Fabricated Cell Models

Step One: Introduce C-note methodology of note-taking

1. Introduce students to the Cornell Notes system. Highlight the fact that Cornell Notes was created by Walter Pauk, an education Professor at Cornell University in the 1950s. Since that time, the Cornell note-taking method (C-note) has been adopted in biology courses at the high school and college level. Remind students that the C-note method is used both in the United States and internationally.
2. Explain to students that C-note will help them make connections between ideas, synthesize information, and better apply acquired knowledge to biology concepts such as the structure/function of eukaryotic cell organelles.
3. Show video on using Cornell Notes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtW9IyE04OQ

Using the mnemonic device CORNELL WAY to review, in whole class, the ten steps involved when using the C-note methodology of note-taking.

Part I (Note-Taking) Students will:

C – Step 1: Create format:

• Leave 1/3 of the paper on the left for questions and 2/3 on the right for notes.
• Leave 2 inches on the bottom of each page for summary.
• Write name, class, date, and topic on top of each page.

O – Step 2: Organize notes on the right side of your note paper]

• Take notes while listening to lecture
• Listen and take notes in your own words – paraphrase what you hear
• Leave spaces for revisions by skipping lines between ideas
• Abbreviate words and use symbols
• Write in phrases, not complete sentences
• Know what to write – differentiate between important information vs. trivial information

Part II: (Note-Making) Students will:

R – Step 3: Review and Revise Notes

• Distinguish main ideas from details
• Categorize information by highlighting or color coding
• Delete unimportant information
• Add your own thinking – fill in details to clarify, complete, or create greater meaning and understanding
• Identify unclear information by using a question mark
• Add references from other materials as they come to mind or make connections to other concept/content
• Review for possible paper topics or test questions

N – Step 4: Note Key Ideas to Create Questions

• Write questions on the left side of your notes page that connect to key ideas
• Review the main ideas highlighter on the right side
• Determine the purpose of the lecture
• Read the highlighted main ideas and create higher level questions

E – Step 5: Exchange Ideas by Collaborating

• Collaborate with a peer(s)
• Meeting in small groups
• Share with whole class
• Compare, enhance, and revise your notes
• Fill in any gaps and clarify points of confusion
• Brainstorm a list of key terminology from the lesson to be included in the summary

Part III: (Note-Interacting) Students will:

L – Step 6: Link Learning to Create a Summary

• Identify the main ideas to be used in the summary by reviewing your notes, questions written on the left side, and prior knowledge
• Address the essential question of the lesson in the summary
• Use the notes on the right side for support as you write the summary
• Combine main ideas by synthesizing; internalize learning from the questions/notes
• Answer the higher level questions on the left side in the summary to tie together the main ideas

L – Step 7: Learning Tool — Use Completed Notes as a Learning Tool

• Review notes taken, questions developed, and the summary (individually or with a study group)
• Apply new learning to increase subject knowledge by using notes to study for a test, write an essay, prepare for a presentation,
• Interact with material by taking notes, writing questions, and summarizing to internalize the information and increase subsequent learning
• Use the notes to transfer knowledge to long-term memory by forming connections with and making meaning of the notes

Part IV: (Note-Reflecting) Students will:

W – Step 8: Written Feedback

• Review, revise, and improve notes, questions, and summary based on feedback by a peer or instructor

A – Step 9: Address Written Feedback

• Create a goal for improving future note-taking
• Use the feedback provided to identify an aspect of note taking that is challenging
• Identify specific actions to address this challenge in future note taking

Y – Step 10: (Your Reflection) Students will:

• Review your notes, questions and summaries, then reflect on your learning by completing a reflective log to show how new knowledge was mastered and/or applied

Step Two: Practice Taking Cornell Notes 

Essential Questions: Essential Question: How do organisms live and grow?

1. Illustrate the statement “The cell is the unit of structure and function in living ” Using C-note Note-Taking strartegies, have students, in small groups, read lesson: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/cells/eukaryotic-cells/a/organelles-article
2. Have small groups use C-note strategies to answer the following questions:What is the “Brain” of the cell? Why do we call it the “Brain”?What is the “powerhouse” of the cell? Why do we call it the “powerhouse”?
3. Return to whole class, show students why the nucleus is the “brain” of the cell. Explain that the nucleus directs cell activities and contains genetic material called chromosomes made of DNA.Show pictures: https://www.google.com/search?q=is+the+nucleus+the+brain+of+a+cell&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=u niv&ved=0ahUKEwjBqd6U1dPUAhWC1CYKHTXcB0w4ChCwBAg0&biw=1366&bih=638Explain that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.cell.mitochondria/the-powerhouse-of-the-cell/#.WUzfXIwrLIU

   Review the structure/function of eukaryotic cell organelles. Show picture:https://www.google.com/searchq=picture+of+eukaryotic+cell+with+labels&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ& sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjq5vrR0dPUAhVLKCYKHbFfBi8QsAQIIw&biw=1366&bih=638

4. Have student return to their groups using C-note Note-Taking strategies to review and revise notes,create questions, and exchange ideas.

Step Three: Design Cell Models in Vector Graphic Software

1. Organize the students by dividing the class in half; one half constructing a plant cell, one half constructing an animal cell.
2. Have students design cell and organelles;
   • decide size of cell
   • determine appropriate scaling of organelles or the cell size
   • assign organelles within the whole group to research and designTEACHER NOTE: All done in the classroom, about 40 minutes
3. Bring students to the FabLab to design organelles in vector graphic softwareTEACHER NOTE: About 45 minutes.
4. Bring students to FabLab again to load and make the organelle designs on the available machines.TEACHER NOTE: Time will vary due to design constraints – about 3 hours
5. Have the students assemble the model in class and add labels and descriptions of the function of the organelles.

Formative Assessment: Have students write essays describing their experiences using the C-note method of note-taking.

1. The essay must show how students revised and improved notes and questions based on feedback from peers and/or instructor.
2. How the “making” of cell and organelles improved their understanding and provided new knowledge of specific functions within a multicellular organism
3. How the “making” of cell and organelles improved their understand of digital fabrication as a tool for learning and teaching biological concepts.
4. As part of student reflection, essay must also indicate how student will use C-note as a Learning Tool to improve note-taking in other subject areas.