Due to the involvement of many enthusiastic Dean's Scholars, the Science Enrichment Program is moving into its second year as a driving force in the improvement of middle school science. The program improves every semester, and this fall, new organizational changes could make this semester greatest yet.
For those of you who don't know what the Science Enrichment Program is, in a nutshell, it's a program run by Dean's Scholars for Austin middle school students. This fall we will continue to serve Dobie Middle School. Traditionally, participants have presented curriculum-related demonstrations and brief lectures unveiling the fun and intrigue behind oftentimes blandly presented middle school science material.
If you've never done anything like this before or think you just don't have enough of a scientific background to teach middle school kids, just remember: your audience is just that, middle school kids. Participants are usually a bit apprehensive and nervous at first, but this usually subsides during the first presentation, when they find how easily the young students can be entertained intellectually. If you don't think you have enough time, don't miss out. Because of the way the groups are structured, you will only have to participate once every two weeks or so. The average prep time for each presentation is not more than 1 or two hours.
I have always felt that the program needs a sense of regularity--both for the middle school students and the Dean's Scholars themselves. Five to six presentations has a greater impact on the students than one. And oftentimes, it takes at least one presentation for Dean's Scholars to get a feeling of the classroom environment, to learn what will and will not work.
I will take care of all the administrative and logistic details. Along this end, there are three major changes this semester. First, I am asking teachers to fill out an information sheet which will detail as much classroom/student information as possible in order to expedite the entire presentation process. Once it is known what the teachers will cover, a sense of organization follows, and five to six presentations can easily be prepared. The second change is that we have a special resource now available: a log of presentations performed last semester. This compilation should help in significantly reducing the preparatory work required for a presentation. The third change is that Scott Stratemann, third year Dean's Scholar in microbiology will be joining me as coordinator of the program. Scott should prove to be an invaluable asset to the overall improvement and evolution of the enrichment program. Welcome, Scott.
--Our weekly meetings will begin next Monday, September 19 at 6PM in PAI 5.60.---
If you have any questions, please call me at home at 495-5223 or e-mail me at marcb@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu. E-mail is easier for me than telephone correspondence. Thanks for your interest in the science enrichment project and the fate of several classes of middle school students. You can also reach Scott Stratemann at 595-5395 or e-mail him at stratemann@mail.utexas.edu.