During the one-week summer institute, we train high school teachers from the Seattle area and throughout the country in the use of our classroom modules. Local teachers are provided with the necessary equipment,
supplies and technical support to carry out the classroom experiments during the school year. As well as receiving the training, teachers from other
communities are provided with DNA templates so that their classrooms can participate in our DNA sequencing project. Classroom support and equipment loans are provided by their scientist partner from a nearby research facility.

Above: Participants at a training session try their hand at loading a sequencing gel. The high school teachers receive the training necessary to carry out the project in their classrooms during a one week summer institute held in the MBT teaching laboratory, earning two University of Washington graduate credits for their participation in the program.

Our program modules are shared with various audiences through one-day workshops at national meetings, including the National Association of Biology Teachers (right). Our modules are also available on this web site under Teacher Resources.

Through a tutorial called “Virtual DNA Sequencing” teachers and students at distant sites can access student data and participate in aspects of the sequencing process.

Above: Program director Maureen Munn demonstrates DNA sequencing techniques at the 1995 conference of the National Association of Biology Teachers in Pheonix, AZ.

Return to Program Description