Science+2008

Notes and links from discussions group:Science Group Day 1:

Engineering/Elective in STEM fields.

Infinity Project: field of EE, motion sensors, coin counters. Summer program for teachers at Southern Methodist University. Counts as a science course or computer science. Requires math – Algebra 2. Students end up by building circuit boards. Levels: Juniors and Seniors. SMU Infinity Project website and has a textbook and online curricular material. Either one semester or one year course.

Engineering After School program with other school self generated project, based on a final product and a competition with other schools. One day a week. Hoping for 6 students got 30 students.

Advanced Robotics for one year. One semester programming and the second is robotics, under the Technology program.

Science Research and Engineering Program: Student sign up to the class for credit then they are directed to which group they are most interested in: Internship or Robotics. Seminar class once a week, half a credit multiple times.

FIRST teams and how they are managed. Time commitment and managing sports and time completing homework.

Science Week: The week leading up to the Science Olympiad. Integrating science in all disciplines for the week, including Chapel!

Competition with other department and how to combat that? PR is often what triggers this competition, especially if there is a push from the top. Reaching out often alleviates the conflict. Small schools have a finite number of students and electives in different department compete for school.

Cost of doing science is greater than for other department. Science departments can be the mediators/teachers of technology.

Director of Technology has a committee with a member of each of the departments. Each member has to come up with a departmental project where they are using technology. Members are rotated each year. Making technology department include other departments.

Science Group:
 * Day 2:**

Notes about Dr Damour's talk. Math teachers are mostly male at one school. How do you start an engineering program with female mentors/teachers. How was do gender role models propel students into STEM fields? Good mentors and teachers are more important than women in STEM. Poor women teachers are worse. Girls are more interested in having a positive relationships with their teachers. Support group amongst peers can be very positive as well.

What is the role of AP Classes have on propelling students into science classes in college? It is not necessary, but it definitely helped and those who took them.

AP Teachers need to take the opportunities to emulate what goes on in college and stressing the students into "college like" situations. AP might discourage the girls by giving them the message that the content is more important than the process. Familiarity with the material in college is more important than content. Most college do not assume that you have not taken the AP class, but it is sometimes impossible to do well because of the pace. Parent require AP courses b/c of college admission process. AP courses are not needed all they need is a second year is all they need.

How about preparation for Organic Chemistry? Is any one teaching a course that it is incorporating some organic chem.

Reflections about Dr Damour's talk Research excellent. Reflect back to our own experiences, we were all good in math. The way that we praise is important. Phil Saddler's work on education at Harvard has excellent research. Some brain-based research is not based on good science and might erroneously make conclusions. Many schools jumped on the bandwagon of female vs. male brain only to find that some have exagerated outcomes. What is best for girls is usually better for all students.

What are the issues we will be taking back to our schools and implementing from now till next year?
 * More collaborations between Math and Science
 * Incorporating what Dr. Damour presented to help students face "Stereotype threats".

What would we like to see happening next year as part of the think tank?
 * Time to lesson plans
 * Sharing how to incorporate engineering design into our science class.
 * Ask every one to bring in an engineering project that they have incorporated in their classroom.
 * Opportunities for lower levels.
 * Break out groups for FIRST Robotics teams.