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Retirees Assisting Science Education

Retirees Assisting Science Education. Don Rea, AAAS/SSE Judi Wilson, San Joaquin County Office of Education Christos Zahopoulos, Northeastern University AAAS Annual Meeting, February 16, 2006. The Challenge. Improvement of K-8 science education is critical

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Retirees Assisting Science Education

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  1. Retirees Assisting Science Education Don Rea, AAAS/SSE Judi Wilson, San Joaquin County Office of Education Christos Zahopoulos, Northeastern University AAAS Annual Meeting, February 16, 2006

  2. The Challenge • Improvement of K-8 science education is critical • NRC report - Taking Science to School: Learning and Teaching Science in Grades K-8 (http://newton.nap.edu/catalog/11625.html) • U.S. Science Dominance Is the Wrong Issue (A. I. Leshner, Science 8 October 2004: Vol. 306. no. 5694, p. 197)

  3. A Response • Over 1.3 Million science and engineering retirees • Value of retirees in K-8 classrooms validated - TOPS, RE-SEED

  4. Agenda • Judi Wilson - TOPS (http://www.edserv.sjcoe.net/tops/) • Christos Zahopoulos - RE-SEED (http://www.reseed.neu.edu/) • Don Rea - AAAS/SSE Science Volunteer Program (www.seniorscientist.org/volunteer) • Discussion

  5. Teaching Opportunities for Partners in Science Sustainable program for K-12 science education improvement since 1993 in northern California Partners retired scientists, engineers with elementary schools

  6. A True Partnership • Partners concept is important • Scientist/Engineer • Lead teacher at school site • Classroom teachers

  7. What is taught? No prescribed curriculum. Enhancement, not replacement. Lessons aligned to standards and state adopted materials for grade level and school. Hands-on labs reinforce classroom study

  8. What do Partners do? • Volunteer at one school for 6-8 hours per month over course of one school year • Develop and deliver lessons with input and assistance of teacher. (e.g., properties of magnets/electricity) • Set up labs (students explore/discover properties) • Use scientific language and methods • Model and provide info on science careers • Offer family event for parents/students

  9. Teacher Impact • Promotes teaching of MORE and BETTER science • Teacher has "science mentor“ for content ???’s • Offers assistance in getting and setting up equipment • Enhances--doesn’t replace--professional development • TOPS teaches students and teachers!

  10. A Well Established History of Success • 13 years of successful operation • Operating in 5 counties in northern California • Currently in 35 elementary schools • Approximately 62,000 hours of student/scientist contact per year

  11. Program Costs • Annual cost per school $1400 • Plus administrative costs for sponsoring district/agency • Cost per school includes training for Partners and Lead Teachers • Includes library of check out materials.

  12. Why is TOPS so Successful? • Teaching, not entertainment • Depth---one year assignment • Know the students • Teach to students level • Ongoing Training for Partner and Lead Teacher • Lead Teacher at school site and ongoing support from both Scientists and Educators

  13. Benefits of TOPS • Retirees are largely an untapped resource • Teachers learn science • Improved science learning for students with increased interest.

  14. Survey Results From 13 Lead Teachers • Scale: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree • Beneficial for required assessments? 4.54 • Want scientist/engineer in my classroom? 4.85

  15. Survey Comments • Sometimes science is a “hook” to get kids interested in school and lessons . • ….she will be doing three hands-on activities: making anemometers and barometers, a molecule model, and the human body. All directly tied to standards • …able to introduce students to areas of science and hands on lessons that a classroom teacher might not have access to

  16. More information available upon request Teaching Opportunities for Partners in Science Judi Wilson jwilson@sjcoe.net Connie Oliver coliver@sjcoe.net

  17. Retirees Enhancing Science Education through Experiments & Demonstrations Director: Christos Zahopoulos, Ph.D. Northeastern University www.reseed.neu.edu

  18. Quality Teaching Matters “Some recent studies also have found that teacher quality accounts for a greater amount of the variance in student achievement than do variables such as the racial composition of schools or students’ economic levels.” “Educating Teachers of Science, Mathematics and Technology”, NRC 2001

  19. Quality Teaching Matters “Research shows that assigning teachers to teach courses that are not trained to teach has a negative effect on student achievement” Science & Engineering Indicators 2002 – Ch.1 p. 36

  20. The RE-SEED Solution • Trainedretired science and engineering professionals provide in-classroom support to middle school science teachers, offering inspiration to students and helping them acquire an in-depth understanding of the science concepts and their applications.

