Exhibition Guide for Putting DNA to Work
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Koshland Science Museum. A visit to the museum is a unique experience. The Koshland Science Museum covers current issues in the headlines and provides scientific information that can be used to make decisions that affect visitors’ daily lives. The information is presented in highly interactive exhibits.
Your class visit to the museum has been designed to model good learning and teaching practices. Using the Jigsaw method described below, your class will divide into smaller groups that will visit different parts of the museum. Together, the members of the groups will become “experts” as they seek information to share with their classmates during small-group and whole-class discussions. Students will collaborate in thinking about evidence and formulating ideas much like scientists do in their daily work.
Your visit to the museum will last approximately two hours. During that time, your class will study in detail the Putting DNA to Work exhibition. Your class also will spend some time with the museum’s Wonders of Science and Global Warming Facts & Our Future exhibitions. All class visits must be scheduled in advance due to limited space.
The Museum’s Exhibitions
The museum has three exhibitions.
The Wonders of Science exhibition asks, “What’s the Universe made of?” It encourages visitors to think about some of the big unsolved questions in science, fostering creative thinking and a sense of wonder about the universe. All students will visit this exhibition briefly and ponder the questions it poses.
The Global Warming Facts & Our Future exhibition uses interactive displays to present evidence about natural climate variability and the effects of human activities on climate. The exhibition also provides tools for visitors to explore the consequences of climate change and potential responses to climate change. Your students will visit this exhibition briefly and consider some of the broad issues it raises.
The Putting DNA to Work exhibition introduces students to DNA sequencing and to some of the applications of this technique. The applications explored include genetic testing, disease identification, forensics, and crop improvement. This is the exhibition where your class will focus most of its attention.
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