Response
to Kerin -- This
is a perfect example of the If-Then bundles. It is also something that is
very observable (finding the genes in their own families) so that students
can see the results in real life. I never thought of using role-playing to
teach dominant and recessive. It is a wonderful idea. I bet your students
love this unit!!!
Response
to Linda -- Taxonomic
keys are a great example of IF-THEN bundles. Each characteristic chosen leads
the user to the next step with yet another choice to make. Our science teacher
has some taxonomic key worksheets the she uses with her seventh grade life
science students. Students always find such activities challenging. Plus...they
are always a fun activity as well, because you can laugh at yourself when
you describe something wrong and come up with answers that are entirely different
from what you know should be the accurate choice. They also work well in proving
to students how important decisions are. If you make one wrong decision, your
taxonomic findings can be completely wrong. That one bad decision can ruin
every other future decision along that path.
Response
to Glenda F. -- I agree that computers
are based on IF-THEN procedures. I can see the necessity for IF-THEN statements
in computer trouble-shooting. Our most recent computer troubles involve the
computer mice. We have had mice balls stolen from several computer in the
lab. The teachers come to me and ask for replacements. After replacing several
of the mice with optical mice, and gluing all the way around the rim of the
rest, three more have disappeared. Now, how is a student able to sit there,
pick at the glue long enough to completely remove the cap, and take the ball
out without someone noticing what he/she was doing? I sometimes feel like
saying...IF you check the mice before and after your students leave the lab,
THEN we could catch the culprit who thinks it is cool to take them, and THEN
the mice balls might not disappear!
