Biotechnology Education

Last updated: March 6, 2006

This page has links to documents that relate to skill standards and workplace needs for biotechnology. These documents may be helpful to those starting new biotechnology programs or those who want to align their curriculum with the needs of the biotechnology industry. For more information about Skill Standards and a short history: http://www.bio-link.org/EDCintro.htm

UNITED STATES NATIONAL STANDARDS

FOR BIOTECH EDUCATION

College level:

National Bioscience Industry Skill Standards

This is the link for the Gateway to the Future: Skill Standards for the Bioscience Industry published by Education Development Center, Inc., 1995

A pioneering study of the bioscience industry that brought together dozens of industry and academic participants to determine the industry requirements for technically trained employees. 

http://www2.edc.org/bec/standards/industrystds.htm

http://www2.edc.org/bec/products.htm

https://secure.edc.org/publications/prodview.asp?261

 

Federal Biosciences Industry Skills Standards Project

Another link to accompanying charts included in the National Bioscience Industry Skill Standards: Job Function and Tasks of a Bioscience Specialist I

http://www.csuchico.edu/csuperb/Skills.htm

 

Combined Bioscience/Agricultural Biotechnology Skill Standards
Implementation Guidelines and Curriculum Frameworks for the Bioscience/Agricultural Biotechnology Industry can be found in the Combined Academic Knowledge Technical Skills, and Employability Skills from Bioscience and Agricultural Biotechnology Skills Standards. The Standards were prepared by Dr. Judith Leff from the Education Development Center, Inc. and Dr. Jeff Moss from FFA Foundation, Inc. This document has links to educational material found on the internet.

http://bio-link.org/EDCskills.htm

 

Agricultural Biotechnology Skill Standards
The National FFA Foundation, Madison, Wisconsin, prepared this document in 1994. This joint project of academia and industry defines the training and skills needed for the agricultural biotechnology technician. The Standards are available on CDROM as part of the FFA document Biotechnology 2002 for Plants, Animals and the Environment or through The Michigan Center for Career and Technical Educations.

http://www.teamaged.org/PGS/index2.htm

http://mccte.educ.msu.edu/cs/ss/ssvendor.asp

 

National Association of Scientific Materials Managers
NAOSMM is a professional organization involved in the management of laboratories. Members of this organization are involved in the "purchasing, receiving, warehousing, distribution, and inventory control of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, glassware and plasticware, instruments and special services in research, teaching, and R & D fields." Individuals work in academia, industry or research. NAOSMM is involved in developing methods for training and certification of these professionals. This is a good site to gain some insight on the development of a certified program for laboratory managers.

http://www.naosmm.org/

http://www.naosmm.org/certify/index.html

 

"Industry Expectations for Technician-Level Workers: The U. S. Bioscience Industry Skill Standards Project and Identification of Skill Sets for Technicians in Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnology Companies, and Clinical Laboratories"

An article by A. Stephen Dahms and Judith A. Leff

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 260-264, 2002

This article addresses the needs of the Biotech workforce and ways to facilitate interactions of the Industry with the Educational Institutions.

http://www.bambed.org/

Making Skill Standards Work
This is a new Education Development Center, Inc., (EDC) book which profiles successful education to employment programs.  This practical manual was written by Judith Leff, Joyce Malyn Smith and Elisabeth Hiles and is available for sale from the EDC web site.

https://secure.edc.org/publications/

 

Window on the Workplace
A Training Needs Assessment For the Biomanufacturing Workforce March 2003. To assess changing company workforce training needs, the Center conducted a survey of biomanufacturing companies in late 2002. The survey results are documented in our Window on the Workplace report.

http://www.ncbiotech.org/ncbio/ouractivities/education/workplace03.cfm

http://www.ncbiotech.org/pdffiles/goldenleafrpt.pdf

 

Galveston College Biotechnology Courses

The Biotechnology Department at Galveston College lists its course along with the syllabus for each course, prerequisites and learning outcomes.

http://www.gc.edu/gc/Biotechnology.asp?SnID=468429931

 

Biotechnology Education a Multiple Instructional Strategies Approach

Trey Dunham, John Wells, Karissa White

Journal of Technology Education, Vol. 14, No 1, Fall 2002

This paper is a discussion of the teaching strategies effective to delivering a Biotech Education.

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v14n1/

 

Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

Department of Biological Sciences

Western Michigan University

This document is the Assessment plan for Western Michigan University.

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~malcolm/Assessment/

 

Learning Assurance Report for the Biology Program

In the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences

College of Science and Mathematics

Kennesaw State University

http://ie.kennesaw.edu/assess/guides_evaluations/

http://ie.kennesaw.edu/assess/

 

ACAP Austin Competency Analysis Profile - Biotechnology
This document is very detailed and compiled by experts in both academics and industry. The Austin Competency Analysis Profiles (ACAPs) are competency lists compiled from job analysis that involved business, industry, labor, and community agency representatives from throughout the Austin area. This document includes the following topics:
ACC's Curriculum Development Process
ACAP Process Overview
ACAP Session Agenda
ACAP: Biotechnology Occupational Competencies
Employability Competencies
ACT Work Keys Skill Levels

ACAP Austin Competency Analysis Profile - Biotechnology

  

Summary Report for the Development and Validation of the Biotechnology Problem-solving Skills Assessment

Conducted as part of the Evaluation of the Advanced Technical Education Program

Bethann Lavoie. This document identifies key areas for assessment and includes a sample assessment test with accepted answers. It is a part of an assessment of the impact and effectiveness of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program.

http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/ate/

http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/ate/pss-assessment.pdf

Technical Education Curriculum Assessment (TECA)

http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/ate/ATE%20Rubrics.pdf

 

Pre-college level:

National Science Education Standards (High School)

This is a link to the National Science Teaching Standards.

