Why Join MABT?

                When was the last time you were digging around in some old file drawers or browsing through a stack of old science magazines or textbooks, and you came across a “new” lab procedure or demonstration for some biology topic?  If you are like most teachers it was probably in September or June and you were either getting ready to begin the new year or finishing up your year-end chores.  Typically the process goes as follows:  you get side-tracked and begin to browse through the “stuff “ you are supposed to be organizing or throwing away. And then it strikes - eureka, you think to yourself, as thoughts flash through your mind as to how you could use this demo for protein synthesis instead of the one you’ve been using for the last few years, and you enthusiastically envision how you would maximize its use to make everyone in your class understand the complex process.

                It’s a dynamite feeling to stumble upon a new teaching technique, idea, or piece of information of practical use with students.  Think what it would be like to have wonderful teaching techniques and demonstrations uncovered for you without your having to do the work yourself.  And those wouldn’t be just any methods, but tried-and-true biology–teacher–tested ones. Think what it would be like to have a local source of current, hot, information of interest to life science instructors, as well as an organization eager to disseminate your information and ideas.

                Enter the Massachusetts Association of Biology Teachers (MABT), an affiliate of the National Association of Biology, with exciting information for those who teach about Life Science in Massachusetts.  The MABT was founded in the Fall of 1994 as a vehicle to join together biology (life science) teachers at all levels (elementary-university) throughout Massachusetts. (The importance of a connection between all academic levels cannot be emphasized too strongly.) Today colleagues are united through newsletters and e-mail with information of local, regional, and national interest to instructors of life science, and, when advantageous, through conferences and workshops devoted to biology. In addition the MABT is interested in being of help to already existing, as well as facilitating the start-up of new, regional Massachusetts biology teacher-sharing groups.  For some time now teachers in some parts of the state have benefited from sharing groups, such as the Greater Boston Biology Teachers’ Roundtable (GBBTR) in their local area.  The MABT would like to see more of this type of collegiality among biology teachers throughout the state, and specifically a cross-sharing of ideas between elementary, junior high school, high school, and university faculty members.

A DOZEN-PLUS REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THE MABT

•  MABT Alert with up-to-date news sent out frequently, via e-mail

• Up-to-date information on current issues and trends in Life Science education

•  Notification of science activities and opportunities

•  Information about major local, regional and national conferences and events for teachers as well as students of Life Science

•  Reports of new trends and developments in the Life Sciences

• Annual State Convention, specifically for Life Science teachers

•  Regional workshops, depending on need, with you as either the host, presenter, or attendee

•  Opportunities to present your teaching ideas in the newsletter, or at a conference

• Reduced fees for State Convention, Workshops, or other MABT programs

•  Affiliation with the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)

•  Affiliation with the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers (MAST)

•  Affiliation with the Greater Boston Biology Teachers’ Roundtable (GBBTR)

•  Through elementary-university sharing development of outstanding life science students