Progress 09/15/08 to 09/14/09
Outputs
The Virginia State Biotechnology Enrichment Experience was created to increase the knowledge and interest of students about biotechnology and related scientific areas. The project targeted 6-12 grade levels among the surrounding area public schools, private schools, and home schools, 4-H and extension offices. The objectives are: 1) provide background knowledge, understanding and abilities useful in helping students make decision, 2) stimulate interest and provide opportunities to acquire basic knowledge and explore skills in areas of biotechnology, such as biology, agriculture and animal science, 3) provide a setting for the application of the instruction in academic disciplines, 4) provide a basis for student selection of career areas for further study at the high school and collegiate levels, 5) develop biotechnological and scientific literacy skills for all students for their benefit as consumers and citizens. The following school systems were contacted; Prince George, Petersburg, Sussex, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, Evangel Christian Academy, Woodlawn Private, R. A. Lewis, and various home school communities. Petersburg, Dinwiddie and Prince George extension agents were also contacted and offered the program. The program was presented to a total of 128 students at three locations, involving 5 educators. Two International Bachelorette classes at J. E. J. Moore (Prince George County; n=49) completed 5 workshops and presented information about the program and biotechnology during the sixth to their classmates. Four classes were given workshops at Hopewell High School (n=59). The classroom workshops were developed to meet the goals of the Virginia SOL tests and activities were mapped to the appropriate learning needs. The program was also presented at the Prince George County 4-H summer camp (n=20) where three workshops were completed over a three day period. The responses from the students were positive and the program was chosen for an additional weekend exploratory camp. The results of surveys to each group indicated that the workshops increased the student's knowledge of biotechnology. We had a 2-fold increase in student knowledge of biotechnology, with average of a 5-fold change in the number of students that would consider a career in biotechnology. As a result of the overwhelming interest of the teachers, students and parents the program will return to J. E. J Moore Jr. Middle School. Appropriate adjustments were made in response to suggestions made by students and teachers. The sixth grade will be included this school year as well as more seventh grade life science classes. A culminating activity is being planned to take place on DNA Day 2010. PRODUCTS: The project has developed example lesson plans that can be used by middle and high school teachers for classroom exercises. Likewise, we have developed products for distribution to classrooms for the annual DNA day. OUTCOMES: The project will increase the awareness of agricultural biotechnology in middle and high school age students, teachers, and parents. The ultimate goal is to increase the enrollment of students into biotechnology curriculum at the university. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: We have developed brochures for advertising and application to the program. We are distributing DNA texts and lesson plans to K12 teachers during workshops and classroom visits. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The coming year will bring increased classroom workshops at with planned events for the annual DNA Day. Additionally, we are seeking additional funding to keep the project active and more sustainable.
Impacts
Increase the awareness and participation of students, especially those from minorities, in agricultural biotechnology. Biotechnology education is needed to develop the future workforce, who will not only have an understanding of the technical aspects of the biotechnology, but also an understanding of the ethical and philosophical aspects. Biotechnology careers are the direction of many of the jobs available for agriculture and biology graduates, this project hopes to stimulate an increased interest in students beginning studies at universities and developing careers in biotechnology.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 09/15/07 to 09/14/08
Outputs
Biotechnology is changing the face of agriculture around the world. To be competitive in the job market, agriculture and biology graduates must have an understanding of biotechnology. This project has the following objectives: (1) to introduce students to the field of agriculture biotechnology, and (2) to ensure that educators of agriculture high school students have the resources to prepare students for a career in agriculture biotechnology. The educational goal was to increase awareness of biotechnology in K-12 students and educators through hands-on workshops to increase recruitment of students into the field of biotechnology. Two types of programs were developed to engage students in biotechnology laboratory activities: (1) A member of the VSU team conducted a biotechnology activity in the classroom at the schools, and (2) students attended workshops at VSU. The students received lecture material to cover the basic theory, followed by hands-on sessions in the laboratory. Topics of study included DNA collection, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), agarose gel electrophoresis, restriction enzyme digestion, identification of genetically modified organisms, and career opportunities in biotechnology. To increase the knowledge of the current undergraduate population, we developed seminars and research projects. Seminars were conducted to provide biotechnology information and career opportunities. Efforts were also to increase recruitment of undergraduates into biotechnology research projects. Classroom programs conducted in local middle schools had 34 participants. The students learned about DNA and collected DNA from cheek or fruit cells. Feedback from the class teachers was very positive and they indicated that this program should be repeated in future years. Recruiting students to the summer workshops was problematic, as we had to conduct several rounds of recruiting to fill the initial workshops with 6 students. However, the workshops increased