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Residency Program
The Year-in-"Virtual" Residency
Biology Scholars will complete most of their Research Residency at their home institution. However, each residency program begins with an intensive, face-to-face, multi-day training institute and concludes with a session in which Scholars present their results. Scholars accepted to the program must meet certain requirements and expectations. Once accepted, Scholars immediately begin working on preparatory assignments and readings intended to help them move through their residency thoughtfully and effectively.
Biology Scholar Requirements and Expectations
Upon applying for the program, Scholars confirm their availability to participate in all aspects of the year-long Biology Scholars Program, including:
•Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute, July 14-17, 2010, Washington, DC
•Biology Scholars Capstone Institute, May 2011, TBA
•ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators, May 2011, TBA
•Biology Scholars Listserv Community
•Presentations of their findings at local and/or national meetings
•Five-year tracking of their professional development by ASM
Besides meeting these requirements, there are several other important expectations of Biology Scholars, including:
•Formulate a hypothesis about student learning and develop a plan to test this hypothesis.
•Conduct research according to the highest scientific and ethical standards and in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and policies regarding protection of human research subjects, human care and use of laboratory animals, and laboratory safety.
•Publish results of their studies or works-in-progress in the peer-reviewed literature and share their expertise locally and/or nationally.
•Report periodically to ASM regarding their current position, affiliation, and continued professional development for a minimum of five years after completion of the one-year Research Residency Program. This arrangement will ensure proper follow-up studies regarding the effectiveness of such programs.
•Lead biology education reform locally in their institutions, within professional societies, in the broader scientific community and in training the next generation of undergraduate biology educators.
•Complete all assignments and projects and respond to all evaluative surveys during the residency and the four additional years of ASM's tracking of their professional development.
Timelines, Assignments & Projects
Biology Scholars are expected to complete all assignments in a timely manner and lend their experience and expertise to the cohort. Assignments begin the day Scholars are accepted into the program. The assignments and projects are meant to help participants move through the residency thoughtfully and effectively. Successful completion of the program results in each Scholar receiving a certificate of completion, a letter from the facilitators detailing participation, and a press release to share with administrators and colleagues at the Scholar's home institution. Successful completion consists of completing all assignments on time, contributing to discussions and demonstrating an overall commitment to the program.
Biology Scholars will document their progress using an online collaborative learning environment. Initial posters will be created for the SoTL Institute and updated throughout the year as Scholars engage in their research. Posters will be shared among the cohort and discussed periodically.
Biology Scholars Online Community
Biology Scholars will participate in a listserv community of their cohort, facilitators and staff. Staff and facilitators will contact Scholars via this listserv with reminders and other items of interest. Scholars post questions or items they believe fellow participants would find interesting. Past cohorts have found the list to be valuable when they have hit roadblocks or needed advice about “how you do XYZ…?” at their institution. For example, two previous comments posted include:
1. "I am trying to submit my IRB proposal... and now realize that I have to submit a long list of stuff with my proposal. It includes the forms required, written answers to a set of questions, consent forms, the tools (surveys and tests) that I will use...I also have to go online and complete NSF training and obtain a certificate. BUT the last thing they ask for is that my Department Chair also complete the training and have certificate on file. Is this required at other institutions?"
2. "The May 18, 2007 issue of Science, vol. 316, pp 996-997, has an article titled, "Childhood Origins of Adult Resistance to Science". It is a review in a special section on behavioral science. Well worth taking the time to get it and read it."
Mentors and Critical Friends
Throughout the residency Scholars are asked to help support one another and keep in contact with a critical friend, team leader and team members. These contacts, as well as the rest of the cohort, are valuable resources throughout the residency. The critical friend serves as a(n) I.) sounding board; II.) provider of oral and written feedback; and III.) anchor and point of reference. Several of the Scholar assignments require sharing work and helping to review the work of other Scholars in the cohort.
ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE)
Biology Scholars will reunite with their cohort at the end of the residency when they attend the ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators held in May. Scholars are required to attend the Biology Scholars Capstone Institute the day prior to ASMCUE to present their research at the conference. Scholars should apply and seek travel funding needed to attend ASMCUE from their own institutions.
After the Residency
It is hoped that the experience as a Biology Scholar will never be “over.” One goal of the Program is to promote ongoing relationships between Scholar cohorts and promote Scholars as leaders within the biological education community. As mentioned, Scholars professional development will be tracked for at least five years. Scholars should present their findings publicly and may apply for the Transitions Residency if they gather preliminary findings and are preparing to publish the results.
Upon completion of the residency, Scholars will be added to the Scholars Alumni Network listserv, a community of previous Scholars who continue to stay in contact about their research. Staff will also continue to stay in contact with Scholars and share pertinent and useful information.
To continue the success of the Biology Scholars Program it is vital for Scholars to stay in touch with the organizers and send information whenever they are recognized for their work, lead a workshop on campus or within the community, have an item published, etc. Each Biology Scholar's success will serve as a model to others.
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General Information
