College Mentors Inspire Learning in Schools
GEAR UP partnerships foster learning environments. Students from USU STARS! GEAR UP high schools were involved in biotech lab lessons while working with college students. They also talked about careers in related fields and made plans for their future.
Science students at Logan High School prepared test tubes and gels for testing PCR samples.
Lessons were led by college mentors using common equipment along with lab tools.
Students also talked about careers in medicine and biotechnology fields.
Students from USU STARS! GEAR UP schools had the chance to learn about genetic engineering in their classrooms working alongside college student mentors from Utah State University. Scientist Ryan Jackson, an assistant professor of biochemistry at USU, was recently featured in the Utah State Magazine for his cutting edge research on Editing the Course of Health.
Ryan’s student Emma Lindley and a team of students visited Logan High School and American Preparatory Academy in February and March. The other college students that came and helped out include Sharie Howell, Brad Findlay, Nicole Cevering, Alivia Jolley, Kai Nethercott, Cache Arbon, and Josh Baugh. The mentors worked with Adrienne Hall, a Logan High School science teacher, over two days of activities in her classroom. She said that the first day involved lessons on biotechnology. Students worked in small groups, led by college mentors. They learned that much like following a recipe and measuring ingredients, science is about doing things right.
“It was an incredible opportunity for the students in several different ways,” said Hall. “Students got to use real lab equipment to apply the principles of biotechnology they learned in class.” They learned the technical terms, working with PCR (polymerase chain reaction), gel electrophoresis, and using lab tools like micropipettes. The students were given procedures (a recipe). They took turns putting reagent (ingredient) into a tiny test tube. The test tube was then placed into a machine that amplified the DNA template in order to make machine copies.
The same students applied what they learned for a second day in the lab to see if their PCR reactions were successful. After more measuring and mixing, they prepared solutions and gels to test their samples. If they mixed everything correctly and in the right proportions, they would see a bright red band moving on their newly prepared gel.
“Students were able to talk with the college students that were only a few years older than them and learn what it's like to be a college student.” These same college students led discussions about careers in medicine or biotechnology. “Each student had a different career in mind for the future,” said Hall. “One wanted to be a genetic counselor, another wanted to do genetic research, and one wanted to be a dentist.”
STEM educators at USU STARS! GEAR UP schools also benefit from partnerships. Adrienne has attended GEAR UP Science Day for teachers every year for the past few years. She participates in interactive professional development at these sessions, learning new lessons to take back to her classroom. Then she works with Leigh Larson, the site coordinator at her school, to order supplies to allow her to teach these lessons to her students.
Lab days like these and Biology camps happen because of the partnership that our GEAR UP program has with USU’s College of Science. If you have students that would benefit from this sort of in depth learning and career exploration, invite them to sign up for one of the Biology in Life camps happening this summer on the USU Logan campus.