Jessica Popescu

Popescu’s innovative teaching idea, “Biology: Game On,” is focused on developing board games to motivate her students embrace scientific inquiry. This yearlong project will engage students at the beginning of each unit with a challenging board game that relates directly to the curriculum. The board games will mimic real-life situations or scientific careers — such as researching dangerous viruses or creating new molecular compounds. In addition to providing a fun learning environment, these board games will give Popescu’s students valuable insight into the requirements and obstacles professionals in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) face each day. Additionally, she hopes it will teach her students how to problem solve and think critically.