Biotechnology Research Incubator for Teachers (BRITE) Pilot Program: Advancing Technology Research Education for...

Advanced technologies have transformed diagnostics and therapeutics, improving disease management. Secondary school educators play a vital role in fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and inspiring students in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) innovations. Comprehensive teacher training enhances education delivery and ensures long-term advancements in science education, empowering future generations.

We launched the Biotechnology Research Incubator for Teachers (BRITE) pilot program to train secondary school teachers. This 3-week program immerses teachers in Advanced Technology Core facilities, providing hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies, such as protein array technology, next-generation sequencing, and flow cytometry. It also offers collaborative opportunities with scientists, exposure to primary scientific literature, and support in developing STEMM-based lesson plans.

Over 3 years, the pilot program trained 10 teachers, establishing a framework that secured a 5-year NIH Research Education Program (R25) Science Education Partnership Award to support 12-16 teachers annually. BRITE post-program surveys revealed that participants gained increased confidence and a deeper understanding of integrating STEMM concepts into their classrooms. By the end of summer, each teacher developed a lesson outline based on their experience. By the end of their first year after the training, 43% of the teachers had successfully created specialized teaching units for their classes. These findings highlight the program's success in enhancing teacher development.

This program is a practical, scalable, and sustainable model for advancing STEMM education, adaptable for other institutions aiming to create similar teacher-focused programs. We believe this approach can extend to other fields beyond biomedical science.