Recipient Organization
BEDFORD COUNTY TECHNICAL CENTER
195 PENNKNOLL ROAD
EVERETT,PA 15537
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Traditional agriculure education programs in region do not meet the needs of expanding ag-biotech industries. The project will graduate students with demonstrated skills in ag-biotech fields, including Veterinary Assistant and Assistant Animal Laboratory Technician Certifications.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
To expand a secondary agriscience-biotech program that will graduate students equipped to pursue post-secondary education and careers in agricultural science and biotechnology, allowing students to successfully complete Veterinary Assistant and Assistant Animal Laboratory Technician Certification and meet the requirements for post-secondary medical laboratory technology coursework.
Project Methods
This Secondary and Two-Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Proposal is a teaching improvement project in two high schools, a secondary Vocational Technical School and a two-year community college program. The Bedford County Technical Center project, Integrating industry-standard certifications and a 2+2 program in an Agriscience-Biotech Curriculum, addresses three major Educational Need Areas: Enhancing Agricultural Education Through Curriculum Improvements by expanding a vocational agriscience-biotech curriculum to include integration of industry standard certification programs within the vocational program and the creation of a dual enrollment, 2+2 program, allowing students to earn advanced post-secondary standing upon completion of the secondary program. In addition, the project will expand career opportunities by preparing participating students to acquire industry standard certifications and pursue higher education, positioning them for a
broad array of scientific and professional careers in the growing agriscience-biotech sector. Further, through partnerships between two high schools and the tech center, the project integrates agricultural education into the general academic program of two rural high schools and beyond through web-based learning. In Year 1 (July 1- September 30, 2007) the applicant will work with partners to develop stand-alone science modules to integrate elements of the PA Veterinary Assistant and the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification programs into core secondary Biology, Bio-Chem and Chemistry. In Year 2 (October 1, 2007 - September 30, 2008), the applicant will integrate instructional programming necessary for students in the three-year secondary vocational/technical Agriscience/Biotechnology curriculum to prepare for these two certifications. Instruction will be focused in hands-on, experiential, project-based
instructional models and provide extensive field experience, including a semester-long intensive internship in the senior year with industry partners. In addition, project partners will develop a matriculation agreement and a 2+2 dual enrollment program, allowing secondary students in the Agriscience-Biotechnology program to earn up to 21 credits in Allegany College of Maryland's two-year Associate's degree in Medical Laboratory Technology/Biotechnology Option while in the secondary program. The project seeks to increase the partners' general high school population's mastery of basic core ag-biotech and laboratory science concepts as taught in biology, bio-chem and chemistry classes; increase the mastery of core agriscience-biotech science concepts within additional high schools in Pennsylvania through the successful deployment and use of web-based instructional modules in these subjects; and ensure the mastery of agricultural-biotechnology skills and concepts by students enrolled in
the three-year Agriscience-Biotech curriculum expanding their career and post-secondary educational opportunities.