Biotech in the Classroom: All about that BASE (and ACID)
My students need pH meters and a drying rack to provide a place to dry their glassware.
FULLY FUNDED! Dr. Hanono's classroom raised $974
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
The students in my biotechnology class are learning the basic skills to work in a laboratory setting. Every day they are learning new techniques used in research labs all over the world.
Our school is in one of the largest public secondary school districts in the state, and we are one of the largest schools in the district with more than 3,000 students, of which about 80% are classified as minority or socioeconomically disadvantaged.
In recent years, the size of our student body has increased dramatically, but the laboratory resources available have not necessarily kept up with the increasing size of the school. These materials will be primarily used in a dedicated biotechnology course that is about to start its third year. My students have been a diverse group with varying skills, and all have been eager learners and hard workers. I see no reason why next years cohort will no different. Students choose to enroll in biotech for many reasons, but most seem to do so for the hands-on experience that he class offers where almost every day is a lab day. They also do it for their interest in science; for many of these students this is their third or fourth year of science.
My Project
Life exists under certain chemical conditions; deviate from these conditions too much and the molecules that make life possible cannot function. In this regard, the concentration of hydrogen ions must be maintained within a particular range for macromolecules (such as proteins and DNA) to remain functional. The measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution is known as pH, and the numerical value of the pH determines how acidic or basic a solution is. In order to create the right conditions for purified proteins and other macromolecules to function properly, the solutions they are in must be at the proper pH. The meters obtained through this project will be used to to measure the pH of buffers and solutions for whatever particular experiment they are needed. In addition, after students make their buffers and solutions, they will be able to dry their glassware on the requested drying rack.
The donations to this project will make sure that my students have the supplies necessary to learn what it is like to work in a laboratory setting.
It is my hope that my students will see working in a lab as a viable career option in the future through positive experiences in this class. In brief, the pH meters will be used by students in my biotechnology class to teach them skills necessary to succeed in a laboratory setting.
Half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Dr. Hanono and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
