BTEC 1000: Engineering Life

Program Description:

The Biotechnology program at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) prepares students for transferring to higher education and employment in the biotech industry. SLCC offers a Biotechnology Associate of Science degree and a Certificate of Proficiency. Classes are offered in a competency-based education format. Curriculum outlines for the program and materials for additional courses are available to view separately. 

Course Description:

This Biotechnology: Engineering Life course is the first of a number of required courses for SLCC's Biotechnology AS degree and the Certificate of Proficiency. This course "combines hands-on experimentation with analysis of the effects of these powerful technologies on global populations, both human and non-human." The following are the main learning objectives of the course:

• Explain how biotechnology can both benefit and harm members of the global population.
• Produce a genetically modified organism (GMO).
• Purify a useful protein from a genetically modified organism (GMO) in a process analogous to modern pharmaceutical production.
• Student analyzes their own DNA to predict a (non-medically relevant) trait.

Course Contents:

Course materials include a course curriculum outline, syllabus, and a Canvas .imscc file. The 5-page syllabus includes an in-depth course description, needed course materials, course format information, learning objectives, information about the signature assignment, and more. For the signature assignment, students "research a current issue in biotechnology, and create some form of media (e.g., podcast, video, article) that explains the technology, its applications, and how its use or non-use will affect the global population."

The 3-page curriculum outline includes similar information as the syllabus, but also includes additional notes and course learning outcomes mapped to SLCC college-wide student outcomes.

The .imscc file includes numerous folders and files from the Canvas course. Below is a list of modules, and a sample of topics, labs, and quizzes included in the course:

• Orientation
  • Welcome
  • Syllabus
  • Grading Policy
  • Is Online Learning Right For Me?
  • Get to Know Your Course
  • Netiquette
  • Using th Open Lab
  • How Competency-based Education Works
  • Introduce Your self
  • Any Questions?
• Introduction to Biotechnology
  • Introduction to Biotechnology
  • Quiz: Student Survey
  • Learn: Defining Biotechnology
  • Learn: Modern Biotechnology
  • Write: Impact of Technology on Global Population
  • Learn: Getting Started On Your ePortfolio
  • Write: Set Up ePortfolio and Introduction Page
• Genetic Engineering
  • Learn: Introduction to Genetic Engineering
  • Learn: Vocabulary
  • Learn: Practice Terms Used om Genetic Engineering
  • Learn: Micropipettes
  • Learn: pGLO Transformation
• Protein Purification
  • Learn: Introduction to Uses of Purified Proteins
  • Learn: Introduction to Purification of GFP
  • Learn: Introduction to Purification of GFP, continued
  • Industrial-scale GFP Purification
  • Learn: GFP Purification
  • Ordering the Steps in Protocol
  • Lab: Purification of GFP
  • Write: Protein Purification in Pharmaceuticals and Effect On Global Population
• DNA Analysis
  • Learn: Introduction to DNA Analysis
  • Learn: Testing Your Own DNA: SNPs
  • Learn: Testing Your Own DNA: PCR
  • Learn: Testing Your Own DNA: Restriction Digest and Gel Electrophoresis
  • Quiz: Testing Your Own DNA: Protocol and Vocabulary
  • Lab: Testing Your Own DNA
  • Learn: Making a Hypothesis
  • Lab: Make a Hypothesis Based On Your DNA
  • Lab: Test Your Hypothesis
  • Learn: Medical Diagnostics
  • Write: Research a Diagnostic Test
• Global Ethics and Biotechnology 
  • Learn: Introduction to Global Ethics and Biotechnology
  • Learned: Informed Consent
  • Quiz: Technologies' Impact on Global Population
  • Learn: New Tools - Powerful and Dangerous?
  • Write: Current Biotechnology Position Paper/ePortfolio
• COVID-19
  • What is COVID-19?