Sammamish teachers hone skills at Fred Hutchinson
July 30, 2008
By Kendra Abernathy
Two science teachers from Eastlake High School have chosen to trade in two and a half weeks of their summer vacation to participate in the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s Science Education ParTyrell Hardtke and Lara Hollingworth, who both teach biology and environmental sciences, joined about 30 other science teachers from Washington, plus two from Singapore and one from Australia. All worked beside scientists in research laboratories at Fred Hutchinson and other partner locations in Seattle.
“Each new group of teachers coming into the Science Education Program each year directly influences more than 3,000 students annually,” said Nancy Hutchinson Science Education Program director. Hutchinson estimates that more than 130 teachers and 14,000 students worked with science-kits on loan in their sciences classes.
The goal of the program, according to the Science Education Program Web site, is to allow teachers to practice their lab techniques and teaching strategies, particularly in the areas of genetics and molecular biology.
As part of her application, Hollingworth wrote that she wanted to learn skills which will enhance the relevance of her courses.
“I would like to learn relevant techniques used in research laboratories and how to integrate these techniques into my classroom,” Hollingworth wrote. “I would also like to create a unit that I could incorporate into my classroom that would excite students from this learning.”
Hardtke, who also shared the desire to learn better methods of making science more enjoyable for her students, is excited that the program has taught her new demonstrations and experiments to share, made possible by the program’s science-kit loan program.
Gel electrophoresis, which can be used to identify organisms based on their DNA, and bacterial transformation, which allows students to insert genes into actual bacteria, are just two of the new lessons Hardtke will bring to her classes.
“Instead of just telling students what is possible, now they will be able to actually do what scientists are doing,” Hardtke said. “I know that students will learn and appreciate biology better when they can do hands-on experimentation.”
Hardtke has also developed a strong relationship with her mentor in the program, Julie Hill who is a scientist at Zymogenetics. Hardtke, Hill and another teacher have been working on a research project analyzing human blood for cells found in the immune system.
“I think my students will be interested to hear about it,” Hardtke said of her experiences at Fred Hutchinson.
“I hope that students will be more likely to pursue science as a career after gaining exposure to the amazing capabilities of biotechnology.”
Intern Kendra Abernathy can be reached at samrev@isspress.com.
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