Partnerships melt away perceived barriers as
Biotechnology demonstration project takes off.
A small demonstration project initially intended for one secondary
school has snowballed into a great example of a plan coming together.
The project now embraces students and teachers from K - 12 in
several schools. In addition, several agencies from southeast Nebraska are participating
in what could become a model for similar plans across the state.
"This demonstration project is a wonderful example of
collaboration, cooperation, and networking between and among people and agencies that may
not normally even come into contact with each other," said UNL Vice Chancellor Irv
Omtvedt. "This is exactly the kind of partnership NN21 wants to foster as we change
the way Nebraskans will learn in the 21st century."
Robert Meduna, extension educator at the Saunders County Extension
Office, said the idea was sparked by a Mead School Board member's request that Meduna help
bring biotechnology education to Mead secondary schools.
NN21 funded the Biotechnology project, and the Agricultural Research
and Development Center (ARDC) was sitting in an ideal position, said Meduna.
"Our strength was to be the communication bridge between the
university and the local school, and to assist in the exchange of information," he
said.
ARDC decided not to develop curriculum, but to facilitate entities
working together, and to find the tools, activities, and materials for teachers in the
schools to use, he said.
Biotechnology is defined in its broad sense, said Meduna, as
"any manipulation of living organisms for the betterment of mankind."
With Dolly the cloned sheep in the news, and genetic engineering of
plants occurring, biotechnology is a hot topic, and students need to be taught about it so
they can make informed choices and fully understand the science.
In the beginning, Meduna linked up with Dr. George Veomett,
professor at UNL's School of Biological Sciences. Veomet had developed a training program
for teachers, but wanted to reach others, and Meduna was looking for training for Mead
teachers - together it was a perfect fit! Originally the curriculum was directed
toward secondary teachers, but now it has been expanded to include K - 12.
As word of the project spread, other organizations began asking,
"How can we participate?"
"It has been great watching this all come together in a win-win
situation. All these entities now have a state in the project," said Meduna.
Meduna hopes to bring even more participants into the fold in the
future, perhaps including UNL's Teachers College. He wants to establish ongoing lines of
communication between post-secondary education, secondary education and the Nebraska
Department of Education.
"Things are falling into place even faster than we'd dreamed.
This is a good example of small pots of money from various entities being pooled to make
significant ones, allowing us to make major progress," he said.
- Pamela Ury Schmidt
