The presentation discussed: 1) Developing skills standards to describe the critical functions, tasks, skills, and knowledge required for biomanufacturing jobs in Texas. 2) Aligning existing biotechnology courses at Texas community colleges with the skills standards. 3) Creating new courses in quality assurance and biomanufacturing to further develop a biomanufacturing technician program recognized by the state. 4) The importance of collaborating across programs statewide and nationally in developing and implementing the new skills standards and curriculum.

1. Developing Biomanufacturing
Skills Standards in Texas
Presented by:
Linnea Fletcher, Ph.D.
Austin Community College
Bio-Link Co-PI
linneaf@austincc.edu
512-223-5912

2. AGENDA
Part I – Introduction to Texas Skill
Standards
Part II – Development of
Biomanufacturing Skill Standards and
Program Recognition

3. What Are Skill Standards?
Describe what the worker must know and
to what level to perform the work, should be
timeless:
Critical Work Functions – principal
responsibilities (e.g. manage record keeping and
create documents)
Key Activities – major tasks required to achieve
each critical work function (prepare batch records,
maintain logbooks)
Performance criteria – standard or level to which
key activity must be performed (document needs to
provide step by step instructions)

4. Occupational Knowledge, Skills &
Conditions (e.g. form, template)
Academic Knowledge & Skills –
traditional subjects (e.g. writing and
reading level)
Employability Knowledge & Skills (e.g.
soft skills-attention to detail)

5. Skill Standards As Curriculum
Components
 Critical Work Functions Course Content
 Key Activities Learning Outcomes
 Performance Criteria
Occupational Skills & Assessments
Knowledge
Statement of Assessment

6. Texas 2-year Biotechnology
Programs
 Adopted the Washington Skill Standards
 Six colleges with biotechnology AAS programs are
recognized by the state for adopting the skill standards
 Introduction to Biotech I and II
 Molecular Techniques
 Cell Culture
 Instrumentation
 Internship

7. Participating Biotechnology
Programs

8. BIOL 1414 – INTRO TO
BIOTECHNOLOGY I
Key Activities integrated into course
A3
Operate
equipment
B2
Perform
assays &
experiment
s
B3
Troublesho
ot
experiment
s and
equipment
B4
Perform
data
analysis
B5
Communic
ate results
C1
Participate
in
employer-
sponsored
safety
training
C3
Identify
unsafe
conditions
& take
corrective
action
C4
Suggest
continuous
improveme
nts
C5
Coordinate
with work
team
C7
Handle and
dispose of
hazardous
materials
C8
Maintain
security
D1
Maintain
lab
notebook
D2
Create
documents

9. Benefits of Statewide Common
Assessments
 “Brain Power” from more than one
program for determining assessments and
best practices
 Gain a statewide perspective
 Easy to articulate with other programs
 The possibility of universal 4 year
articulation

10. And Best of All
Teaching and assessing the
standards means that:
“Not only does the teacher know
what the student can do, but the
student knows and understands
what she or he can do.”

11. Texas Biotechnology Industry Needs
technicians Specializing in Biomanufacturing

12. Process for Determining Skill Standards for
Biomanufacturing
 Establish statewide need
 If possible, start with a template of critical work
functions, key activities, performance criteria…
 Develop and validate critical work functions and
key activities with a small group of people
statewide who do the job (also add in skill and
knowledge requirements)
 Work with supervisors, to validate critical work
functions and key activities and develop
performance criteria (also add in skill and
knowledge requirements)
 Determine reading, writing, mathematical,
teamwork, and other soft skill levels
 Get approval from TSSB

13. Program Recognition
 School Approval for New Degree Plan (requires
industry advisory board approval)
Level Two Certificate in Biomanufacturing
 Introduction to Biotech I and II
 Quality Assurance for the Biosciences
 Molecular Techniques
 Cell Culture
 Introduction to Biomanufacturing
 (Undergraduate Research)
 Internship

14. Divide Up Key Activities Among the
Courses
New Courses:
 Quality Assurance (online)
 Biomanufacturing
 Undergraduate Research
 Old Courses who already have Skill Standard
Alignment
 Introduction to Biotechnology I & II
 Molecular Techniques
 Cell Culture

15. Divide Up Key Activities Among the
Courses
New Courses:
 Quality Assurance (online)
 Biomanufacturing
 Undergraduate Research
 Old Courses who already have Skill Standard
Alignment
 Introduction to Biotechnology I & II
 Molecular Techniques
 Cell Culture

16. Implementation
 Pilot first biomanufacturing course this Fall 2013
 AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONSULT WITH
OTHER PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE and
the NATION