scholarly journals Developing a science outreach program and promoting “PhUn” all year with rural K–12 students

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-216
Author(s):  
Jana L. Hendrickson ◽  
Thomas K. Bye ◽  
Benjamin A. Cockfield ◽  
Kathryn R. Carter ◽  
Steven J. Elmer
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Upper Peninsula ◽  
Hands On ◽  
K 12

Demonstrating how science relates to human health is an important step for generating K–12 student interest in health-related careers. Science outreach is often performed in urban areas; however, ~20% of K–12 schools are in rural areas. Michigan Technological University is located in Michigan’s upper peninsula, which accounts for 30% of the state’s land mass but only 3% of the total population. Our goal was to create a science outreach program for reaching K–12 students in our rural region. We assembled a team of undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty to implement science outreach with K–12 students. Specifically, we leveraged existing national and international science outreach events [Physiology Friday, Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week, National Biomechanics Day] to offer hands-on physiology and biomechanics activities during the year. Between 2016 and 2019, we connected with 31 K–12 schools and impacted 327 elementary (19%), 351 middle school (21%), and 1,018 high school (60%) students (total impact 1,696). Over 90% of the outreach visits took place at the K–12 schools. The hands-on activities were delivered by more than 85 undergraduate and graduate students and 10 faculty. Together, the supportive culture and resources within the department (e.g., outreach coordinator, participation from students and faculty, grant funding) were key to developing the program. We recommend starting with a single outreach event, working as a team, and being flexible with K–12 schools. The program also provided service-learning and professional development opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty. Our robust science outreach program promoted “PhUn” all year-round with rural K–12 students.

scholarly journals 10. Utilizing Science Outreach to Foster Professional Skills Development in University Students

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Edward Eng ◽  
Catherine Febria
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Transferable Skills ◽  
University Of Toronto ◽  
Professional Goals ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Leadership And Organization ◽  
The City

Students seek unique experiences to obtain and enhance professional development skills and to prepare for future careers. Through the Let’s Talk Science Partnership Program (LTSPP), a voluntary science outreach program at University of Toronto Scarborough, students are given the opportunity to continually improve on skills which include: the “3 Cs” (creativity, communication, cooperation), and leadership and organization skills through hands-on activities in classrooms and community centres across the city and in isolated rural communities. Volunteers serve as mentors, and frequently transfer knowledge related to their research and coursework to youth. Here, we present results from surveys on current and past volunteers (2004-2010). Volunteers were asked to evaluate the value of the skills they obtained through science outreach, and the relevance of those skills to obtaining current work and achieving long-term career goals. Respondents commented on the effectiveness of the skills they obtained and ranked the transferable skills. We show that volunteer work through LTSPP largely improves their communication and confidence skills. As well, students identified clear links between science outreach and professional goals, and highly recommended LTSPP to others.

scholarly journals PENERAPAN URBAN FARMING UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KELESTARIAN LINGKUNGAN PADA HUNIAN PERUMAHAN

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-46
Author(s):  
Anisur Rosyad ◽  
Triana Yuni Astuti ◽  
Etik Wukir Tini
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Urban Farming ◽  
Residential Housing ◽  
The Road ◽  
Productive Activities ◽  
Hands On

