ACC Partners with Biotech Companies to Train Teachers

Austin – While city and state officials try to lure biotechnology companies to nestle in the Silicon Hills, Austin Community College is doing its part to make the Central Texas workforce biotech savvy by training high school teachers in essential laboratory techniques during a three-week Teachers’ Summer Biotechnology Institute.

“Having a community college that provides training in essential biotech lab techniques is an important talking point when the city approaches a company about relocating to this area,” says Susan Davenport, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce’s (GACC) director of economic development.

During the second annual Institute, which starts today, participants will learn about industry perspectives on lab competencies and practice lab techniques so they can teach ACC’s Introduction to Biotechnology Course to area high school seniors and juniors. Currently, there are eight classes being taught in five school districts.

Most of the 23 teachers who will be participating are from the surrounding independent school of districts, including Round Rock, Austin, Leander, Del Valle, and Georgetown. Community college instructors from Oklahoma City, Denver and the Woodlands will also be attending, because their schools are looking to initiate similar programs, and are using the ACC program as a model.

“Our summer institute is designed to give teachers the practical experience and theoretical knowledge they need to give students a strong foundation in biotechnology,” says Peggy Maher, an ACC grants specialist in the biotechnology program. “After taking this introductory course, students will have a better understanding of opportunities in the biotech industry and what skills and education are needed.”

Last year, several science teachers from Cedar Park High School attended the summer institute before the program was implemented at the school. The class was a success last year and is being offered again this year, says Camille Clay, the district’s director of career and technology education.

“There’s no way we could have implemented this program without the quality instruction and training that our teachers received at the institute. The ACC instructors really walked our teachers through the curriculum and showed them the labs,” Clay says. “It’s always beneficial for students to have an opportunity to explore a potential career before they go into it and to acquire entry level skills.”

Teachers will also be involved in revising the lab protocols to make them as effective as possible for the high school classroom. Participants will learn about current biotech issues, such as cloning, stem cell research, genetically modified foods, and the Human Genome Project. Teachers will tour and receive training at M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center in Smithville and Cedra Corp.

The Institute is being funded by a three-year, $375,000 National Science Foundation BioTechEd grant and local biotech companies Ambion and Stratagene/Biocrest are supplying materials.

“The biotech curriculum and training that ACC offers is on the cutting edge,” says Linda Holmstrom, director of career and technology education for Georgetown ISD. “This Institute enables teachers to not only share current information with students but also enables them to provide quality hands-on learning experiences that are aligned with industry. The course is very exciting.”

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