This experiential-based professional development will give educators knowledge and tools they will need to implement science research and practices regarding crop improvement and biotechnology into their classrooms. Participants will leave the workshop with reinforced knowledge of research methods, instructional strategies, lessons, and activities that can be immediately implemented into their classrooms with little or no additional effort. During one day of the workshop, participants will discuss basic methods of crop improvement including breeding, doubled haploid production, and DNA extraction at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center with dedicated time in the research laboratory. On another day, participants will learn about GMOs and gene-editing in a Kansas State University research laboratory with time to explore societal viewpoints and the challenge they present to the agriculture industry. Day three will allow participants to discuss how this research can be used in the classroom for deeper learning on the covered topics.
This workshop is organized by Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom and the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization in partnership with the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center and Kansas State University. It will be held onsite in Manhattan, Kansas on August 3-5, 2021 with additional virtual learning to follow.
Graduate credit is being offered by Kansas State University. Continuing Education Units/Professional Development Hours will also be available.
Participants will be eligible to receive an $800 stipend that can supplement travel costs including mileage, hotel, and meals as well as registration and credit fees.
We will review the applications and grant admission on a rolling basis until all seats are filled. We will maintain a waiting list and contact those applicants if/when seats become available. Once selected as a participant, you'll be directed to sign up for your preferred credit option via a separate system.
This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, AFRI Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy Priority Area, award #2021-67037-34161/project accession no. 1025595