  21. National Science Foundation Noyce Foundation IEEE Life Members United Engineering Foundation MassachusettsDepartment of Education Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Attleboro Public Schools Boston Public Schools Fall River Public Schools Groton-Dunstable Public Schools The House Foundation Ray & Maria Stata The Colbert Family John & Marilyn Keane Anonymous Hewlett-Packard Company Egan Family Foundation Fidelity Foundation Textron NEBS Lowell Public Schools Quincy Public Schools Hanover Public Schools Berkshire Community College Sponsors

  22. RE-SEED’s Goal Improve STEM Education in Schools around the country, which will result in a more Scientifically Literate Society, in a Better Educated Workforce and in an increase in the STEM Pipeline

  23. Program Components • Recruit Qualified Volunteers • Provide Customized Training • Place Volunteers in Schools • Support Volunteers

  24. What RE-SEED Volunteers Offer • Increase students' interest in science • Make science relevant to students by bringing real-life science into the classroom • Increase students' and teachers' understanding of scientific principles and concepts • Assist students with science projects and science fairs • Build science equipment for school • Mentor students and act as role models

  25. RE-SEED Volunteers • # of Volunteers Trained > 500 • # of Active Volunteers  130 • # of Equivalent Volunteer-yrs  1,300 • # of Volunteer-hours > 500,000 • # of Students > 100,000 • Cost/Volunteer/year  $1,200 • Cost/Volunteer/student/year  $14.00 • Cost/Volunteer/hour  $2.50

  26. Survey of teachers, students, and volunteers

  27. 86% of teachers said having a RE-SEED volunteer in the classroom affected students’ interest in science

  28. 82% of teachers said having a RE-SEED volunteer in the classroom affected students’understanding of science

  29. 67% of teachers said having a RE-SEED volunteer in their classroom had a substantial affect on their own knowledge of science.

  30. 100% of theteachers would recommend RE-SEED to another teacher?

  31. Would you like to have your volunteer come to your science class next year?

  32. Summary • 88% (86%) of the students reported they want the Volunteer to return to their class-room next year • 97% (89%) of the Teachers would recommend RE-SEED to other Teachers (3% in 2003 &11% in 1997 did not answer) • 90% (97%) of Volunteers will recommend RE-SEED to others (in 2003, 1% said NO, 9% did not answer and in 1997, 3% expressed reservations)

  33. Engineer/Teacher Collaboration In a recent survey, teachers who have been involved with programs that connect students with scientists expressed overwhelming support for these programs. They said that having scientists work with students provided the students with positive images of science and/or engineers; aroused their interest in science; gave them useful information about science careers; and helped them better understand science content. (Bayer/National Science Teacher Association - 2001)

  34. AAAS/SSE Science Volunteer Program

  35. Program Initiatives • Mobilize retirees across the country • Web site, www.seniorscientist/volunteer.org, structured to support new projects • workshops, meetings, etc. • Project with Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools (MCPS) • Enlist societies • to date - ACS, AIAA, AIChE, APS, APS, ASME, BSA, AIBS, SDB, SN, GSA, ASPET

  36. MCPS Science Volunteer Project • MOU, signed by AAAS CEO and MCPS Science Supervisor • Initiated in 2005-6 school year with 9 volunteers, in middle schools only • 17 volunteers in 2006-7 school year, in both elementary and middle schools • Commitment of at least 20 days per year • Positive feedback from teachers and volunteers • Modest funding requirements, satisfied by AAAS and MCPS • Significant management provided by volunteers • No subsidies of volunteers’ travel

  37. Requirements for Successful Volunteer Project • Highly motivated cadre • Scientists, engineers, school personnel • Motivated local host organization • School district, university, professional society, etc. • Funding source • Needs are modest

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