Situation
The United Soybean Board (USB), comprised of 68 farmer volunteers appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, directs the efforts to facilitate market growth through marketing and research of soybean products.
The Biotechnology Initiative Team (one of 12 teams within USB) wants to strengthen public perception and understanding of the science and benefits of biotechnology, beginning with influential future leaders, our nation’s youth. Not only are there limited science-based resources about biotechnology, but few programs are available through the technologies used most by today’s students and teachers. The Biotechnology Initiative Team decided to create comprehensive classroom tools for science teachers, agricultural education and supplementary agricultural education programs for students. The goal of the curriculum is to provide the necessary knowledge and resources to allow students, teachers, and families to discover the science behind biotechnology and the benefits provided to consumers through innovation.
Solution
The United Soybean Board reached out to Adayana to support the biotechnology education initiative through their expertise in performance technologies, strategic communications, and learning & development, particularly by developing an approved education curriculum program and driving excitement among science teachers. Adayana first created a curriculum plan. This plan outlined the goals, target audiences, curriculum philosophy, instructional approach, and potential modules.
“Adayana worked with a true understanding of our vision to promote the benefits of biotechnology and how this tool will play a key role in meeting food production needs in the future. The program has generated excitement with a diverse target audience, and we’re looking forward to new strategies and tactics in 2011 to build upon the creative, user-friendly tools at GetBiotechSmart.com.”
- Richard Fordyce
United Soybean Board
Adayana then established an advisory panel of high school and middle school science teachers, agriculture teachers, and teacher educators to provide guidance to the curriculum development process. This team met several times to review content and deliverability approaches to ensure relevance for the classroom.
Adayana then established a learning portal, which is available online at www.GetBiotechSmart.com. This portal serves as an online, one-stop shop for teachers, students, educational specialists, and families to find free educational materials about biotechnology. Several educational tools were developed specifically for this portal:
- E-Learning modules.
- Lesson plans.
- Classroom presentations.
- Video podcasts.
- Additional resources.
Adayana introduced these comprehensive education tools at the National Science Teachers Association conference in March of 2010.
Success
At the 2010 National Science Teachers Association Conference, more than 900 science teachers expressed interest in GetBiotechSmart.com and committed to using the educational materials found on the site. Additionally, nearly 300 teachers applied to attend a two-day teacher workshop, which will be held in the summer of 2010 and geared toward educating teachers about scientific and social components of biotechnology.
Finally, several corporations and non-profits expressed interest in partnering with GetBiotechSmart.com in the development and marketing of future materials. The United Soybean Board and Adayana are beginning the next phase to develop additional materials for the learning portal.
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