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Intensive teacher training aims to improve student success in science
December 1, 2009 |
MassBioEd-led initiative reaches struggling schools
In 2008, building off of the success of programs like BioTeach and the Life Science Career Development Program, the MassBioEd Foundation tackled a new challenge: to deliver highly focused and intensive teacher training and biotech lab instruction to teachers in struggling schools.
The project stems from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ) Grant which was awarded to MassBioEd in conjunction with New Bedford High School and B.M.C Durfee High School in Fall River.
Under the program, MassBioEd, working with other collaborating partners, has designed and delivered intensive two year training program in biotechnology laboratory instruction for teachers recruited at New Bedford and Durfee. The program also provided an infusion of biotechnology supplies and consumables to the two schools for on-site training and future use in the classroom.
“The goal of the ITQ grant program is to increase academic achievement through improved teacher training,” said Robert Ross, who oversees the program for MassBioEd. “The better prepared and more comfortable Massachusetts teachers are in teaching science, technology, engineering and math, the more likely it is our students will succeed in those areas.”
Fifteen teachers completed the first 24 hours of training in 2008, and reported significant improvement in their knowledge of biotechnology concepts and careers after having finished. The teachers also felt more comfortable and prepared to teach biotechnology after having participated in the program. The training is followed by a mentor program, where volunteer mentors come into the classroom and help teachers teach the labs.
“This has expanded the knowledge base for our teachers, then allowed them to incorporate the labs into courses,” said Steven Nestenpower, who coordinates science curriculum at New Bedford High School. “There is more hands-on experience for the staff, which makes it easier for them to teach these labs down the line.”
The 2009 cohort reached 20 teachers, with most of the original group returning to go through additional training. The content of the second year’s training was developed based on discussions with the teacher regarding their interests and needs.
At New Bedford High School, plans are already in the works to expand biotechnology curriculum based on the groundwork laid by the ITQ program.
“This training definitely allows us to expand this curriculum. This training allows me to add labs and subject matter that we couldn’t before,” Nestenpower said. “I can add a PCR lab and the underlying genetics. I can add the DNA unit to the curriculum. It’s great.”
With the training and program ending in December of 2009, B.M.C. Durfee High School has a plan to build on the base of trained teachers by having them share what they learned with the entire staff.
“We have full development days to help teachers who couldn’t participate in the training to learn the labs,” Chris Boyle, science department head at Durfee High School said. “This allows every teacher on my staff to teach these labs effectively.”
Ultimately, it’s the students who benefit from the training. At Durfee, almost every student has participated in at least one biotech lab, with many participating in two since the start of the school year. Boyle said the additional labs are adding real lab experience to the existing curriculum.
“Instead of just talking about how a lab technique is done, they can actually conduct them in class and be hands on. It really helps with teaching the courses when students can be hands on,” he said.
Nestenpower and Boyle both say their staff feels this is the best training they have gone through. Sandra Mitra, science teacher at Durfee High agrees.
“These workshops have been, far and away, some of the very best I have ever attended as a high school teacher,” Mitra said.
While the grant-funded training ends later this month, the effects of the ITQ program will last, Ross said.
“Each of these teachers will reach hundreds of children over the next several years,” he said. “The effects of additional training and new labs will be felt for years to come.”
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