A Teacher Enhancement Program to Stimulate Laboratory-based Instruction in DNA Science for Advanced Placement and Honors Biology Classes

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A Teacher Enhancement Program to Stimulate Laboratory-Based Instruction on DNA Science for Advanced Placement and Honors Biology Classes This proposal is to support workshops on molecular genetic analysis for 288 advanced placement/honors biology teachers during summers 1990-92. Modeled after the successful Molecular Cloning course, (TEI 87-51248), the DNA Science workshop extends the traditional postgraduate training mission of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to the secondary level. During the week-long workshops, teachers make and analyze a recombinant DNA molecule, using the techniques of DNA restriction and ligation, agarose gel electrophoresis, microbial culture, bacterial transformation, and plasmid isolation. A weekend follow-up workshop reinforces the learning experience and stresses the practical aspects of implementing a lab-teaching program. The current NSF-sponsored program has reached 449 biology teachers in 12 states-aided programs in California, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Statistical analysis has documented significant behavioral effects among workshop participants, including lab teaching, leadership networking, and fundraising activities that more than match NSF funds expended. NSF support has been highly leveraged, forming the basis of what is arguably the largest commitment to public biotechnology education by any institution in the country. The PIs now propose to hold four workshops per summer that would reach an additional 288 high school teachers in the southeast and midwest. Three "commuter" workshops each summer would service large urban areas, while on "residential" workshop would target minority teachers from a wider geographic region. We also request funding to continue a substantial longitudinal study of innovation among the 1,600 teachers in 24 states who have been taught the DNA science curriculum to date. An amount equivalent to 14.5% of the NSF award is being contributed as cost-sharing.