the students knowledge of biotechnology, and increased the number of students that would consider a career in biotechnology. For the current undergraduate students, seminars and discussions were held in to introduce the students to careers in biotechnology and systems biology. The primary seminar had 32 participants, with breakout groups to allow students to have the opportunity to discuss career opportunities in detail with the speakers. We increased recruitment of undergraduate students into biotechnology research projects by 3-fold, and the student interest has continued to increase in biotechnology projects for this summer and fall. Regardless of the program, increased knowledge ascertained by the students about biotechnology increased their overall interest in biotechnology research and careers. Additionally, we have hired a full time person to coordinate the activities of the project and present programs in the local schools and develop lesson plans that will work with our local standards of learning (SOL) tests. Activities have also been developed for local 4-H and extension programs and are planned for 2009. PRODUCTS: The project has developed brochures and other advertising materials for recruitment to the workshops and Virginia State University. The project has developed lesson plans that can be used by middle, junior, high school teachers for classroom exercises. Likewise, we plan to develop products for distribution to classrooms for the annual DNA day. OUTCOMES: The project will increase the awareness of agricultural biotechnology in the high school age students and teachers and hopes to increase the enrollment of students into biotechnology curriculum at the university. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: We have developed brochures for advertising and application to the program. We are distributing DNA texts and lesson plans to K12 teachers during workshops and classroom visits. We are developing programs for local 4-H clubs and camp activities centered around biotechnology. FUTURE INITIATIVES: We are conducting classroom visits to several schools in the surrounding area. One of these programs will be a 5-week one day-a-week program that is planned to concluded in a poster demonstration and mini-symposium at the school for the rest of the classes to visit. We are scheduled as a planned activity at local 4-H camps for students. We are actively involved in increasing undergraduate research in biotechnology at Virginia State University and involving undergraduate and graduate students in the outreach activities at local schools.
Impacts
Increase the awareness and participation of students, especially those from minorities, in agricultural biotechnology. Biotechnology careers is the direction of many of the jobs available for agriculture and biology graduates, this project hopes to stimulate an increased interest in students beginning studies at universities and developing careers in biotechnology.
Publications
- Sayre, BL. Enhancement of Agricultural Biotechnology Training at Virginia State University. 2008. NACTA/SERD Conference proceedings. Abst. #127.
- Mukherjee, S., K. Agrawal, and B.L. Sayre. 2008. Using microarray data and Gaggle as an educational tool for undergraduate research. International Symposium on Systems Biology proceedings. Abst. #1.
|
Progress 09/15/06 to 09/14/07
Outputs
This project addresses biotechnology training at Virginia State University. We are developing recruiting materials, graduate student resources, and workshops and resources for K-12 students and teachers. Initially, we have developed the resources and recruiting materials for K-12 workshops. We have encountered some unanticipated problems with conduction of the workshops, however we have addressed these issues and have scheduled the first the workshop to begin on Saturdays in February and will continue for every other Saturday until early May. The workshop will culminate in a two day workshop on bioinformatics in collaboration with another funded grant. The timing of the current workshop schedule was developed after consultations with teachers and counselors at the local schools. We have conducted biotechnology programs in the classroom at schools until we could establish the workshops. Additionally, we have addressed the freshmen students in introductory biology course
as to the potentials of a degree emphasis in biotechnology. Likewise, we have a graduate student that has been actively involved in the workshop development and a small research project in biotechnology. We have co-sponsored a speaker from the Institute of Systems Biology in Seattle, WA that met with and addressed students on topics such as undergraduate research projects, internship opportunities, and career opportunities in systems biology. This was a two day workshop with students and faculty in biology, mathematics, chemistry, and computer sciences. Although the project was off to a slow start the programs are moving forward now.
PRODUCTS: The project has developed brochures and will be developing other advertising materials for recruitment to the workshops and Virginia State University. The project is developing example lesson plans that can be used by high school teachers for classroom exercises. Likewise, we plan to develop products for distribution to classrooms for the annual DNA day.
OUTCOMES: The project will increase the awareness of agricultural biotechnology in the high school age students and teachers and hopes to increase the enrollment of students into biotechnology curriculum at the university.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: We have developed brochures for advertising and application to the program. We are distributing DNA texts and lesson plans to K12 teachers during workshops and classroom visits.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: We will be conducting workshops this spring and participating in the annual DNA day activities.
Impacts
Increase the awareness and participation of students, especially those from minorities, in agricultural biotechnology. Biotechnology careers is the direction of many of the jobs available for agriculture and biology graduates, this project hopes to stimulate an increased interest in students beginning studies at universities and developing careers in biotechnology.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|