ERIC Number: EJ1316103
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Aug
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0002-7685
EISSN: N/A
An Upper-Level Biology Course Designed to Develop Science Communication in STEM Majors by Examining the Biotechnology Industry
Laranjo, Laura T.; Greppi, Chloe C.; Kosinski-Collins, Melissa S.
American Biology Teacher, v82 n6 p389-393 Aug 2020
Many undergraduate students pursuing life science majors are not aware of job options outside of medicine and academic research, because many departments stress these as the only primary career pathways. In addition, biology students often do not have many opportunities to develop their science communication and presentation skills due to the rigorous course requirements inherent in these fields that would make them more competitive for careers in biotechnology. We developed a course using diverse pedagogies designed to introduce students to new careers in biotechnology, to help them understand the role of ethics in the drug development pipeline, and to incorporate more communication assignments, such as student presentations and journal-club-style paper discussions to more effectively prepare them for many STEM-based career possibilities. By the end of the course, students had broader knowledge of previously unknown science careers, had improved their scientific communication skills, and reported a greater understanding of course material as a result of the science communication assignments.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, College Science, Biology, Skill Development, Communication Skills, Public Speaking, Science Careers, Biotechnology, Ethics, Pharmacology, STEM Education, Outcomes of Education, Assignments
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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