Refereed journal articles may be a mouthful...

Here's the opening line of the abstract from, "Patrick J. Neale, Anastasios Melis' article on a small green organism: "Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was grown at photon flux densities (PFDs) ranging from 47 to 400 μE.m^-2 s^-1." Now, unless you are a phycologist (double-click any word for the meaning), then you've probably found three or four words you don't know, even if you are a great reader, right in the first sentence. This "jargon" is typical of refereed journal articles, by the way. A poor reader might become discouraged with the words found in journal articles, but, those of you familiar with my, "Reach Reading tm" technique, or, with Einstein's ability to stay on one paragraph till he figured it out, know that that is just a challenge of reading in science. You won't let yourself worry about a new set of vocabulary! As my sister, a reading specialist, says, "No one knows all the words."

The abstract continues, "The total cellular content of chlorophyll (Chl) was twice as high in the low light (LL) versus high light (HL) grown cells." Phew, you got some of that! I mean most of us learn the simplified equation of photosynthesis when we are children and we can recognize light, cells, perhaps chlorophyll, and, other words here. We can also get the gist of the article...A ha! We are reading about plant response to light... I mean, there might be more, but, there is something we can get.

Let's try some reach reading and look up some words. Let's see what else we can understand. In this way, reading an article becomes like finding treasure in a computer game. Let's see who can find the most treasure. Try to then use the words to paraphrase what you think the authors are saying.

In this way, elementary and secondary school, children and teens (and for that matter, adults), can build technical reading skills. They are playing a game.

Let's look at the ending of the abstract, "Thus the stoichiometry of electron transport complexes changes in response to growth PFD and this change is correlated with the response flexibility of algal photosynthesis in diverse light environments." Though there are difficult words, we're not afraid of them now. It is a challenging game, perhaps, but, it is fun. High school students should recognize, "stoichiometry," from chemistry classes. Here they get to see it in a, real "laboratory report," the refereed journal article.

I hope reading just this tiny bit of the abstract of the article has gotten you interested in reading more. You might be interested in contacting a phycological society, or, getting the full article via inter-library loan, or, you might wonder about plant pigments, or have other questions that could become wonderful experimental designs. Typically students winning science fairs use such journal articles, even in elementary school.

Try reading more of these authors' works. Do you know how to find them? Please feel free to ask questions in the comments. Jargoning is typical in many fields outside of science, too. So, what you learn about "playing" with science words in journal articles is applicable in all subjects.

Dr. J

[under development]

Source:
Patrick J. Neale ^{2 1} Anastasios Melis ¹. 1986. Algal photosynthetic membrane complexes and the photosynthesis-irradiance curve: a comparison of light-adaptation responses in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Chlorophyta)¹. Journal of Phycology. 22:4. 531-538 (¹ Patrick J. Neale ² Anastasios Melis ¹

¹ Division of Molecular Plant Biology, University of California. Berkeley, California 94720) DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8817.1986.tb02497.x" http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.1986.tb02497.x

Links to Phycological Societies and Information:
Phycology Section of the German Botanical Society

Asia Pacific Phycological Association

www.trincoll.edu/~cschneid/ (If this doesn't open, click it, then, delete the http:// and then hit enter) Or, try this one. http://www.trincoll.edu/~cschneid/bermuda.html
.
(c) J S Shipman

A Sampling of Topics to be Presented at Asian Association for Biology Education (AABE 22)

This post still under development. Please check back later.