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/

 

Biotechnology Curriculum Framework (K-12)

The PDE, (Pennsylvania Department of Education) has developed a Biotechnology Curriculum Framework. It is a curriculum resource especially for K-12 teachers to define the state standards and include learning activities that conform to these standards. It includes a framework for Agricultural Education, Science Education and Technology Education for the grade school. The information included here is a good example of coordinating activities with standards for education.

http://www.pde.state.pa.us/career_edu/

 

Curriculum Proposal (High School)

Biotechnology Workshop, University of Wisconsin - River Falls

A list of Course Outlines for teaching Biotech at the High School Level.  Includes an outline, objectives and expected student outcomes. 1997

http://www.uwrf.edu/biotech/workshop/course.htm

 

Biotechnology Skill Standards Checklist (High School)

Youth Apprenticeship Program

This is a list of the competencies to be achieved through the Youth Apprentice Program

http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dws/programs/ya/ya_biotech.htm

 

Biotechnology Education a Multiple Instructional Strategies Approach (High School)

Trey Dunham, John Wells, Karissa White

Journal of Technology Education, Vol. 14, No 1, Fall 2002

This paper is a discussion of the teaching strategies effective to delivering a Biotech Education.

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v14n1/

 

Workforce Leadership 2+2+2 Biotechnology Curriculum (High School)

Northampton Community College

Description of the Biotechnology program at Northampton College in Bethlehem, PA

http://www.statelibrary.state.pa.us/libraries/

 

Living in a Technological Society (High School)

University of Newfoundland and Labrador

Curriculum Framework for Technology Education: Living in a Technological Society.

This is an overview of the technology education program for the primary, elementary and secondary schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. The primary audience is educators - school administrators, teachers, and curriculum developers. It should also be useful to district office staff, other educational institutions and members of the public.

http://www.cdli.ca/depted/Program/

 

Biotechnology Education outside of the US:

The Supply and Demand for Skills in the Biotechnology Sector

Expert Group on Future Skills Needs

Although, this document is from Ireland, it anticipates growth in the biotechnology sector and addresses the education needs to meet the industry demands.

http://www.csuchico.edu/csuperb/OECD_IRE_Pdf.pdf

http://www.skillsireland.ie/press/reports/index.html

 

AUTC Review of Biotechnology

Here is a review of the Biotech programs in Australia, what they are teaching and comments about Industry needs. 2003

http://www.life.sci.qut.edu.au/epping/

 

University of Ulster

Postgraduate diploma MSC/Biotechnology

Learning outcomes

http://www.science.ulster.ac.uk/courses/biomed/

 

Standard Biotechnology Technician Program

Ontario Canada

This is the approved program standard for the Biotechnology Technician Programs for the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology.  The Standard includes learning outcomes for Biotechnology as well as General Skills and Education.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/

 

Biotechnology Career Training:

Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry Skill Standards

This publication is a compilation of the skill standards for select biomanufacturing industries.  Publications are free for the asking.  It provides the instructor in biomanufacturing the necessary concrete information to construct curriculum, courses and modules and purchase equipment for education and training for ten biomanufacturing jobs.

http://www.bio-link.org/docs/competencies.doc

https://secure.edc.org/publications/

http://www.biomanufacturing.org/publications.htm

 

The Northwest Biotechnology/Biomedical Education and Careers Consortium

This group is a consortium of schools and industry to prepare students for employment in the Biotech industry.  This site includes links to Skill Standards and other applicable information for Educators.

http://success.shoreline.edu/NWBBECC/whoweare.html

 

Workforce Leadership 2+2+2 Biotechnology Curriculum

Northampton Community College

Description of the Biotechnology program at Northampton College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

http://www.statelibrary.state.pa.us/libraries/

 

The 21st Century at Work

Forces shaping the Future Workforce and Workplace in the United States

Lynn A. Karoly, Constantijn W.A. Panis

Prepared by the US Department of Labor

Rand Labor and Population

This is an analysis of the changing workplace in the US.  It addresses the impact that Biotechnology and emerging technologies will have on the education of the labor force.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2004/

 

Assessing Workforce Needs in the Biotechnology Industry

RIT Center for Biotechnology Education and Training

Douglas P. Merrill, Ph.D. and Gary R. Skuse, Ph.D.

October 2000

A report from The Department of Biological Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology based on a yearlong study of the workforce needs of the biotechnology industry in New York State.

http://www.cbet.org/survey.html

 

Vocational Technical Education Curriculum Frameworks (VTECF)

The Vocational Technical Education Curriculum Frameworks form the basis for assessment of students for the award of the Certificate of Occupational Proficiency.

http://www.mccte.org/frameworks/framework.cfm

http://www.mccte.org/