School Systems Initiatives in communities
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The Biotechnology Institute seeks to help U.S. communities create a sustained and systemic biotechnology education plan in their regions at the K through 12 and college levels. The Institute works with a number of communities who want to advance their positions in biotechnology through biotechnology education. Projects in these communities build a legacy of ongoing biotech education that is at the whole system level and integrated within local schools. This is distinct from many biotechnology education programs that may be a one-time effort or on a smaller small-scale.
Components of each initiative vary, depending upon the needs of the community and available resources. They may include such projects as:
- Teacher Professional Development and Leadership Training
- Biotech Content Enrichment for System-wide Teachers
- Guidance to Implement Biotech Curriculum
- State or Region-wide Strategic Planning
- Minority Recruiting and Leadership Development
- Local Competitions for Middle and High School Students
- Development of Biotech Career Pathways for College Students
- A Comprehensive Communications Program
In each initiative, a local organization with the goal of advancing biotechnology education is created or strengthened. This involves commitment and buy-in from the community's leadership because ownership of the vision and implementation of the plan comes from the community and local leadership itself.
The role of the Biotechnology Institute is that of convener, catalyst, and advisor. While the Institute possesses expertise to make available robust national programs, relationships, and resources, local leadership in the community is critical to a community initiative's success.
The results of these initiatives include deeper engagement of students and teachers in the field. Biotechnology becomes incorporated into school systems through teaching standards, curriculum, instruction, and testing in science courses. Pathways are marked from education to jobs and back, enabling students and workers to rise on the matrix of work and learning. And an intense spotlight focuses on the community's leadership in improving the way science and technology are taught in America.
Why should a community want to undertake such a project?
- Biotech education is engaging and motivating to youngsters and teachers by showing exciting applications of modern biology.
- By bringing biotechnology to academic and technical classrooms, the community will be strengthening science teaching to address state and national learning standards.
- The community can create a sense that it is at the cutting edge of innovation in education and thereby attract educational talent and recruit outstanding workers and companies.
For communities to engage in this initiative, they must answer the following three questions affirmatively:
- Does the community leadership believe there is a compelling need for this initiative?
- Will the community help to recruit local leadership to drive this initiative?
- Is the community prepared to work with the Institute to leverage outside resources and to direct local resources to this initiative?
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