Biotechnology Concepts in Technology Education: An Analysis

1. Biotechnology Concepts in Technology Education: An Analysis Josh Brown and Drew Abney Illinois State University

2. Overview • Historical foundation of biotech in technology education • Taxonomy (Wells, 1994) • Analysis of articles • Interview analysis • Future directions

3. Biotechnology in Technology Education • Standard 15 (ITEA, 2000) • Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use agricultural and related biotechnologies.

4. Biotechnology • What is biotechnology? • Standards for Technological Literacy (2000) • Any technique that uses living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products, improve plants or animals, or develop microorganisms for specific purposes (p. 149)

5. Questions • What does this mean? • How much biotechnology is appropriate? • How should biotechnology be included in secondary classrooms? • Who teachers biotechnology?

6. Delphi Study (Scott, Washer, and Wright, 2006) • 45 competencies • Recommendations • Preservice teachers should be able to deliver content • Further research needed • “isolationist” method revised • Curriculum guide should be developed to help implement biotechnology in technology education

7. Biotechnology Taxonometric Structure • Wells (1994, 1995) • Developed structure for biotechnology study in schools. • “Technology educators can gauge the accuracy of the selected biotechnology activity by whether or not it adheres to the accepted definition” (Wells, 1995, pg. 12) • More than just TE, but all professions

8. Well’s (1995) Categories • Bioprocessing • Foundations in biotechnology • Genetic engineering • Agriculture • Biochemistry • Medicine • Environment • Bioethics

9. Our Study • Identified biotechnology articles (22) • Content Analysis • Any content connection to biotechnology • Identified specific subgroup • Not evaluating quality • Organized findings by frequency

10. Findings

11. Findings - Bioethics

12. Example • Baird (2002) – Technological Literacy and Human cloning • Importance of students ability to “use, manage and understand” the biotechnology of cloning • Futures wheel and highlight focus on ethical component. • Connections • How do we clone? • What biological concepts are involved in cloning?

13. Findings - Environmental

14. Example • Reed (2004) – A paradigm shift: Biomimicry • Nature as model, measure, and mentor • Activity – Design for disassembly • Create a product considering • Pre-life • Useful life • End-life • Bio connections • Material properties • Make models of “mimicry”

15. Themes Present • Bioethics • Environment • Analysis of technology • Impacts

16. Missing • Biology content • Scientific problems • Collaborative map

17. Question • What content knowledge and skills are needed by students interested in biotechnology fields?

18. Interviews Education and Research • E.L. – Professor – Molecular Biologist • J.S. – Professor – Biology Industry • D.P. – Orthotist and Prothetist • M.S. – Director of Technical Services – Optometry

19. Interviews (con’t) • E.L. – Professor – Molecular Biologist • Very important to learn the “technical aspects” rather than just discuss the “social impacts” • For high school student – learn the basics of biology…

20. Interviews (con’t) • J.S. – Professor – Biology • Teaches a college-level biotechnology course • Bioethics is very important • Basic understanding of biology • “…But certainly, high school is a key time for students to decide what career direction they want to go, and unless they get hands-on experience….you know, what they see on TV is all they get…”

21. Interviews (con’t) • D.P. – Orthotist and Prothetist • Requires a basic understanding of the Sciences • “…There is definitely a psychosocial aspect to my job…” • “…There is a very large, open-ended problem solving aspect to my job…” • Believes that: 1. social impacts are very important… 2. discipline integration at the secondary level is important…

22. Interviews (con’t) • M.S. – Director of Technical Services – Optometry • Requires a basic understanding of the Sciences • Specific topics (bioprocessing, medical bio-technology) are important to spark interests in students. • Integration of disciplines

23. Moving forward • Biology content • Better understanding • Thorough integration • Collaboration • Science teachers • Technology teachers • Math teachers • Research

24. Examples • Models of integration • Dunham, T., Wells, J., & White, K. (2002). Photobioreactor: Biotechnology for the Technology Education Classroom. Technology Teacher, 62(2), 7 • Ernst, J., & Busby, J. (2009). Hydroponics: Content and Rationale. Technology Teacher, 68(6), 20-24

25. Articles Baird, S. (2002). Technological Literacy and Human Cloning. Technology Teacher, 62(3), 19. Baird, S. (2007). Sustainable Design: The Next Industrial Revolution?. Technology Teacher, 67(4), 11-15. Baird, S. (2007). Designer Babies: Eugenics Repackaged or Consumer Options?. Technology Teacher, 66(7), 12-16 Baird, S. (2008). Offshore Oil Drilling: Buying Energy Independence or Buying Time?. Technology Teacher, 68(3), 13-17. Baird, S. (2008). Regenerative Medicine: A Growing Future. Technology Teacher, 67(8), 10-15. Childress, V. (2002). Promising Alternatives in Agri-technology: Aquaponics. Technology Teacher, 62(4), 17. Childress, V. (2007). Robotic Surgery. Technology Teacher, 66(5), 9-13. Childress, V. (2008). Energy Perspective: Is Hydroelectricity Green?. Technology Teacher, 68(4), 4-9. Deal, W., & Baird, S. (2003). Genetically Modified Foods: A Growing Need. Technology Teacher, 62(7), 18. Dunham, T., Wells, J., & White, K. (2002). Photobioreactor: Biotechnology for the Technology Education Classroom. Technology Teacher, 62(2), 7 Ernst, J., & Busby, J. (2009). Hydroponics: Content and Rationale. Technology Teacher, 68(6), 20-24 Fisher, D. (2008). Evildoer or Do-Gooder: Getting the Goods on Ozone. Technology Teacher, 68(1), 25-30. Goel, L. (2006). Engineering a Microfluidic Device. Technology Teacher, 66(2), 7-8. Goel, L. (2006). Design Brief: Engineering DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid). Technology Teacher, 66(4), 7-8 Haynie, W., & Greenberg, D. (2001). Genetic Disorders: An Integrated Curriculum Project. Technology Teacher, 60(6), 10. Katsioloudis, P. (2009). Biomedical Technology: Supporting Movement. Technology Teacher, 68(5), 10-15. Kennedy, I., & Waggoner, T. (2003). Water Pollution Scrubber Activity Simulates Pollution Control Devices. Technology Teacher, 63(2), 7. Reed, P. (2003). Telemedicine: The Practice of Medicine at a Distance. Technology Teacher, 62(5), 17. Reed, P. (2003). A Paradigm Shift: Biomimicry. Technology Teacher, 63(4), 23-27. Reed, P. (2004). Bioprospecting. Technology Teacher, 64(4), 14-18. Ritz, J. (2006). Resources in Technology:Turfgrass Production. Technology Teacher, 65(6), 10-15. Roman, H. (2009). Wind Farm Challenge. Technology Teacher, 68(5), 33-35.