Portfolio Proposal Guide

Student Information
Nicole Sheppard
Azusa Regional Center
Course: EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning
Professor: Matthew Hixson
Title of Portfolio: DNA Structure and Heredity
Date of Proposal Submitted: April, 21, 2014

Type of Project

This project revolves around a specific unit in which students will learn what DNA is, its
structure, and how it relates to predictable patterns of genetics and heredity as directed by
California Common Core Standards for 7
th
graders. First, students will learn about
Gregor Mendel and his genetic work with pea plants in order to understand probability
and genes. Then, students will use Punnett Squares to make their own predictions about
possible offspring. Next, students will learn about the specific structure of DNA
(nucleotides and the double helix shape). Finally, students will then learn how DNA is
copied for processes like mitosis and meiosis and will be able to connect DNA structure
to previous knowledge of genes and predictions made by Mendel. During the course of
this unit, students will be involved in various activities from journaling, to blogging, web-
based researching, model building, to working individually and in groups. Students will
demonstrate what they have learned through the use of technology depending on their top
Multiple Intelligence strengths. Ultimately, students will create mini-projects that express
how Mendel, genes, and DNA structure all come together to explain the big picture of
heredity.

Goal(s) of the Portfolio
DNA Structure and heredity is one of my favorite unit in biology/life science. I loved
figuring out why I had certain traits and how I could share some traits with my siblings,
while not sharing other traits. Students tend to be more engaged and like this unit more as
well because of the direct applications it has on themselves and their family. Even though
DNA is difficult to see with the naked eye, there are a lot of hands-on activities and labs
that students are able to participate in that help make this microscopic unit something
they can understand. Finally, there are also great discussions about current genetic
research that can be tied into class that the students enjoy being involved in (genetic
disorders, genetic diagnosis, etc.). This is a great unit to help the students go beyond what
is in the textbook and allows them to use what they learn about DNA to form informed
opinions or decisions about the current genetic research of their generation.


Student learning Outcomes of the Portfolio
Students will be able to:

1. Summarize the experiments of Gregor Mendel using flashcards, a voice recorder,
Educreations, Haiku Deck, and note-taking apps.
2. Explain how genes and alleles are related to genotypes and phenotypes by
completing a Family Portrait assignment and analyzing their results through
different mediums (3-D model, graphic design, doodling, Podcast, or a
WebQuest.
3. Complete and use the information of the DNA molecule to create a 3-D DNA
model using every-day items, iMovie, or SketchUp.
4. Discuss relevant topics revolving around genetic engineering using note-taking
apps, presentation apps, or GoogleForms.
5. Explain how DNA molecules can be copied.
6. Analyze the occurrence of dominant vs. recessive traits by using Numbers, Google
forms, Explain Everything, or Songly to represent data.

Outline

Lesson 1: Introduction to DNA

Lesson 2 and 3: Mendel and His Pea Plants

Lesson 4: Punnett Square and Heredity

Lesson 5 and 6: Trait Survey Activity

Lesson 7 and 8: Family Portrait Activity

Lesson 9, 10, 11 and 12: DNA Structure and Origami

Lesson 13 and 14: Connections between Heredity and DNA Structure

Lesson 15 and 16: Review for Assessment and Final Assessment

Resources:

Hardware

Computers

iPads

Smartphones

Projector




Software
Apps: Notes, Cell, Pages, Songly, YouTube, Edmodo, Evernote, Pinterest, iTalk
Recorder, Mind Maple, Nearpod, Human Genome, Explain Everything, Educreations,
Haiku Deck, Rhona Designs, GoogleDocs, GoogleForm, Podcast, Sketch Up, Excel,
Comic strip, iMovie, Notability, Numbers, Doodle Buddy, Gene Screen, A+ Flashcard
Helper,

Websites/Videos

(1) Punnett Square website
(2) Punnett Square website
www.misssheppard.weebly.com
WebQuest