What do 1700s-era British sailors and scurvy have to do with new New York state learning standards? Ask high school biology teacher Mary Colvard.

Colvard's Vitamin C Investigation lesson plan has been added to the New York State Academy for Teaching and Learning. Colvard submitted her plan, called a learning experience, to last year's statewide peer review sponsored by the State Education Department.

"It's a really good process," said Colvard, a member of the Cobleskill-Richmondville Teachers Association in Schoharie County. "In my group, there were two teachers that worked in a special school, one from a large New York City school and one from a rural school. So it was nice to have the perspective of teachers from different environments."

More than 300 teachers, administrators and professional development network representatives attended the 2001 peer review held in March. To participate in the review, teachers must submit a learning experience that has already gone through a local peer review and clearly relates to state standards. The learning experience is then presented at the conference and, after revision, may be accepted into the academy.

Colvard's learning experience - exploring enzyme molecules by explaining biochemical processes of Vitamin C concentrations in orange juice preparation - involves standards from the living environment curriculum as well as math, science and technology. Her biology students now know that scurvy is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C, and it was prevalent among British sailors on trans-Atlantic trips. Colvard's experience, including samples of student work and assessments, is featured on the academy Web site, www.nysatl.nysed.gov.

"The ingenuity of the learning experiences presented at the conference is remarkable," said Antonia Cortese, New York State United Teachers First Vice President. "The peer review process is integral to professional development."

"(The process) makes you more thoughtful in terms of your teaching," Colvard said. "The whole sharing and interaction is a very valuable experience."

- Clarisse Butler

For more information

Nearly 100 learning experiences from all subject areas are featured on the New York State Academy for Teaching and Learning Web site, www.nysatl.nysed.gov. along with information on the academy and the next statewide peer review process. Also, you can contact Anne Schiano, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, at (518) 473-5303; or e-mail nysatl@mail.nysed.gov.