The goal of this course is to increase awareness of biotechnology research, its applications and related career opportunities among middle and high school educators. It is based on NCABR’s Mapping Your Future: Careers in Biomanufacturing curriculum manual.
The manual was updated comprehensively in spring 2014 to reflect the current biomanufacturing and biotechnology landscape in North Carolina.
The course is self-paced and incorporates a variety of modalities, including online learning modules and curriculum review. Participants will earn 10 contact hours (1 CEU) upon completion of the basic, required assignments and 10 additional contact hours (1 additional CEU) if the optional classroom implementation assignment for 3 of the course’s 5 units is completed.
View the North Carolina Essential Standards and Next Generation Science Standards for the curriculum manual and the Teacher Evaluation Matrix for the course.
This course was made possible by the Biogen Foundation.
Let’s Get Started
For pre-service and current science or CTE educators in grades 6–12
- Current course window: Open rolling admissions. Course lasts six weeks from the date of registration.
- With PDF curriculum manual: $30
With printed curriculum manual: $85- 10–20 hours of course work Provides either 10 or 20 contact hours (1 or 2 CEUs), depending on the amount of course work completed
For questions, email Virginia Crisp at vcrisp@ncabr.org
For whom is this course intended? North Carolina educators who teach biotechnology within their curriculum, including CTE and science classes, are encouraged to take this course. Other educators also are welcome to take the course to enhance their content knowledge.
How long do I have to complete this course?
This self-paced course will run for approximately 6 weeks. You will need to complete all assignments and submit all your review questions within the 6-week window.
An approximate time commitment is listed next to each group of assignments. Participants are welcome to work at a faster or slower pace, as long as all course work is completed within the 6-week window.
How many contact hours/CEUs will I earn from completing this course?
You will earn either 10 contact hours (1 CEU) or 20 contact hours (2 CEUs) of regular or technology credits for completing this course.
You will earn 10 contact hours (1 CEU) if you complete all required course work (answering questions about the assigned readings/videos/websites and completing the course evaluation). You will earn 10 additional contact hours (1 additional CEU) if you complete 3 of the 5 optional classroom implementation assignments.
Incremental contact hours will not be issued (you cannot earn 15 contact hours, for example).
What kind of documentation will I receive about the contact hours I have earned?
NCABR will mail you a certificate that indictates the number of contact hours you have earned.
I’m not currently an educator but want to maintain my North Carolina teaching certification. May I take this course for CEU credit?
Of course. Any former or current educator may participate in this course for the opportunity to earn 1 CEU. However, only actively employed educators will be able to complete the optional classroom Implementation assignments to earn an additional CEU.
Is this course led by an instructor?
An NCABR staff member will serve as the moderator for this course. However, the course has been designed for you to work through the material independently.
How to Complete the Course
- Make Sure You’re Registered Have you registered? If so, you will have received a confirmation email from NCABR. If you haven’t, please click the “Register Now” button at the top of the right column.
- Read/Watch/Review the Assigned Resources Access each assignment for Units I–V by clicking its link below. All assignments are required unless marked “Optional.”
- Answer Questions After you complete the assignments for each section, you’ll need to answer questions about them. You can access these questions by clicking the blue “Submit My Answers” button at the top right of this page. Each of the course’s 5 units also corresponds with an optional classroom implementation assignment. Completing 3 of these allows you to earn 10 additional contact hours. They can be accessed by clicking the the blue “Submit My Answers” button at the top right of this page.
- Complete Evaluation Complete the evaluation at the end of the “Submit My Answers” form. This is required in order to receive credit.
- Finish in Time Make sure you complete and submit all your answers by the last day of your 6-week window. If you do not finish the course by that time, we will not be able to grant you credit.
- Receive Credit After reviewing your completed course materials, NCABR will mail a certificate stating the number of contact hours you have earned to the address you provided when you registered for the course.
Unit I: Biotechnology and its Applications
Learning Objectives
- The educator will define “biotechnology” in terms students would understand.
- The educator will explain the evolution of biotechnology over time using a technology tool.
- The educator will identify examples of biotechnology applications.
Section I–A
- What is Biotechnology? (pages 11–12)
- Optional: Biotechnology Institute
- Click the purple “Submit My Answers” below to answer questions for this section.
Section I–B
- Biotechnology Timeline (pages 13–17)
- Click the purple “Submit My Answers” button below to answer questions for this section.
Section I–C
- Practical Applications of Biotechnology (pages 18–26)
- “Heal, Feed, Sustain: How Biotechnology Can Help Save the World”
- Optional: “What is Biomanufacturing?”
- Optional: Bio Jobs for NC
- Click the purple “Submit My Answers” button below to answer questions for this section.
Unit II: Drug Discovery and Manufacturing
Learning Objectives
- The educator will explain the process a drug goes through to get to market.
- The educator will clarify what happens in a clinical trial.
- The educator will explain the importance of process analysis writing (step-by-step instructions) for biomanufacturing workers and other scientists.
- The educator will understand the importance of discussing bioethics with students.
Section II–A
- How a New Drug Gets to Market (pages 53–56)
- Click the purple “Submit My Answers” button below to answer questions for this section.
Section II–B
- The Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Industries: Regulated for Safety and Quality (pages 57–60)
- Clinical Trials (pages 61–63)
- Optional: Pharmaceutical Regulation in the United States
- Optional: Good Manufacturing Practices
Section II–C
- Producing a Pharmaceutical or Biopharmaceutical: The Manufacturing Process(pages 64–67)
- What Quality Means and Why It Matters (pages 68–69)
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Regulations (pages 70–71)
Unit III: Career Opportunities
Learning Objectives
- The educator will become acquainted with the diversity of biotechnology jobs.
- The educator will become familiar with four or more specific biotechnology jobs.
- The educator will identify resources that students could use to research biotechnology jobs.
Section III–A
- Biotechnology Generates Opportunities (pages 91–94)
- Seizing the Opportunity (pages 95–96)
- On the Job: Careers in a Typical Bioscience Company (pages 97–105)
- Biopharmaceutical Career: Process Development Scientist
- Biopharmaceutical Career: Process Engineer
- Biopharmaceutical Career: Process Technician
- Biopharmaceutical Career: Quality Assurance Associate
- Biopharmaceutical Career: Quality Control Associate
- Biopharmaceutical Career: Validation Specialist
- Click the purple “Submit My Answers” button below to answer questions for this section.
Unit IV: Getting a Job and Getting Ahead
Learning Objectives
- The educator will explain education needs for biotechnology industry.
- The educator will describe the skills needed to be successful in the biotechnology industry.
- The educator will develop an activity to demonstrate the importance of biotechnology skills.
Section IV–A
- Taking Charge of Your Future (pages 147–148)
- Education (page 149)
- Basic Skills (pages 150–151)
- Scientific/Technical Knowledge and Skills (page 152)
- Employee Success Skills (pages 153–156)
- Click the purple “Submit My Answers” button below to answer questions for this section.
Unit V: Additional Resources
Learning Objectives
- The educator will identify two top online biotechnology resources for educators.
- The educator will identify two top online biotechnology resources for students.
- The educator will develop an activity for students to interact with the specific biotechnology requirements of his or her classroom curriculum.
Section V–A
- North Carolina Educational Opportunities (pages 163–164)
- General Teacher Resources (pages 165–167)
- Teacher Resources for Units I–IV (pages 168–172)
- Review two websites from the Unit V Reading Assignment section above.
- Click the purple “Submit My Answers” button below to answer questions for this section.