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Promoting Student Engagement in
Science CurriculumEmily S. Boward, Science Lab Technician & Hood College Master’s Student
Judy Staveley, Ph.D., Professor of Bioprocessing Technology and Program Manager Debra Ellis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry
Elizabeth Alexander, FCC Honors Student
December 2, 2016 7th Annual MACC Summit on Completion
Goals of Our Collaboration• Interest Students in Scientific Topics
STEM Majors Non-STEM Majors Prospective Students Community Members
• Promote FCC’s Science Department
• Highlight Specific Programs: Biotechnology & Engineering
• Increase Interest in STEM Pathways: Biology, Chemistry & Physics
Objectives• Provide simple and efficient protocols for student activities
Making Slime Collecting Fingerprints Dye Separation Using Chromatography Extracting DNA from Plants
• Useful for Demonstrations,
Recruiting, Community Outreach
and Science Lab Courses
Safety First• Gloves and Safety Glasses• Although these experiments
are low-risk and use house-hold chemicals, we advocate the use of PPE
• Can be purchased in bulk to provide during activities
FCC Campus Events• Science Student Success Day• Part of a series of week-long events designed to
engage students and promote their success at FCC
• FCC Fest• A free Frederick County community celebration
and FCC showcase held in the Fall
Science Student Success Day Event• Hour-Long Event: “Hands On Scientific Exploration”• One of several Science Student Success Day events• Open to all FCC students• Student activities included:
Fingerprint collection Making slime
• Approximately 20 STEM major and non-major students attended
Latent Fingerprint Collection• Purpose:
Students will collect latent fingerprints from a variety of non-porous substrates, using black and white fingerprint powder.
• Learning Outcomes: Understanding of fingerprint
collection procedure. Understanding of how fingerprint
collection is related to forensic science and crime scene investigation.
Science Student Success Day
2016
Latent Fingerprint CollectionElizabeth Alexander, FCC Honors Student
Polymer Synthesis of Slime• Purpose:
Using common measurements and laboratory methods, students will create colored “slime” using borax, water and white glue
• Learning Outcomes: Understanding of how
compounds can interact to create structurally different products
Polymer Synthesis of Slime
Polyvinyl acetate
Sodium tetraborate decahydrate
Science Student Success Day 2016
FCC Bioprocessing Technology Program • Students majoring in Biotechnology engage in a FCC Club program to
help engage K-12 students • Students mentor and promote the program with basic laboratory
methods for biotechnology in several community events on and off campus• The program entails the foundation of working in the Biotechnology /
Pharma & Research fields• The Modern Biotechnology industry transforms biological knowledge
into a variety of products ranging from cancer therapeutics to DNA Fingerprints to making fermentations products and solutions. • Field Trips – NIH, NCI, Medigen, Astra Zeneca, & ThermoFisher
FCC Fest 2016• A Community Outreach
event • Open to the Public• The Biotechnology
Program students worked and educated event guests on how to make slime
FCC Fest 2016
FCC Fest 2016
FCC STEM MajorsOrganic Chemistry I • Students face challenge of relating course material to real-life applications
• Can negatively impact student engagement and success
• Organic materials and protocols are often so unfamiliar that students disconnect from understanding lab activities; simply perform them
• Proposed experiment is simple, so a version of it can be utilized in community outreach events as well as in the STEM classroom
Simple Extractions
Common Food Dyes
Simple Extractions – with a Food Dye
Thin Layer Chromatography of Food Dyes• Purpose:
Food dyes separated using thin layer chromatography (TLC).
• Learning Outcomes: Visual - can see how dyes are separated by TLC.
Learn how to calculate Rf = a/b
Visually compare effectiveness/ differences of various liquids
a b
b
b
• Spot food dyes onto TLC plate or paper
• Pour liquid (2% NaCl in water) into container to appropriate level
• Carefully insert plate or paper
• Allow liquid and food dyes to travel up and separate over time
• Calculate Rf values
TLC Procedure
TLC of Food Dyes
Chromatography of Food DyesFCC Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory
Community Engagement Activity
Chromatography; or, A treatise on colours and pigments: and of their powers in painting by George Field, London, 1841.
General Biology I
• Great experiment for introducing the concept of DNA and molecular biology Hands-On!
Relate course concepts to real world laboratory applications Methodology is simple, so it can be utilized in community outreach events as well as in the classroom
FCC STEM Majors
DNA Extraction from Wheat Germ• Purpose:
Using a simple organic method, DNA will be extracted from wheat germ.
• Learning Outcomes: Understanding of techniques
and reagents used to extract DNA from cells and the underlying biochemistry of the extraction process.
• Weigh out .75g of wheat germ into large test tube.• Add warm water, and invert for 3 minutes.• Add liquid detergent, and invert for 3
minutes.• Carefully pour isopropanol into to tube to
layer on top of the mixture.• Spool out DNA where two layers meet!
DNA Extraction from Wheat Germ
DNA Extraction from Wheat GermReagents:• Warm Water
o Helps dissolves plant tissues.• 25% Liquid Detergent
o Breaks apart cells and unfolds some protein structures.
• 91% Isopropyl Alcoholo Precipitates DNA out of solution.o The volume of alcohol lowers the effective water
concentration and allows the DNA molecules to aggregate.
DNA Extraction from Wheat Germ
FCC BI 101 Laboratory Class 2016
DNA Extraction from Wheat Germ
FCC BI 101 Laboratory Class
2016
DNA Extraction from FruitAlternate Protocol:
Cut a small piece of banana or one strawberry into small pieces
Mash with mortar and pestle, until emulsified
Recommendations for Source of DNA
Fruit DNA gave a higher yield when it came to raw DNA
Using a food product with which students can make a real world
connection
More fun for middle or high school classes
Wheat Germ DNA may be more useful when using restriction enzymes for
running electrophoresis gels
Wheat Germ and other similar plant products break apart more easily,
leading to easier raw extractions
Tips and Tricks for All Activities• Prepare supplies beforehand, and
have extras!
• Pre-measure certain reagents (i.e. borax, wheat germ) into individual tubes, so students can “grab and go”
• Disposables and plastic tablecloths – great for fast clean-up!
• Have sign-in sheets available
Exposure to Science• Protocols are simple and straightforward, but
also interactive.
• Allows scientific concepts to be presented, at an appropriate level for all students (not just STEM majors).
• Students learn basic principles of working in a lab setting and following a standard protocol.
• Can be used at middle or high school events.
Acknowledgements• Teresa Calzonetti, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, FCC
• Edith Hillard, Science Lab Manager, FCC
• Marc Frankenberry, Ph.D., Science Department Chair, FCC
• Wen Nellis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry, FCC
Contact Us:• Emily Boward
• Dr. Judy [email protected]
• Dr. Debra Ellis [email protected]
THANK YOU!
