Eleven high school biology teachers from across the state took part in a 3-day professional development workshop on advanced biotechnology from June 8-10, at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts in Hot Springs. Applications of Biotechnologies in the Classroom, taught by ASMSA biology instructors, Dr. Patrycja Krakowiak and Dr. Jon Ruehle, introduced the teachers to 21st century techniques and technology as well as the latest research innovations in the fields of molecular biology, microbiology, and immunology. The goal of the program was to increase the comfort level of teachers around the state with the latest equipment and technology needed to conduct labs that will prepare their students for a future in fields associated with biotechnology. The teachers participated in five different hands-on laboratory experiments including DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, antibody immunochemistry, and microbiology isolation and culture.
In addition to the hands-on lab activities, each teacher received a kit with resource materials and lab equipment to use in their own classrooms. Each kit contained a textbook, a lecture book, a biotechnology equipment catalog, and the workshop lab manual as well as a power supply, equipment needed to run electrophoresis, an ELISA kit, a forensic DNA fingerprinting kit, and a microbiology culture kit. The workshop instructors will also be visiting each school’s labs to provide support and encourage the usage of the equipment provided by the workshop.
The workshop was funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation through the STEM Professional Development program at the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority.