title: High school students' learning and perceptions of phylogenetics of flowering plants.
abstract: Basic phylogenetics and associated "tree thinking" are often minimized or excluded in formal school curricula. Informal settings provide an opportunity to extend the K-12 school curriculum, introducing learners to new ideas, piquing interest in science, and fostering scientific literacy. Similarly, university researchers participating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach activities increase awareness of college and career options and highlight interdisciplinary fields of science research and augment the science curriculum. To aid in this effort, we designed a 6-h module in which students utilized 12 flowering plant species to generate morphological and molecular phylogenies using biological techniques and bioinformatics tools. The phylogenetics module was implemented with 83 high school students during a weeklong university STEM immersion program and aimed to increase student understanding of phylogenetics and coevolution of plants and pollinators. Student response reflected positive engagement and learning gains as evidenced through content assessments, program evaluation surveys, and program artifacts. We present the results of the first year of implementation and discuss modifications for future use in our immersion programs as well as in multiple course settings at the high school and undergraduate levels.
authors.affiliation: *School of Teaching and Learning, College of Education and Center for Precollegiate Education and Training, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 jbokor@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Julie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bokor
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
authors.forename: Jacob B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.affiliation: School of Teaching and Learning, College of Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
authors.forename: Kent J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Crippen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001901:Botany / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D035264:Flowers; D005823:Genetics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D017145:Models, Educational; D010465:Perception; D010802:Phylogeny; D016730:Program Development; D012574:Schools