A Sampling of Topics to be presented at
The 22nd Biennial Conference of the AABE
Program and Abstracts

ANA Gate Tower Hotel, Osaka, Japan
November 21-24, 2008

An Analysis of Skills for Use of Scientific Ability in the University Entrance Qualification
Examination Biology Test by Tomoko OHMORI
O-18
Standards for the Development of Certification Examinations for Secondary School Biology Teachers in Korea
by *Hae-Ae SEO, Ho-Kam KANG and Yong-Jin KIM
O-19
Examining Practices in an Inquiry-based, Work-oriented Science and Technology Classroom: Implications on Biology Education
by Jessamyn Marie O. YAZON
O-20
An Example of a Support to the Integrated Study of a Junior High School of Japan in the Local Community
by Mitsuo SAITOH
O-21
Development of Biology Audiovisual (CD) Teaching Material for Developing Experimental Basic Skills of Science Teacher on Developing Country
by *Namio NAGASU, Toshinobu HATANAKA and Nobuyasu
KATAYAMA
O-22
Multimedia Presentations on the Human Genome "Implementation and Assessment of a Teaching Program for the Introduction to Genome Science Using a Poster and Animations"
by *Kei KANO, Saiko YAHATA, Kaori MUROI, Masahiro
KAWAKAMI, Mari TOMODA, Koichi MIYAKI, Takeo
NAKAYAMA, Shinji KOSUGI and Kazuto KATO

Poster Presentations:

P-01
Diversity of Birds and Food Plants of Birds at Wiang-Kosai National Park, Thailand by Surakan PAYAKKHABUT

FYI (For your information): Wiang Kosai National Park P.O.Box 1 Amphur Wang Chin Phrae Thailand 54160 Tel. 0 5455 6763 (VoIP), 0 5450 9322 E-mail reserve@dnp.go.th

P-02
Cercarial Infections of Freshwater Snails Genus Bithynia Leach, 1818 in the Northeast of Thailand by *Duangduen KRAILAS, Chayada CHOTSRISUPPARAT,
Sirilak CHOTESAENGSRI and Tunyarut KOONCHORNBOON

