Partnerships:
This collaborative learning experience
will be presented to fifteen to twenty high schools in northwestern Minnesota. Schools will be invited
to participate based on an assessment of commitment from faculty,
availability and access to Internet resources, and a recognition that agricultural,
food and science
learning would enhance curricular quality and enrich the student learning
experience. Substitute teacher compensation, subsidized student lunches,
and travel funding is available to participating schools.
Project:
The high school instructor
and UMC faculty will develop laboratory lessons which can be completed in UMC labs using commonly available equipment
and supplies. The content of the lessons will be based upon school requests to
meet their curricular needs, something that the students can't complete at their
current high school facility.
Schools will attend the UMC campus
to participate in several laboratory activities. The UMC sessions will
utilize specialized equipment, facilities and Internet connectivity. UMC’s
newly completed Controlled Science Environment Building contains growth
chambers, greenhouses, soil preparation area, and an Internet connected
laboratory with 
appropriate
equipment for the study of biological and plant sciences. Other campus
laboratories house specialized equipment for the study of chemistry, food, physics,
soil science, horticulture, golf & turf, animal science, GIS technology, and natural resources.
The Agriculture Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
laboratory and pilot plants offer modern food analysis instrumentation
and processing equipment. Tours of working examples of concepts may be
included.
The schools will prepare for the UMC sessions with pre-lab activities in their respective classes.
Follow-up activities will be coordinated through an in-class visit and on an Internet website. In-class visits will be coordinated by the instructor or UMC faculty, staff and students. The Internet website will contain information on activities, resources, results, photos and comments from all participants.
This project is designed to fit within high school science curricula and is cognizant of current time and content restrictions. Project timeline is November 1, 2007 - May 1, 2008.