Boxed up biotech help for WA teachers

Western Australian teachers are being given a helping hand when it comes to educating and exciting students about DNA, gene technology, stem cells, cloning and other aspects of biotechnology.

The Department of Industry and Resources’ (DoIR) Biotechnology Section has funded a new initiative that will give life to the new biotechnology curriculum in Western Australian schools.

The program - Biotech Out of the Box - is expected to make a big impact on the confidence of teachers to teach biotechnology, while boosting student knowledge and interest in biotechnology.
 
DoIR’s Biotechnology Team Manager Diana Cameron said the program aims to provide a quick, easy, effective and portable solution to improve science teachers’ understanding and knowledge of biotechnology.

 “It is literally a box, filled with practical tools that allow teachers to undertake hands-on activities and experimental learning with their students,” she said.

“The program complements the Department of Industry and Resources recent involvement in one of the biggest biotechnology competitions in the United States, the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge.

“WA has become the first international participant in this competition which showcases the strengths and achievements of biotechnology research and developments.”

The boxes will be rotated between science teachers at metropolitan and regional schools over the next two years - reaching about 150 State Government and 80 private schools.
 
Murdoch University biotechnology program chair Carolyn Jones said teachers would be provided with training so they could become confident and competent in using the boxes.
 
“Teachers will be able to demonstrate biotechnology laboratory procedures using science equipment they may not have had access to previously,” Ms Jones said.
 
“Teachers will also be involved in professional development opportunities that will provide further biotechnology information and tools that can also be used in the classroom, as well as broaden teacher networks with scientists, the research community and industry.”
 
Biotechnology is a key component of the human biological science courses of study to be introduced in WA high schools in 2009.