P-03
Trematode Infections Obtained from Freshwater Snail Melanoides tuberculata in the North Thailand
by *Duangduen KRAILAS, Wivitchuta DECHRUKSA, Namfon PATTARADUSSADEE, Suluck UKONG, Wasin INKAPATANAKUL
and Tunyarut KOONCHORNBOON
P-04
Sensitivity to Chemical Attractant of Diacetyl
after Pre-exposure to Diacetyl is Inversely Related
to Life-span of the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
by *Tetsuya MATSUURA, Seiko SUZUKI, Ayaka MUSASHINO
and Mitsuyuki ICHINOSE
P-05
The Study of Biosurfactant as a Cleaning Agent for
Insecticide Residue in Leafy Vegetable
by *Churdchai CHEOWTIRAKUL and Nguyen Dieu LINH
P-06
Variability in Acetylcholinesterase upon Exposure to
Chlorpyrifos and Carbaryl in Hybrid Catfish
by *Voravit CHEEVAPORN, Chawanrat SOMNUEK, Chutarat
SAENGKUL and F. William H. BEAMISH
P-07
Effects of Handling Processes on the Quality and
Biochemical Changes in Tissue of Mud Crab, Scylla
serrata, (Forskal, 1755) during Emersion Storage
by *Nongnud TANGKROCK-OLAN and Waritchon NINLANON
P-08
The Effects of Earthworm-formulated and Commercial
Feeds on the Growth and Development of Nile Tilapia
(O. niloticus)
by *Rosa Mistica L. HERMOSO, Blythe N. KE
and Samuel M. GO
P-09
Study on Actinomycetes Soluble Pigments for Suitable
Application
by *Rattanaporn SRIVIBOOL and Udomluck THITIRAKPANICH
P-10
In Vitro Effects of Some Thai Antihelmeinthic Plants
on Tegument Surface and Mortality of Stellantchasmus
falcatus (Trematoda: Heterophyidae)
by Kittisak PHUTTACHAT, Kittichai CHANTIMA, Chakkapong
TEUMMEE, *Siriwadee CHOMDEJ and Chalobol WONGSAWAD
P-11
Effect of IGF-2 Gene on Litter Size and Reproductive
Performance in Pigs
by Waranee PRADIT, Supamit MEKCHAY,
Korakot NGANVONGPANIT, and *Siriwadee CHOMDEJ
P-12
Sound Quality of Salor's Bow from Different Horsehair
Species
by Watcharapong NARABALLOBH, Chamnan TRINARONG,
Narit SITASUWAN and *Siriwadee CHOMDEJ
P-13
Microsatellite Primers in Ficus hirta and Erythrina
subumbrans for Applications
in Tropical Forest Restoration
by Wuttichai PHAIRUEANG, Bhanupong PHROMMARAT,
Prasit WANGPAKAPATTANAWONG, Stephen ELLIOTT,
Sutthathorn CHAIRUANGSRI and *Siriwadee CHOMDEJ
P-14
A Proposal of Recycling Club Model for Environmental
Education in Malaysia
by *Yap Pei SUAN and Shigeyoshi WATANABE
P-15
Investigation of Japanese Biology Curriculum in Primary
School which is Regarded Nature Observation as Important
by *Takayuki SATO and Ikumi ASAHARA
P-16
Creating a Field Biology Program for Your School:
Lessons from the PSHS-Main Campus Experience
by *Nino A. ESPINAS, Ma. Elena K.
DACANAY, Frederick T. TALAUE, and
Melanie Anne B. CHENG
P-17
Environmental Education with Reference to Biological
Aspects for Non-science Majors in Pre-service Teacher
Training Courses by Nobuyasu KATAYAMA
P-18
Effects of Fish Breeding Activity for College Students
Who Aim to Become a Elementary School Teacher
by Fumi NAKANISHI
P-19
Animal-assisted Education at Japanese Schools with Support
from Veterinarians
by *Mihoko NAKAGAWA, Yuka NAKAJIMA and Taro HATOGAI
P-20
Conservation Medical Education Performed by the Wild
Animal Medical Center (WAMC) in Rakuno Gakuen University
by Mitsuhiko ASAKAWA
P-21
Teaching-Materials of the "Rice Plant" in Biology Education
by *Kazuko IIJIMA, Ryuichi SAGO, Tomoko IIJIMA,
Masayoshi UESHIMA and Michinori KARIYA
P-22
Usefulness of Small Scale Biotopes in Kindergarten Education
in the Urban Area of Japan
by *Tsutomu OSAWA and Mitsuo MATSUKA
P-23
The Effectiveness of Using Data Which Have Been Obtained
by Students for Learning about the Human Environment in
Junior High School Science
by *Yasuhiro KANAIZUKA and Nobuyasu KATAYAMA
P-24
The Practice of Environmental Education in Japanese
Elementary and Junior High School Science Using Natural
Resources in Hokkaido Area
by Kiyoyuki OHSHIKA
P-25
The Current State of Myxomycete Collections in Museums
and Future Prospects of the Utilization on Biological
Education
by *Yuka YAJIMA and Kiyoyuki OHSHIKA
P-26
Evaluation of Hypoglycemic Activity of Ardisia sp.
(Myrsinaceae): Mouse Model
by *Edna A. AMPARADO and Dennis D. RAGA
P-27
Evaluation of the Glycemic Effect of Telosma
(Asclepiadaceae) in Normal and Alloxan-induced Diabetic
Juvenile Mice (Mus musculus)
by *Lilibeth A. CAJUDAY and Edna A. AMPARADO
P-28
The Antioxidant Potential of Crude Leaf Extracts from
Selected Endemic Plant Species of the Philippines
by *Reynand C. CANOY, Jan Michael Jesse LOMANTA,
Paolo SIGUAN and Sonia D. JACINTO
P-29
Screening Plant Species for Assessing Cd and Neem
Extract Contamination
by *Vilaiporn BUNYAKITJINDA, Supanyika SENGSAI and
Nongnuch GAMLANGPAT
P-30
Evaluation of Genotoxic Effects of Residue Aza
Containing Neem Extract on Root Tip Cells of Allium cepa,
Zephyranthes rosea and Eucrosia bicolor
by *Wimol KWANKUA, Supanyika SENGSAI and
Nongnuch GAMLANGPAT
P-31
Factors Affecting Cadmium Adsorption
of Kirchneriella lunaris
by *Ptumporn MUANGPHRA, Waramanee PONGSAWAT and
Kanlaya SRIBUDDHACHART
P-32
Genotoxicity of Cadmium to Coelomocytes of Earthworms,
Pheretima peguana and Pheretima posthuma
by Ptumporn MUANGPHRA
P-33
Karyotype Studies of Freshwater Snails, Filopaludina spp.
by *Supanyika SENGSAI, Wimol KWANKUA,
Duangduen KRAILAS and Siriporn KAEWKLOM
P-34
An Application of Conventional and GISH Karyotypes
to Biological Education
―An Example of Compositae Plants―
by *Hisakazu OGURA, Shiguang GUO and Katsuhiko KONDO
P-35
A Validation Study of Shell Porosity Measurements
in Eggshells of the Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
by *Kampanat THARAPOOM and Ruedi NAGER
P-36
New Teaching Materials on "Life of Oceanic Sea
Skaters and Adaptation to Oceanic Environment"
by *Mika YOKOTA, Toshiki TAMURA, Takao
INOUE, Shiho TAKENAKA Takero SEKIMOTO,
Mitsuru NAKAJYO, Chihiro KATAGIRI and Tetsuo HARADA
P-37
Life Table of Springtail, Xenylla sp. (Hexapoda: Collembola)
by *Vacharobon THIRAKHUPT and Kasem KONGNIRUNDONSUK
P-38
Male Sterile Oxalis corniculata as Teaching Material
for Pollination and Fructification
by *Shigeaki ATSUMI and Megumi KASAHARA
P-39
Classroom Experiment for Studying the Response of
Organisms to Their Environment with the Unicellular
Green Algae Haematococcus pulvialis
by *Haruka MATSUMOTO and Nobuyasu KATAYAMA
P-40 Study on Teaching Materials of Creature in
Elementary School Science Textbooks
―Appropriateness of the Fact that Japanese Schools
begin in April―
by *Junko IWAMA, Shizuo MATSUBARA and
Takashi SHIMOJO
P-41
Close Analysis of Reading Inscriptions
in Biology Textbooks
by *JaeYoung HAN, Yong-Jin KIM,
Jung-In CHUNG, Seong Hey PAIK and
Young-Wook SONG
P-42
Changes of High School Students' Explanatory Hypothesis
Formation by the Anxiety Types of Cognitive Conflict
in Respiration Experiment Task
by *Young-Sik KWON and Kil-Jae LEE
P43
The Development and Application of Teaching-learning
Program utilizing Scientists' Research Papers for
Improvement of the Gifted-in Science Students' Problem
Solving Ability.
by *Hyun-Jung LEE and Kil-Jae LEE
P-44
Learning-related Brain Activation Changes
in High School Students: An fMRI Study
by *Yong-Ju KWON, Il-Sun LEE, Suk-Won KWON,
Il-Ho YANG and Myoung HUR
P-45
Brain-based Differences between Pre-service Science
Teachers' Causal Inference and Perception about
Biological Phenomena
by *Young-Joon SHIN, Jun-Ki LEE, Jung-Ho BYEON and
Dong-Hoon SHIN
P-46
An Exploratory Study on Emotional Factors in the
Elementary Science Instruction
by *Jaeyoung KIM, Chaeseong LIM, Gwangsam RYU
P-47
DVD Talks about the Human and Environment on the
Earth by *Ikuko SHIHIRA-ISHIKAWA, Yasufumi TSUCHIYA
and Atwushi MIYAWAKI
P-48
Space Educational Program - Implementation of
Sample Return Missions
by *Hideaki KOBAYASHI and Tsutomu YAMANAKA

Workshop
W-01
A Simple and Useful Method for the Observation of
Somatic Cell Divisions Using Acetic Dahlia Solution
as a Staining Solution for Biology Class at the
Secondary School Level
by *Yoshihiko YONEZAWA and Hidehiro HANMOTO