The University of Puerto Rico’s Department of Biology in collaboration with faculty from the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences proposes a Research Experience for Teachers Program focused on the overarching theme of Biological & Biomolecular Interactions; hence BIORETS: BioInteractions. In addition to researching interactions in living systems, we envision BioInteractions as an ecosystem of support for teachers’ professional development where teachers are at the center of all the interactions within the program. The project was conceptualized in collaboration with two public education systems: the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) and the San Juan Education System.
The long-term goal of the BIORETS: Biointeractions is to improve middle and high school students’ scientific literacy and positive attitudes towards STEM. To address this overall goal the following objectives have been established:
1) Strengthen teachers’ science engagement and research literacy
2) Empower teachers’ teaching and learning assessment practices
3) Promote teachers’ continued engagement and integration of biological research to their teaching practices
4) Increase the quantity and quality of curricular materials aligned to the science content standard of Interactions.
The impact of BIORETS on society arises from our emphasis on the professional development of teachers. In addition to enhancing their knowledge of biology content and state-of-the-art research skills, teachers learned to effectively translate this knowledge into relevant content for their students. Since the project involves teachers and students from Puerto Rican public schools, it inherently provides a broad impact to low-income, Hispanic students at under-performing schools. A key element of the teachers’ participation is the development and implementation of curricular materials aligned to the science content standard of Interactions.
