BLHS teacher participates in science workshop

Published 12:50 am Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Bonney Lake High science teacher Gail Komoto is one of 30 educators statewide participating in a 13-day Science Education Partnership workshop this summer, sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

During the workshop, which runs through July 29, Komoto will join others to work beside research scientists at FHCRC, Seattle laboratories and biotechnology firms.

“Our goal is for teachers to bring back what they learn over the summer to help jump-start their students’ knowledge of bioscience and research and perhaps kindle their interest in jobs or careers in science,” SEP Director Nancy Hutchison said.

The hands-on study allows educators to learn first-hand how the research culture works and to then share what they have learned “to help their students better understand what science really is and how it influences their daily lives,” she said.

Komoto will study under the mentorship of a scientist for half of the workshop, followed by group work with SEP lead teachers.

Together they will focus on effective ways to use scientific concepts and techniques, refine curricula, share communication and teaching skills and sharpen their critical thinking, questioning and problem-solving skills with peer educators.

Throughout the coming school year, Komoto and the other participants will have access to the SEP’s science kit loan program. Each kit, valued at approximately $10,000, contains equipment necessary for such experiments as DNA gel electrophoresis, bacterial transformation and fruit-fly genetics, Hutchinson said.

They will also receive donated lab supplies, a resource library and a $500 stipend and graduate-level credit through the University of Washington.