Grifols partners with Johnston County educators to develop science program

Clayton, NC (January 27, 2015).—Grifols, a leading provider of plasma-derived therapies, recently partnered with Johnston County Schools and Johnston Community College to develop the "Discover the Plasma" program. The program, which will enhance the eighth grade curriculum in Johnston County middle schools, is designed to raise awareness about life-saving plasma therapies and Grifols' contribution to the greater community.

"Discover the Plasma" has been designed to fit into the North Carolina Core Science Curriculum for 8th grade and will cover learning outcomes 8.L1 and 8.L2, which state that students must understand the hazards caused by agents of diseases that affect living organisms and understand how biotechnology is used to affect living organisms, respectively. The program is designed to last approximately five sessions, though it allows for flexibility with its blend of e-learning activities and traditional classroom delivery. The program materials lead the students through the journey from the donation of human plasma to the patient in need of the plasma-derived therapies.

The program is based on the Inquiry-Based Learning method (IBL) that stimulates students learning through a dynamic process. The methodology also incorporates the principles of the flipped classroom. Students first complete some key content individually, and the classroom then provides an opportunity for sharing this and more experiential learning with classmates.

Educational materials such as the students' book and the teacher's guide have been provided together with a virtual lab including videos, comics and additional resources for a dynamic learning. Grifols also provided lab equipment and supplies for the hands-on activities.

The program will be piloted at three Johnston County middle schools for the 2014-2015 school year and will involve seven teachers and approximately 750 students. Following this year's pilot rollout, all Johnston County middle schools will receive this science module in the 2015-2016 school year.

Potential benefits of the program for Johnston County schools include: exposing students to real world scientific applications; engaging students with interactive online activities, resources, and research; and providing resources for teachers to provide real-world examples in their daily instruction. Johnston Community College may benefit from the program by increasing the baseline of scientific knowledge and higher technical skills and portraying the college as a content expert for biotechnology in the surrounding community. Grifols hopes that the program will also allow students and the community to better understand Grifols' mission and the importance of creating plasma-derived therapies that improve lives.

Media Contact:
Rebecca Barnes
(919)316-6590
rebecca.barnes@grifols.com