Podcast: Integrating Emerging and Cross-Cutting Technologies: Biotech and Excel with Alexandra Gorgevska
Preparing STEM technicians for the unknown future. Is it possible? The folks at Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work, a project of The Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD), think that career paths will successfully evolve and they are busy helping make that happen. I listened to their podcast "Integrating Emerging and Cross-Cutting Technologies: Biotech and Excel with Alexandra Gorgevska" hosted by Mike Lesiecki, and learned a lot!
Mike explained that they are focusing on 3 skill areas in the Cross-Disciplinary Core that will help technicians move into the future with confidence.
These three skill areas are:
1. Data Knowledge and Analysis
2. Advanced Digital Literacy
3. Business Knowledge and Processes
Dr. Alexandra Gorgevska, the Department Chair for the Biotechnology Program at Palm Beach State College, spoke about how Excel proficiency can contribute to the first skill area, Data Knowledge and Analysis. Alexandra had the opportunity to work as a technician as she was getting her Bachelor's degree in Michigan, and understands the value that type of experience can bring to an education path. She explained that Florida has a very strong life sciences cluster as well as a medical device sector, and there is a strong need for technicians throughout the state. She is very excited about all of the aspects of the Preparing Technician project, but in particular, the fundamental skill of spreadsheets caught her eye. Both she and Mike agree that industry will assume that someone coming in for a job will know how to handle spreadsheets, which makes it an important skill to master while preparing for the workforce. Alexandra made the observation that many her program's business partners use a variety of different digital notebooks, however her program uses paper notebooks as digital is not yet an industry standard, so she looked for ways to make sure her students are prepared to make that shift.
What followed was an absorbing look into how she implemented a spreadsheet skill component within her program--the choices of who, what, why, where, when and how, were broken discussed in a way that was easy to follow, and I think could be helpful when integrating other skills as well. One of the first barriers she found was student access to a spreadsheet program, another challenging issue was that her students had a wide range of experiences and come from diverse backgrounds. She had decided to implement the skill in the very first lab which was not easy, however once past that "rough" start, the students had a much easier time with subsequent labs so it was definitely worth doing at the beginning of her intro class. Alexandra also added more spreadsheet teaching resources to her Canvas page, however the students did not always look at them so part of her challenge was to provide resources, another was to make sure the students used them! She also has more senior students tutoring the more junior students and that is working well.
Alexandra ended by discussing the "seen" and "unseen" parts of workforce development. For example, there might be a known list of business partners, but an unknown number of home-life barriers to education that the students are facing. Time in the program is limited, and she believes that skills such as spreadsheet knowledge are crucial elements that might be hard to fit in, but are very much worth the effort. AI is another emerging technology she is working to address.--she says education is a feedback loop and they are always adjusting.
Mike wrapped up the podcast by saying there are additional tools that are available at the project website, Preparingtechnicians.org including cross-disciplinary instructional cards and other podcasts and webinars that may be helpful.
This podcast is just one of many, and I look forward to listening to more!