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Baylor College of Medicine’s "Think Like an Engineer," "Science of Microbes," and "Health Science Technologies" curricula will be used to deliver engaging, hands-on, standards-based lessons. During their studies, students will be engaged in learner-centered applications of technology and will use engineering design approaches to solve real-world problems, learn about nano-medical technology, and explore cardiac medicine technologies. 8th grade students at the Academy will also have the opportunity to earn high school credits.

 

8th Grade Foundations: in Biotechnology and Bioengineering

We live in an age of a Bio-Revolution (Nature 456: 40). It benefits us to understand the innovations taking place every day in biotechnology and bioengineering, along with the ethical concerns they carry. Foundations in Biotechnology and Bioengineering is a project-based course that introduces eighth grade students to biotechnology and bioengineering. Students learn about genetics, organisms, proteins and bioinformatics, and they explore how biotechnology contributes to innovation. Students further engage in bioengineering by thinking like an engineer. Students experience cross-curricular learning during which they recall and build on skills and knowledge gained during their 6th - 8th grade science classes. Students discuss bioethics and career opportunities in biotechnology. They continue to build foundational skills in scientific and engineering practices, including critical thinking and science communication. Students also learn how to expand on core concepts and use scientific and engineering practices to carry out their own research projects. Industry speakers will visit classrooms.

Course Units: 

• Imaging, Biomechanics and Prosthetics
• Nanotechnology and Biomimicry
• Structure and Function of Proteins
• Structure and Function of DNA
• Inheritance, Selective Breeding and Genetically Modified Organisms
• Personalized Medicine

  

Resources

Sweet Genes in Corn, Chapter 7, in Garden Genetics: Teaching with Edible Plants. NSTA. 

http://nano-link.org/nano-infusion/nip-modules

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09bioluminescence/background/edu/media/ds_09_deeplights.pdf

https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/mis_heartbloodflow_act

https://backyardbrains.com/experiments/teachersGuide/spikerbox

http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/media/other-activities/251255proteinfold.pdf

http://www.lifescied.org/content/5/3/264.full

http://www.bioedonline.org/lessons-and-more/teacher-guides/complex-traits/

http://biology.about.com/od/biologylabhowtos/ht/dnamodelcandy.htm

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/engineer/select.html

https://science.education.nih.gov/customers/HSGenetic.html

http://www.bscs.org/bioinformatics-and-human-genome-project