Workforce Preparedness

In the article, New Science Framework Paves Way for Standards,

Published by Education Week, July 2011, among the many recommendations and goals for the new science framework was “the report’s authors say that the ultimate goal of the framework is to ensure that by the end of 12th grade, all students have “some appreciation of the beauty and wonder of science,” have sufficient knowledge of science and engineering to engage meaningfully in public discussions, are careful consumers of scientific and technological information, and

have the skills to enter careers in science, engineering, and technology if they wish.

Students should “see how science and engineering are instrumental in addressing major challenges that

confront society today, such as generating sufficient energy, preventing and treating diseases,

maintaining supplies of clean water and food, and solving the problems of global environmental change,”

the committee says.

In addition, the panel expressed its hope that the vision of change in science education laid out in the

document will “motivate and inspire” more people, and a better representation of the nation’s diverse

population, to pursue careers in science and engineering.

With that goal in mind we began to seek ways in which to science education in the appropriate direction.

One of the difficulties in helping students to be motivated by science careers is students stereotypical ideas of what a scientist looks like and what s/he does. For many students at the middle school level this is a deterrent.

We looked for websites that would help students understand that scientist were people with a particular interest in how the natural world works and people with everyday interest and lives just as they have.

The Secret Life of Scientist and Engineers

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/secretlife/

This site host interviews with thirty different scientist and engineers. In interview format they describe their field of study, how their interest was developed in science and a personal interest or hobby. Students are introduced to a science career, learn a little about what is studied in the field and get a feel for “the passion of the scientist for his/her work. In many cases students have the opportunity to blog with the scientist or follow them on a social network

To access “The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers” website visit,

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/secretlife/

Choose a scientist the menu on the left side of the page. “Click on the picture” On the right side of the photo is a menu. In “30 second science” the scientist provides a simple explanation of their field. Another section that is always included is 10 questions. These questions can be about their personal lives or their science. The other categories will vary depending on the scientist.

Once you have chosen a scientist, click on “30 Second Science”. Next “10 questions for . . .”

I have used this site to develop a program for my students. Each week they had to explore a particular scientist. They could choose one of three activities which varied in point value from 7-10 points.


Scientist of the Week

1. Write a rap about Alan Sage. Be sure to include information about his work, his secret, his childhood, and your thoughts or feelings about him. You may submit this in written form or you may upload a recording of your performance.

(max pts: 10)

2. Use the sentence starters to write a paragraph about Alan Sage.(max pts: 8)
Before I began this topic I thought that . . .
But when I read about it I found out that . . .
Something else I learned . . .
The most interesting thing I learned was . . .

3. Quiz - Alan Sage

Answer these five questions about The Secret Life of Alan Sage (max 7 pts)

1. Where did Alan Sage go five times a week for six years?

2. At what age did Alan stop eating all animal based foods?

3. What was that food?

4. What was his reason for not eating that food any longer?

5. In what class did Alan's interest in science begin?

6. In what grade did Alan become interested in science?

7. In what international competition did Alan place as one of 40 finalist?

Scientist of the Week


Andre Fenton

1. Take fifteen (15) minutes to follow Andre’s suggestion on how to meditate. In Journal 1 describe your experience. Include the answer to these questions in your response.

What did you focus on?

Where did you try to meditate?

Why did you choose that place?

How did you feel afterward?

Will you use meditation again? Why or why not? (max pts: 10)

2. Share a memory. Describe it using all the senses. Comment on why this memory is important to you. (max pts: 8)

Quiz

1. Who did Andre Fenton want to be like as a young person?

2. What study sparks Andre’s interest in neurobiology?

3. What is Andre’s favorite molecule in the brain?

4. What does Andre study?

5. What does Andre feel is the most important attribute of a scientist?

6. Why does Andre meditate?

7. What are the four steps to meditate?

Choose one answer.

/ a. relax, stay in the present, breathe, don't let your mind wander
/ b. relax, listen to music, watch TV, play video games
/ c. stay in the present, run, play sports, drive a car
/ d. don't let your mind wander, breathe, do homework, be happy

Math 2 Success gives a brief interview of various careers and how they use math. The benefit of the site is in showing the different careers. No all of them are science related, however they can be used to inspire students to increase their unstanding of STEM careers.

Go to the Math 2 Success website by typing in the URL.

http://www.math2success.net/

Three of the buttons show math problems that would be on the specified test. The fourth button, Real World Math is the one you will need to click on.

Choose a career from the pop-up menu and watch it. These videos are short and can be used as a discussion starter about a given career.

Who Do You Want To Be? Is a website sponsored by the California Community Colleges, the Department of Education and the State of California.

Students are given the opportunity to take a quiz which will provide recommendations for three work fields. After clicking on the fields students are provided a list of the types of jobs in the field and the earning power of each job. An interview is conducted with a student currently in college. They are examples of overcoming hardships to achieve their dreams.

Visit Who Do You Want to Be? by typing in the following web addresss. http://www.whodouwant2b.com/

Once on the home page, click on “middle school student”. You will be given a choice of taking the quiz, watching a video story or playing the game.

Click on “Take the quiz”. After completing the quiz go to your #1 suggestion and review your job options. Listen to the interview.

This site is useful in expanding the students understanding of the many choices they can have in a career.

Reaching Gender Equity in Science: The Importance of Role Models And Mentors

By Laura Bonetta

February 12, 2010

"There is a movement toward more gender equity than noted in previous reports or often publicly appreciated. At the same time, the findings show that we are not there yet."

The number of women embarking on science careers has been increasing steadily during the past several decades. Although women scientists continue to be underrepresented at the faculty level, many women have established rewarding and successful careers in science—thanks in part to having had role models and mentors whose paths they could follow.

Engineer Your Life

http://www.engineeryourlife.org/

This site, though limited provides good models for young girls.

Though this article speaks to gender. We have a responsibility to provide role models for a diverse population. Each of the sites on this page can be used to provide models for many of the diverse populations present in our schools today.