Investigate the Intersection of Agriculture & Biotechnology with Timeline Challenge

Abstract

Abstract Timeline Challenge (https://timelinechallenge.hudsonalpha.org) engages students in a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) task while they investigate critical advances in agriculture and biotechnology. This freely available digital resource scaffolds students' investigation of biotechnology by presenting a current and ongoing agricultural problem. The Timeline Challenge utilizes the Progress of Science biotechnology timeline as the backdrop for a series of agriculture-based challenges, such as producing meatier chickens, non-browning apples, or perennial wheat. This web-based module allows students to choose a specific biotech tool to address the challenge and then compare their plan to ongoing modern research related to the challenge. Along the way, students are presented with a real-world complication to encourage thinking about the problem from multiple perspectives.