Biotechnology Immersion Program: professional development where the participants do the preparation, teaching, and outreach to maximize learning gains

Abstract

Abstract Professional development for teachers of primary, intermediate, and secondary schools (Kindergarten to Grade 12; K-12), especially for highly technical subjects such as Microbial Biotechnology, can involve arduous and ineffective training methods prioritizing content delivery over sound pedagogical techniques. Teachers are learning complex content, techniques, and pedagogies but have little time to practice or gain experience and confidence in their newly acquired skills. The Biotechnology Immersion Program (BiP) sought to overcome this challenge by incorporating an intentional immersive experiential system into professional development; teachers learn new content, experience hands-on activities, and work through assessments in the role of a student while experienced subject matter expert faculty run the teaching and activities. Afterwards, the teachers get the opportunity to switch roles and practice teaching, running, and managing the same learning activities that they just experienced. The faculty experts are available to mentor, guide, and direct the teachers as they try out teaching and implementing novel biotechnology classroom activities. BiP focused on three critical aspects of successful professional development: time, personal experience, and connection. This mentored teaching and implementation practice system provided a robust professional development platform, where educators felt prepared and confident to run new biotechnology lab activities in their own classrooms.