FARMINGTON -- Farmington High School students who complete the four-year biomedical science pathway will be rewarded with their own personalized white lab coats and have a leg up to pursue a career in the medical field.
Farmington received a $79,000 grant to implement the classes through Project Lead the Way, which describes itself as the nation's leading provider of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs. Project Lead the Way offers a different approach to teaching and learning through activity, problem- and project-based curriculum.
The high school offered the first course, Principles of Biomedical Sciences, during the school year 2015-16. It added Human Body Systems in 2016-17 and this year has added Medical Interventions.
The fourth and last class will be added next year and it is called Biomedical Innovations. The senior-level class is research based and students will use what they've learned the previous three years and apply that knowledge to large projects. At the end of the year, the school will have a white coat ceremony for those students who completed all four classes.
Juniors taking the third course this year are interested in some type of medical career.
Sadie Salmonson said she signed up for the first class her freshman year because she knew she wanted to go into the medical field. She is interested in studying to be a nurse practitioner.
"I think it's awesome to have this opportunity, to have access to this equipment and to get knowledge in the field," Salmonson said.
The pathway is taught by Mike Howard, who is certified to teach biology, health and physical education. Howard came to Farmington as a long-term substitute teacher for the program, following the resignation of the biomedical teacher.
When the position was advertised, Howard applied for it. Part of his commitment to the program has been completing an intensive, two-week training workshop for each course.
"It's a fun two weeks but I'm glad I'm finished with it," Howard said.
Howard said he had not heard about Project Lead the Way and project-based teaching until coming to Farmington.
"I love life science because it is hands-on teaching," Howard said. "This is set up with the same ideas. It is hands on. When I was in school, I preferred to see and do, rather than sit and listen."
Howard said he teaches the class but he also acts as a facilitator, letting students make their own decisions and in some cases, fail.
"I let them go through the problems. If they run into a speed bump, I let them run into it," Howard said.
For example, Howard said he has given students patients with real-life symptoms. Their assignment is to present the symptoms and come up with a diagnosis, similar to what medical students would do during a hospital round.
The biomedical sciences pathway is popular with students. Howard is teaching three sections of the first class and sees the program growing over the years. Science teachers help identify and recommend students who have an interest in the medical field but Howard said if it continues to grow, the school may have to use an application process to select students for the program.
Howard noted that students interested in the medical field have opportunities in many different careers. In addition to traditional medical careers, such as doctors and nurses, students can consider being a crime scene investigator, morgue assistant, DNA analyst, biomedical engineer, genetic counselor or vaccine researcher.
Farmington applied for the biomedical science grant because of the medical professions available in Northwest Arkansas. The program is just one of many Farmington High is now offering through its career academies to provide more opportunities for Farmington students and to help them in looking toward a career for the future.
General News on 11/22/2017