Innovation serving education: Carolina Biological Supply Company's innovative products support students and educators at every level.

• Position: RESEARCH: NORTH CAROLINA: CAROLINA BIOLOGIGAL SUPPLY COMPANY

In 1927, Dr. Thomas E. Powell, Jr., a young professor of geology and biology at Elon College--now Elon University --began collecting specimens in the field and selling the surplus to his colleagues. From that unpretentious start, Carolina Biological Supply Company has grown to an enterprise with over 400 employees and sales to customers across the world.

Dr. Powell believed that innovation, quality and service were the key elements to his educational materials supply company's growth and success. Indeed, innovations in kit design and manufacturing, curriculum development and distance education propelled Carolina to the top tier of educational suppliers, serving institutions ranging from elementary schools to research universities.

> Rethinking the Basics

Designing and manufacturing science kits are some of the core functions of our company. These kits are essential to teaching science at every level. Bringing innovation to them begins with rethinking how they are used in the classroom and laboratory. Computers and new science education standards are the key drivers in this innovation.

Since computers are nearly ubiquitous in today's classrooms and students are digital natives, many of our kits now include digital resources such as videos, teacher's manuals and interactive lessons that enhance the learning experience. Our website, Carolina.com, provides a wealth of free information on organism care, laboratory techniques, lessons and activities.

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are the latest national science education standards. These emphasize student engagement through hands-on activities and practicing the investigative and problem-solving techniques used by scientists and engineers. Carolina has been working to produce science kits and curricula to help teachers and students experience the rich, rewarding learning experience that the standard developers intended.

> Creating Curricula

Two hands-on curricula that we developed in partnership and independently are Smithsonian Science for the Classroom and Building Blocks of Science 3D. These curricula for I

Smithsonian Science for the Classroom was developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Science Education Center. We have a long history of collaboration with the Smithsonian in creating educational materials. This latest collaboration provides educators with a curriculum that focuses on engineering while integrating English Language Arts (ELA) and math. It gives teachers all...