BIOTECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS IN TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION: AN ANALYSISJosh Brown and Drew Abney

Illinois State University

Overview

Historical foundation of biotech in technology education

Taxonomy (Wells, 1994) Analysis of articles Interview analysis Future directions

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.

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)

Questions

What does this mean? How much biotechnology is appropriate? How should biotechnology be included in

secondary classrooms? Who teachers biotechnology?

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

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

Well’s (1995) Categories

Bioprocessing Foundations in biotechnology Genetic engineering Agriculture Biochemistry Medicine Environment Bioethics

Our Study

Identified biotechnology articles (22) Content Analysis

Any content connection to biotechnology Identified specific subgroup Not evaluating quality

Organized findings by frequency

Findings

Agriculture

Foundations in Biotechnology

Biochemistry

Medicine

Bioprocessing

Genetic Engineering

Environment

Bioethics

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

5

6

7

7

10

11

13

Wells' (1995) Biotechnology Knowledge Areas

Findings - Bioethics

Forensics

Technology Transfer

Principles of Ethics

Potentials of Gene Therapy

Patenting of Life

Social Impacts

Regulation: Legislation & Safety

Impacts of Using Biotechnology

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

0

0

1

1

1

2

2

6

Bioethics

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?

Findings - Environmental

Bioremediation

Safety

Biotreatment Systems

Biological Controls

Biorestoration

Social Impact

0 1 2 3 4 5

0

0

1

3

4

5

Environment

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”

Themes Present

Bioethics Environment Analysis of technology Impacts

Missing

Biology content Scientific problems Collaborative map

Question

What content knowledge and skills are needed by students interested in biotechnology fields?

Interviews

Education and Research E.L. – Professor – Molecular Biologist J.S. – Professor – BiologyIndustry D.P. – Orthotist and Prothetist M.S. – Director of Technical Services –

Optometry

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…

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…”

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…

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

Moving forward

Biology content Better understanding Thorough integration

Collaboration Science teachers Technology teachers Math teachers

Research

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

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.