THIS THREE-YEAR EDUCATION PROJECT AIMS TO HELP TEACHERS ACROSS OREGON CONFIDENTLY TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY--A FIELD THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS AND OTHER MODERN FARMING INNOVATIONS. BECAUSE THESE TOPICS CAN BE COMPLEX OR SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL, THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON HELPING BOTH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE BEHIND THEM AND THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT RELATED ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND SOCIETY.OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY'S SMILE (SCIENCE & MATH INVESTIGATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES) PROGRAM WILL WORK WITH UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, AND A GRADUATE STUDENT TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR 90 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS. TOGETHER, THEY WILL CREATE A SET OF ENGAGING AND EASY-TO-USE CLASSROOM MATERIALS, INCLUDING:· 3-6 CLASSROOM LESSONS THAT EXPLAIN KEY IDEAS IN AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY· 3-6 CASE STUDIES THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXPLORE REAL-WORLD DECISIONS INVOLVING BIOTECH PRODUCTS· 18-24 SHORT VIDEOS MADE BY OSU UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS THAT EXPLAIN SCIENCE TOPICS AND HIGHLIGHT CAREER PATHS IN AGRICULTURE IN A YOUTH-FRIENDLY WAYTEACHERS WILL ATTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS WHERE THEY'LL EXPLORE HOW TO TEACH THESE TOPICS CLEARLY AND THOUGHTFULLY, AND GAIN TOOLS TO HELP STUDENTS ANALYZE INFORMATION, ASK QUESTIONS, AND FORM THEIR OWN IDEAS.BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, WE EXPECT TO SEE:· MORE STUDENTS LEARNING ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE· FEWER MISUNDERSTANDINGS RELATED TO BIOTECHNOLOGY IN FARMING AND CAREERS· MORE TEACHERS FEELING CONFIDENT IN TEACHING COMPLEX SCIENCE TOPICS· A SET OF READY-TO-USE TEACHING TOOLS THAT CAN BE SHARED ACROSS SCHOOLS AND USED BY OTHER EDUCATORSTHIS PROJECT WILL HELP STUDENTS BUILD STRONGER SCIENCE SKILLS AND THINK MORE DEEPLY ABOUT WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM, HOW IT'S PRODUCED, AND WHAT CAREERS MIGHT BE POSSIBLE IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE.

Oregon State University, Corvallis OR

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