Purdue News
Purdue News
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May 18, 2004 Purdue offers biotech course for high school teachersWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - High school teachers interested in incorporating more about biotechnology into the classroom should consider "Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology," an online course offered by Purdue University. The course is scheduled for June 14 to July 28 and will introduce participants to biotechnology, as well as herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant transgenic crops, the environmental and food-safety aspects of transgenic crops, and ethical and cultural issues related to biotechnology. Registration deadline is June 4. Kathryn Orvis, an assistant professor in the youth development and agricultural education department at Purdue, said biotechnology is becoming increasingly common, and that's why educators need to understand it and effectively teach it in their classrooms. "This class is designed to help high school teachers understand how transgenic organisms are produced and enable the instructors to teach their students about the issues surrounding agricultural biotechnology," Orvis said. Fifty applicants will be accepted. Orvis said the Web-based course includes weekly assignments that involve reading, preparing lesson plans, developing presentations and educational materials, and class discussion via the Internet. "One of the benefits of an online course is not having to travel to take the class," Orvis said. "You can also work whenever it's convenient for you." Cost to participate for in-state students this is $630. The class is equivalent to three graduate-level credits at Purdue, and the credits will count toward teachers' license renewals and continuing education requirements. Individuals who wish to take the course on a non-credit basis can do so for $85. To register, contact Camilla Lawson, (800) 359-2968, cmlawson@purdue.edu, in the office of continuing education at Purdue. More information about the course is available online. Writer: Kay Hagen, (765) 494-6682, kjh@purdue.edu Source: Kathryn Orvis, (765) 494-8439, orvis@purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu Related Web site:
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