Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools

Lesson Idea Name: Flipped Classroom- Inheritance of traits- eye color, hair color, curly vs straight
Content Area: Biology- Inheritance of traits
Grade Level(s): 9-12
Content Standard Addressed: SB3.b. Use mathematical models to predict and explain patterns of
inheritance. (Clarification statement: Students should be able to use Punnett squares (monohybrid and
dihybrid crosses) and/or rules of probability, to analyze the following inheritance patterns: dominance,
codominance, incomplete dominance.)

Technology Standard Addressed: 2 Digital Citizen: Students recognize the rights, responsibilities and
opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model in
ways that are safe, legal and ethical.

Selected Technology Tool:

☒ Blog ☐ Wiki ☐ Other: Website Creation Tool (list):

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): http://cwilkinsbagsh.edublogs.org/

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☒ Level 2: Exploration ☒ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A transcript of the audio file will be provided. The students will also be
sent home with a Punnett square handout with reminders of key terms learned in class that can be used to
complete the flipped classroom assignment.

Lesson idea implementation:

The students will be applying the ideas of scientific inquiry as they observe their parents’ traits and attempt to
determine their genotype. This activity will help them begin to understand that science is more than just facts
but is a study of the life all around them. They will be required to record their parents eye color as well as
their own and any siblings they may have. They will be able to make an attempt at guessing what their
parents genotype is by observing their siblings eye colors and writing a list of what colors are in their family.
Using this information, they can determine what the genotype of the original parents must be in order to
produce offspring with their particular phenotypes. They will then need to construct a Punnett square using
the genotypes they have assumed for their parents. They may also bring pictures to class the next day to
support their observations, or submit the pictures to the blog post. This assignment is described in the audio
file provided on the Audio page of this Weebly portfolio.
In class the next day we will discuss the difficulties they had with this assignment, what they learned, and any
questions they have. This assignment prepares the students for the discussion the next day on probabilities in
genetics. Student learning is extended as the students analyze a real-life situation using tools from class. This
assignment is expected to take anywhere from 25 to 30 minutes.
Importance of technology: The use of the website-creation tool is critical because the website allows the
students to access the flipped classroom from any computer as well as provides them with helpful websites
and material that they can review. Without the website the students would not have an option to upload
pictures to support their observations. Cameras may also be used in this learning experience.
Summer 2017_SJB
 Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools

Internet Safety and Student Privacy: In order to abide by internet safety laws, the students will need a parent
permission form allowing them to publish pictures online. The students will also need to be sure that when
they upload the pictures they do not show full faces and are only focused on the eyes. Not allowing full faces
to be shown minimizes the risks for both the students and the teacher. In order to ensure this is followed
students will not be allowed to publish posts without specific approval by the teacher. This will alleviate the
fears of teachers and administrators that students will not follow the protocols. This also ensures that
Internet safety rules are adhered to.
Reflective Practice:
This flipped classroom activity allows the students to explore the material in an interactive way and apply it to
their daily lives. It also helps them to understand the role of observation in science and understanding the
world around them. To further extend the lesson a short instructive video could be provided along with a link
to an interactive website allowing the students to deepen their understanding of probability, Punnett
squares, and the inheritance of traits.

Summer 2017_SJB