Incorporating a course-based research experience in high school and community college courses in southeast nebraska

This $1,234,464 project grant from the National Science Foundation's STEM Education program (CFDA #47.076) will support Southeast Community College in developing a course-based research experience centered around canine DNA for high school and community college students and teachers in Southeast Nebraska. The three-year project will incorporate a summer workshop to train biology and agriculture teachers on laboratory techniques for implementing a canine-focused research curriculum using DNA kits containing necessary supplies. High school students will collect DNA samples from their own pets to examine the role of genes in canine social behavior. The goal is to foster interest in biotechnology careers by connecting such fields to students' lives and leveraging existing industry partnerships. Graduates of Southeast Community College's biotechnology program, established through prior NSF funding, will gain skills for middle-level technician roles critical to Nebraska's and the global economy.

Abstract

Centered around an accessible and generally well-loved companion animal, dogs, this project will increase scientific literacy and engagement with science and technology by high school and college students and their teachers. A summer workshop for biology and agriculture teachers will focus on the content and training in laboratory techniques to implement the canine course-based research experience. Canine (k-9) kits containing all the supplies and equipment needed for the activity will be available for teachers to check out and use in their classrooms. To directly connect biotechnology to the student?s lives, students will collect DNA samples from their own pets as they engaged in the course-based research project aimed to examine the role a DOG?s genes play in its social behavior. This project provides a model for supporting high school teachers, including those in resource-limited areas, as they incorporate new engaging curricula. IT also serves as a model for partnering with industry and other organizations to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills related to biotechnology careers important to developing a competitive stem workforce. This project will extend the capacity building and infrastructure established over the past five years that has led to southeast community college (SCC) offering three stackable credentials in biotechnology. Within the context of biotechnology, authentic research experiences developed in collaboration with industry have the potential to attract high school student interest in this high-growth field. This project will leverage existing partnerships with nebraska?s regional bioscience industry and educational associations to expand implementation of such a research experience, offering insight into the rules of life in dogs. Ultimately, IT is expected that outreach activities targeted to high school and SCC students will foster an interest in biotechnician careers in the region and greater nebraska. Graduates from SCC?s biotechnology program will be prepared to work in a regulated environment and fill the need for middle-skilled technicians, critical to the nebraska and global economy. This project is funded by the advanced technological education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.