers in Alberta are back in schools starting to plan for the arrival of students early next week. I know the teachers will be attending important meetings. I hope there will also be time for the important planning of the year ahead. News over the summer indicates that some Calgary area schools are gearing up to make a lot more use of computers in their classrooms. University of Calgary research just announced that tech-savvy students have an advantage, but only if their teachers are tech-savvy too. The Genome Alberta website is a major landing site for tech-savvy science teachers. Let me tell you why it should be for you as well.

Genomics and genetics is a significant portion of the Alberta Biology 30 curriculum, and is an important topic of discussion in several other curricula. Information on the Genome Alberta website is freely accessible and free to use for educational purposes.

Blogs
I blog to encourage scientific literacy, and to discuss topics of educational interest. Some of the blog posts I have written are inspired by questions sent to me by teachers and students looking for clarification or explanations of what they have read. In other blog entries, I anticipate what is going to be a hot topic of discussion and put the information out so that teachers and students can access it in a proactive manner. A tech-savvy teacher makes timely use of topics in the news to illustrate science concepts.

Other blogs on the Genome Alberta website include Mike Spear’s blogging his perspective from the corporate communications office of Genome Alberta. As a former journalist, Mike has a great eye and ear for topics of interest. Mountain Pine Beetle and Bioinformatics are blogs from scientists working in the field. Both Mike and I have included guest blogs from scientific leaders and high level science students.

Facebook
Genome Alberta created a Facebook News application – Genomics – that acts at many different levels. It acts as a news aggregator compiling the very latest genomic research news. If you are signed into Facebook, you can vote, post, comment and send genes to your friends. Genomics (application) is a 24-hour life science newsroom for the omics generation.

Twitter
Do you need more? Follow me and Mike on Twitter. I send out tweets that I find interesting not only in the life sciences, but in other sciences as well. Additionally, you can follow my genomics list where I have compiled a list of significant genomics tweeters, or you can follow my edtech list to see the latest tweets in educational technology.

Genomics Powerpoint Presentation. This genomics deck, initially made available in 2006 and updated annually since then, is available for you to download, use and adapt freely as it fits your educational needs.

Mountain Pine Beetle Primer. This powerpoint presentation outlines information for teachers and students wishing to use the Mountain Pine Beetle for an inquiry-based learning approach to Biology. It incorporates suggestions relating to genetics, genomics, ecology, technology and societal issues with regard to the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic.

Conferences and Conventions:
Look for me at the ATA Science Council Conference November 18 – 20, 2010. At this conference, I will make you aware of the latest in genomics and provide you with “shovel-ready” materials you can use in your classroom. Additionally, I will let you know as I find out when I will be at other teachers’ conferences and conventions. If you wish to have me make a presentation at your professional development or institute days, please contact me at: gward@genomealberta.ca . You can also contact me at that email address for any support, questions or just to make a comment. I look forward to meeting you and assisting in keeping you a tech-savvy teacher.