Biotechnology Unified Education Network of Opportunities Project

该项目计划在里奥格兰德河谷下游建立一个生物技术统一教育机会网络(Bueno)，为本科生进入以生物技术为基础的STEM领域提供一条明确的道路。该项目包括三个主要活动：1)课程和教材的开发；2)教育工作者的专业发展；3)方案的开发和改进。布埃诺项目的主要目标是在该地区建立第一个生物技术计划，以提高生物技术相关领域技术人员的就业能力。布埃诺项目有可能提供一个可在其他少数群体两年制和四年制社区学院和大学复制的框架。此外，通过德克萨斯最南端学院和当地学区之间的伙伴关系，该项目可以持续努力，使大学准备与生物技术研究领域的大学课程保持一致。这种调整有助于确保员工做好准备，以满足社区的劳动力需求。通过Bueno项目，德克萨斯南端学院旨在通过开发新的生物技术学习计划、为教师改进提供专业发展以及尽可能提供最新的课程和教育材料来增加学生的学习。作为评估计划的一部分，收集的数据对于确定可以修改的战略和活动至关重要，以改善项目成果和学生学习，以及学生和教师的能力和信心，特别是在为拉美裔服务的机构。此外，布埃诺项目提供了对少数群体机构特别有用的新课程材料，并有助于了解哪些活动和干预措施最能有效地促进拉美裔和退伍军人在生物技术和相关的STEM领域取得成功。这些贡献将增加关于有效科学教育的知识体系。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project plans to build a Biotechnology Unified Education Network of Opportunities (BUENO) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley that will offer a clear path for undergraduates into careers in biotechnology-based STEM fields. The project includes three major activities: 1) curriculum and educational materials development; 2) professional development for educators; and 3) program development and improvement. The main goal of the BUENO Project is to build the first biotechnology program in the region to enhance the employability of technicians in biotechnology-related fields. The BUENO Project has the potential to provide a framework that can be duplicated at other minority 2- year and 4-year community colleges and universities. Moreover, through the partnership between Texas Southmost College and local school districts, the Project can build sustained efforts to align college readiness and the college curriculum in biotechnological fields of study. This alignment can help to ensure preparation of employees to meet the community's workforce demands. Through the BUENO Project, Texas Southmost College aims to increase student learning by developing a new biotechnology program of study, providing professional development for teacher improvement, and offering the most up-to-date curriculum and educational materials possible. Data collected as part of the evaluation plan will be critical for identifying strategies and activities that can be modified to improve project outcomes and student learning, as well as student and instructor competency and confidence, especially at a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Furthermore, the BUENO Project contribute new curricular materials that will be especially useful at minority institutions, as well as insight concerning which activities and interventions are most effective in promoting the success of Hispanics and veterans in biotechnology and related STEM fields. These contributions will add to the body of knowledge about effective science education.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.