Think Outside the Kit

We provide life science workshops and curriculum resources for middle and high school teachers in the Chicago area.

 

LET US HELP YOU create more engaging, skills-based learning experiences for your students using hands-on life science activities. No prior experience necessary, and we’ll provide the materials and equipment. For free.

Professional Development Series

Whether you’re new to teaching life science or you’re a pro looking for more training, we can help you "think outside the kit."

Our professional development workshops, provided at no cost to teachers, give you the chance to try out great lab activities with the help of academic and industry professionals.

CPS Biology Framework Series - Unit 4

Event Date: April 24, 2018

HS Biology teachers across the district are invited to participate in day-long learning around strategies to deepen understanding of how to use real-world phenomena to engage students with core ideas about inheritance and variation.

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Research Experience for Teachers

Event Date: July 16 - 27, 2018

Gain real-life lab experience working alongside scientists in a Northwestern University research laboratory and develop your own curriculum materials based on their research.

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BioBuilder

Event Date: July 31 - August 2, 2018

Bring biological engineering and synthetic biology to your classroom!

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Baxter Box Loaner Program

We have the supplies and equipment you need to bring cutting-edge life science activities to your classroom.

Teachers who are trained in our professional development workshops are given free access to our Baxter Box materials and equipment loaner program.

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I’M READY TO MAKE A RESERVATION, TAKE ME TO THE FORM

Classroom Support

Doing high-level, hands-on labs with students is always easier with a helping hand.

Once you’re part of the BCSE community you’ve got our support. We offer webinars, video chat "office hours," and an open phone line for you to get the help you need to keep your students engaged with lab activities. We will also visit your classroom to help you implement the labs you learn with us.

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Our Work in the Chicagoland Area

The BCSE allows teachers to stay up to date with the advancement of technology in science. By helping the teachers stay up to date and by providing activities that can be implanted into the classroom, it allows the future generation to have exposure to new developments in biotechnology at a young age. This hopefully will inspire the students to pursue careers in science.
Neshell Graham, Teacher @ Curie Metropolitan High School
The BCSE helps out teachers who teach at schools with limited resources get the resources and instructive know how they otherwise would not be able to obtain.
Jason Holmes, Teacher @ Roberto Clemente High School
Holy moly, this center is GREAT! I appreciate your outreach, enthusiasm, and expertise. It is really amazing to have this kind of access to a research institution and you are all so helpful in making this type of science accessible to our students.
Aparna Puppala, Teacher @ Glenbrook South High School

Our Team

Emily Ferrin, Ph.D.
Program Director & Resident Scientist
Baxter Center for Science Education
Ashley Walter, M.S.
Program & Partnership Coordinator
Baxter Center for Science Education
Amy D. Pratt, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Community Education Partnerships
School of Education and Social Policy
Sachin Pradhan M.S.
Software Developer
Office of Community Education Partnerships
Emily DePalma, M.Ed.
Research Program Coordinator
Office of Community Education Partnerships