Chapter 1: The Science of Biology

Here's a link to a PDF of chapter 1.

A little about Dr. Sabin: Ministry

I'm a deacon and a Bible study teacher at Kathleen Baptist Church, in north Lakeland. And I'm also the campus minister for students at Florida Polytechnic University. I'm at Florida Poly at least two evenings each week, but usually involved with the ministry quite a bit more than just those two nights. I meet with students at all sorts of times, and I'm often texting with students; they have crazy schedules and I take every chance I can get to communicate with them.

Here are some pictures from FLPoly.

Science vs Pseudoscience

Here's the Eyes of Nye: Pseudoscience video that we watched in class.

A little about Dr. Sabin: Experience

Each class day over the next week or so, I'll be posting a little bit about myself, so you can get to know me a little better. For this first post, I'm going to focus on my related work experience.

After high school, I joined the Navy. I was an aviation electronics technician, and I specialized in H-60 Seahawk helicopters. The Seahawk is the Navy's version of the Blackhawk, and the Navy uses them for three primary purposes: 1) search and rescue, 2) special operations, and 3) tracking (and possibly sinking) submarines.

When I decided the Navy wasn't going to be my career, I went to college. I considered electrical engineering, but realized I liked to teach. But, I wasn't sure if I could deal with the bureaucracy of public schools. So, I set my mind on college teaching. I eventually became a college professor and an executive-level administrator. I've worked at Rollins College, the University of Central Florida, and Webber International University. I also taught at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, LA.

I love research. My doctoral research was in cognitive development, which is studying how the brain processes information. In particular, I studied how people learn to think about moral issues and decide right from wrong. I've also worked as an alternative energy researcher for the state of Florida.

Some more time went by, and I decided to make a change. Actually, my wife and I both made a career change. She had been working in management for an insurance company, and I was working at a university. But, we both became teachers.

I have taught middle school and high school biology. This is my second year at GJHS. I was previously at Dundee Ridge Middle and at Haines City IB.

Lab safety videos

These are the lab safety videos we watched in class. At the end of the post, you can find links to download copies of the lab safety contract.

Hank Green explains the importance of lab safety




The Ultimate Lab Safety video




And the FSU chemistry lab safety video


Here are links to the lab safety contract in:
English
Spanish
Haitian Creole

Introduction

I hope you're looking forward to a great year. Let me tell you a little about myself.

This is my second at GJHS and my 10th year in Polk County Schools. Before coming the GJHS, I taught at Dundee Ridge Middle and in Haines City High's IB program. I've also worked in college administration and teaching, as well as the alternative energy research office of a major utility company. Plus, I had a short time in the Navy as an avionics technician.

My favorite part of teaching biology is teaching students about the scientific process and how to understand and even conduct research. I love research because it allows us to answer questions no one has ever answered before; we actually get to create knowledge.

I've been married for 17 years. My wife, Jennifer, and I have three kids: Charlotte (8), Mary (5), and Hudson (2). Charlotte and Mary attend Lincoln Avenue Academy.

Outside of teaching and my family, I'm also involved in a couple other places. I'm a deacon at Kathleen Baptist Church in north Lakeland, and I'm the campus minister for students at Florida Polytechnic University.