Enhancing the Two-Year Biotechnology/Chemistry Program with Instrumentation, Faculty Development and Technical Experience

卡姆登县学院正在购买一台气相色谱-质谱仪(GC/MS)，将工业中使用的气相色谱-质谱仪技术整合到大学生物技术/化学实验室两年的所有方面。GC/MS的基本理论和实际应用始于有机化学和普通化学课程，在这些课程中，它增强了生物技术专业和传统科学专业的科学经验。此外，GC/MS正在非理科专业的化学和社会课程、新的生物化学课程(生物技术计划的一部分)和法医化学中实施。在县警察学院(位于校园内)和州法医实验室的合作下，学生们正在将该仪器用于现实生活中的法医应用。为了最大限度地在整个课程中实施技术，该项目还包括在GC/MS的使用、校准和维护方面的广泛教师发展活动，以及区域生物技术公司教师的工业现场经验。关注基于探究的学习，通过与行业相关的演示和实验来加强这些原则，从而提高学生对重要科学原则的理解。通过在整个课程中调整和实施实验室实验，学生可以重复使用这些设备，并熟悉行业环境中使用的技术和计算机系统。这一工具在提高两年制大学生科学体验的质量和范围，促进探究性学习，培养批判性思维和解决问题的能力方面发挥了显著作用。在整个项目期间，正在对项目活动进行适当的评估，以衡量学生学习的进步。这个项目的影响超出了卡姆登县学院的生物技术项目。它正在加强化学课程中的每一门课程，并跨越多个学科，影响到遗传学(生物学)、临床化学和免疫学(临床实验室科学)以及相关卫生专业的课程。因此，学生，特别是妇女和少数族裔，正在为直接进入就业市场或转到四年制院校继续学习做好更好的准备。最重要的是，该项目为周边三州地区(新泽西州、宾夕法尼亚州和特拉华州)提供了急需的训练有素的生物技术人员。

Camden County College is purchasing a gas chromatography - mass spectrophotometer (GC/MS) to integrate gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry technology used in industry into all aspects of the two-year college biotechnology/chemistry laboratory experience. Basic theory and hands-on use of the GC/MS begins in the Organic and General Chemistry courses, where it enhances the science experience of both biotechnology majors and traditional science majors. In addition, GC/MS is being implemented in the Chemistry and Society courses for non-science majors, the new Biochemistry courses (part of the biotechnology program), and Forensic Chemistry. In collaboration with the county police academy (located on campus) and the state forensics laboratory, students are using the instrument in real-life forensic applications. To maximize the implementation of technology across the curriculum, this project also includes extensive faculty development activities in the use, calibration, and maintenance of the GC/MS, as well as industrial field experiences for faculty at area Biotechnology companies. Focusing on inquiry-based learning improves student understanding of important science principles by reinforcing these principles with industry-related demonstrations and experiments. With the adaptation and implementation of lab experiments across the curriculum, the students have repetitive use of the equipment and gain a familiarity with the techniques and computer systems used in an industry setting. This instrumentation is having a significant effect in raising the quality and scope of the science experience of two-year college students, facilitating inquiry-based learning and fostering critical thinking and problem solving skills. Appropriate assessment of project activities is being conducted throughout the project to measure improvements in student learning. This project is having an impact beyond the biotechnology program at Camden County College. It is enhancing each course in the chemistry curriculum, and also cuts across disciplines, affecting courses such as genetics (biology), clinical chemistry and immunology (clinical lab science) as well as courses for the allied health majors. As a result, students, especially women and minorities, are being better prepared to enter the job market directly, or transfer to a four-year institution to continue their education. Most importantly, this project is providing the surrounding tri-state region (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware) with sorely needed, well-trained bio-technicians.