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Hands-on
Biotechnology Training for Teachers and College Students
Fisseha
Tegegne, Ahmad Naseer Aziz, Todd Gary, Laurette Cousineau, Judy Butler,
and Roger Wiemers
Institute of
Agricultural and Environmental Research
Seminar Series
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
March 2, 2005
The
goal of the project is to train teachers in biotechnology techniques to
promote their knowledge of the subject and enable them teach it to their
students and provide college students experiential learning opportunity.
The training is given at two levels-Introductory and Advanced-with each
offered for a week. It involves lectures and hands on laboratory and
computer exercises. Project collaborators represent a mix of government
and private sector organizations as well as universities. The first
round of training involving the introductory level was offered in the
summer of 2004. Thirty eight teachers in two groups participated in the
training. Preparations are underway to provide training at the advanced
level to a similar number of teachers in the summer of 2005.
Participants get biotech kit at no cost to them. They also receive
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) and certificate of training
completion through the TSU Continuing Education Division. In addition,
they get other resources such as CDs and biotechnology magazines
covering diverse issues. Four college students were also trained as
interns in the IAgER biotechnology laboratories in the summer of 2004.
Feedback from teachers and the State Department of Education show a high
level of interest in the training. Students have also benefited from the
training by using the techniques they learned to make presentations at
meetings, write senior projects and some have even continued to pursue
graduate education in the field of Biotechnology.
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