Founded in 2018, the Zebrafish Summer Institute (ZSI) is a unique professional development opportunity for secondary science educators who teach grades 6-12. During a three-day workshop, teachers learn how to use zebrafish to engage their students in authentic, real-world scientific investigations. Workshop participants immerse in hands-on inquiries to explore how to use zebrafish in their classrooms to teach students about concepts like the stages of growth and development, interactions between organisms and the environment, ecology, aquatic biology, and genetics. Dr. Hajeri has developed the TEKS-aligned curriculum for the ZSI.
Highlights of the Zebrafish Summer Institute
- All educators are supported with supplies to integrate zebrafish into their classrooms.
- All educators are provided with year-long support including one-on-one mentoring, fish stocks, and lab supplies.
- Access and networking with a community of educators who are using zebrafish in their classroom
To learn more about the ZSI, please watch the video https://youtu.be/xp56uw1XFT
Every summer, Dr. Hajeri recruits 15 secondary science teachers to participate in the fish institute. Applications are open in January every year and close on April 30. If you are an educator and would like to be on our email contact list, please email Dr. Hajeri at vinita.hajeri@utdallas.edu
Now Accepting Applications for the Zebrafish Summer Institute 2024-25
When? June 4 – virtual workshop from 9 AM to noon and in-person workshop on June 5 and June 6 from 9 AM to 4 PM
*** Required to attend all three days
Where? Department of Science and Math Education, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas
Cost: $250 per participant (cost includes the virtual, hands-on workshop, and year-long support)
CPE Credit: Each participant will receive 18 hours of CPE credit upon completion of the workshop.
To Apply for the Zebrafish Summer Institute 2024-25 fill out the form https://forms.gle/9W7uNQvqZrVr3NeG9
A BIG Thank You to all our donors for supporting the ZEBRAFISH SUMMER INSTITUTE
the IMPACT
As of December 2022, thirty four secondary science teachers have participated in the zebrafish summer institute and impacted 5,100 students. Teaching science with zebrafish allows classroom teachers to:
- Spark students’ interests and curiosity.
- Provide opportunities to use science concepts to enhance language development.
- Engage learners in real-world science investigations.
- Build students’ scientific knowledge and process skills.
Teacher Testimonials
Jessie Crowley
The Hockaday school, Dallas
US Science Faculty – Biology
Shannon Field
10th grade Biology.
China Spring High School, Texas
Emma DeVine
7th and 8th grade science
Greenhill School, Addison, Texas
“The zebrafish work that I have incorporated into my classroom has previously unmotivated students very excited to learn because they get to design their own investigation using this live organism. They are now able to ask research-based questions, collect meaningful data, and analyze that data in a relevant way.”
Jamie Holbrook
AP Biology Teacher, Saint Mary’s Hall, San AntonioCongrats Jamie on your award for using zebrafish in the classroom!
https://www.smhall.org/news/all-school-news-detail-page/~board/all-school-news/post/smh-science-teacher-creates-collaborative-lab-with-grant
“As a teacher in Dallas ISD, one of my greatest challenges is teaching science content to bilingual students at a level in which they can understand it meaningfully. The inclusion of Zebrafish has allowed me to teach concepts in a way that improves science learning and proficiency. Students are able to use the Zebrafish, embryos, and the fish tank as a learning tool to understand concepts that they might not have with just the use of illustrations or pictures. Students who do not have me as a science teacher even came up with the idea of having an after school club so they too could have the opportunity o come in to see the fish, learn how to handle and care for them, and also to learn about how humans can impact animal life with the choices we make.”
Lucinda Quintana
8th Grade Science Teacher, Ann Richards STEAM Academy, Dallas, Texas“The commitment of the students throughout the zebrafish projects (which have been going on for over three months) has been impressive. Once they figure out one problem, they discover another and automatically get to work on it. Whenever there is a minute or two of downtime in class, they are in the back checking their cultures and monitoring their tanks. The fact that the program can be implemented into any classroom is extremely valuable to teachers who have little or no background in working with live animals or scientific equipment.”