Collaboration. Communication. Critical thinking. Creativity. – Must be present in all classrooms.

Joe Ruhl received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Purdue University and has been sharing the joy of biology with children for 37 years. He currently teaches biology, genetics, and science at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Indiana. Joe and his wife Gail have two children and two grandchildren. The National Association of Biology Teachers named Joe Ruhl Indiana's top biology teacher in 1987. In 1988, he received a Golden Apple Teaching Award from the Lafayette, Indiana Chamber of Commerce. In 1989, he was honored at the White House as Indiana's recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. In 1996, he received the Purdue University College of Science Distinguished Alumnus Award for Excellence in K-12 Science Teaching. In 2004, he received the Crystal Apple Teaching Award from the Purdue College of Education. And in 2012, he was honored with the Shell National Science Teaching Award.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format, but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

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