Currently, it has developed rapidly in the form of housing in Banyumas Regency. The location of these housing settlements is well-known, mostly near urban areas and some in rural areas. Purwosari Indah Housing is one of the residential housing located in Banyumas Regency, located in Purwosari Village, Baturraden District. Yard and residential roads have not been used optimally for productive activities. Therefore, urban agriculture (Urban Farming) can be applied in housing to increase the added value of land and the income of the community around housing. The purpose of this activity is to increase the knowledge and skills of PKK RT 4 RW 5 Purwosari Housing and increase the income of the community and help improve the sustainability of the housing environment. The target audience for this activity is the PKK RT 4 RW 5 Housing Purwosari, Baturraden, Banyumas. Technology transfer activities include training, hands-on practice, and making demonstration plots at partner locations. Activities carried out in the form of counseling, direct practice demonstration plots of leaf vegetable cultivation (caisim, kale, pakcoy, mustard greens, leeks, and celery) verticulture using polybags arranged in stages on racks built from bamboo and gutters that are stratified from bamboo racks. , as well as vegetable plants planted in polybags placed in polybags which are neatly arranged on the side of the road, in the yard, or at home. Partners have been able to grow leafy vegetables well, so they can harvest vegetables for their own consumption or give to neighbors. Vegetable harvest is still limited, so it is only consumed by themselves and not sold.   Keywords: Urban farming, vegetable crops, verticulture.   ABSTRAK Saat ini telah berkembang dengan pesat hunian berbentuk perumahan di Kabupaten Banyumas. Lokasi hunian perumahan tersebut tersebar sebagian besar dekat daerah perkotaan dan sebagian lagi berada di perdesaan. Perumahan Purwosari Indah merupakan salah satu hunian perumahan yang berada di Kabupaten Banyumas, berlokasi di Desa Purwosari Kecamatan Baturraden. Lahan pekarangan rumah dan pinggir jalan perumahan belum dimanfaatkan secara optimal untuk kegiatan produktif. Oleh karena itu pertanian perkotaan (Urban Farming) perlu diterapkan di perumahan untuk meningkatkan nilai tambah lahan dan pendapatan masyarakat disekitar perumahan. Tujuan kegiatan ini untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan ketrampilan ibu PKK RT 4 RW 5 Perumahan Purwosari dan menambah pendapatan masyarakatnya serta ikut meningkatkan kelestarian lingkungan perumahan. Khalayak sasaran kegiatan ini adalah ibu PKK RT 4 RW 5 Perumahan Purwosari, Baturraden, Banyumas. Kegiatan alih teknologi berupa pelatihan, praktek langsung, dan pembuatan demplot di lokasi mitra. Kegiatan yang dilakukan berupa penyuluhan, praktek langsung demplot budidaya tanaman sayuran daun (caisim, kangkung, pakcoy, sawi, bawang daun, dan seledri) secara vertikultur dengan menggunakan polibag yang ditata secara bertingkat pada rak yang terbuat dari bambu serta talang yang diletakkan bertingkat dari rak bambu, serta tanaman sayuran yang ditanam di polibag yang diletakkan dalam polibag yang ditata rapi di pinggir jalan, di pekarangan maupun di dak rumah. Mitra telah mampu menanam tanaman sayuran daun dengan baik, sehingga mereka dapat melakukan panen sayuran untuk di konsumsi sendiri maupun diberikan ke tetangga. Panen sayuran masih terbatas sehingga hanya dikonsumsi sendiri dan belum dijual.   Kata kunci: Urban farming, tanaman sayuran, vertikultur.

scholarly journals Feasibility, Acceptability, and Barriers to Implementing Select Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions to Reduce the Transmission of Pandemic Influenza - United States, 2019

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faruque Ahmed ◽  
Noreen Qualls ◽  
Shelly Kowalczyk ◽  
Suzanne Randolph Cunningham ◽  
Nicole Zviedrite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Local Health ◽  
School Closures ◽  
Mass Gatherings ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Pharmaceutical Interventions

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess feasibility and acceptability of implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) reserved for influenza pandemics (voluntary home quarantine; use of face masks by ill persons; childcare facility closures; school closures; and social distancing at schools, workplaces, and mass gatherings), and the availability and usefulness of influenza surveillance data for triggering implementation of NPIs.MethodsPublic health officials in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and 8 territories, and a stratified, random sample of 822 local health departments (LHDs) were surveyed in 2019.ResultsThe response rates for the states/territories and LHDs were 75% (44/59) and 25% (206/822), respectively. About two-thirds to three-fourths of the state/territorial respondents stated that the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the NPIs were high, except for K-12 school closures lasting up to 6 weeks or 6 months. The LHD respondents also indicated that feasibility and acceptability were lowest for prolonged school closures. Compared to LHD respondents in suburban or urban areas, those in rural areas expressed lower feasibility and acceptability. Availability of influenza surveillance data in near real-time was lowest for influenza-like illness and influenza cases in schools.ConclusionsThe findings can provide insights regarding the implementation of NPIs during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

scholarly journals What Good Is a Scientist in the Classroom? Participant Outcomes and Program Design Features for a Short-Duration Science Outreach Intervention in K–12 Classrooms

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Laursen ◽  
Carrie Liston ◽  
Heather Thiry ◽  
Julie Graf
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Program Design ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Science Content ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Interest In Science ◽  
New Science ◽  
Collegial Support ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
K 12

Many short-duration science outreach interventions have important societal goals of raising science literacy and increasing the size and diversity of the science workforce. Yet, these long-term outcomes are inherently challenging to evaluate. We present findings from a qualitative research study of an inquiry-based, life science outreach program to K–12 classrooms that is typical in design and excellent in execution. By considering this program as a best case of a common outreach model, the “scientist in the classroom,” the study examines what benefits may be realized for each participant group and how they are achieved. We find that K–12 students are engaged in authentic, hands-on activities that generate interest in science and new views of science and scientists. Teachers learn new science content and new ways to teach it, and value collegial support of their professional work. Graduate student scientists, who are the program presenters, gain teaching and other skills, greater understanding of education and diversity issues, confidence and intrinsic satisfaction, and career benefits. A few negative outcomes also are described. Program elements that lead to these benefits are identified both from the research findings and from insights of the program developer on program design and implementation choices.

scholarly journals Service-Learning during the Covid Era: A Perspective of GK-12 Student-Coordinator

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Razak Dwomoh ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Future ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Remote Learning

Despite the importance of service learning, the precariousness of the COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge for students and educators. In this paper, I highlight the COVID-19 pandemic ramifications on the Graduate Students Engagement in K-12 Classrooms (GK-12) program, the lessons learned from going remote, and how we can be flexible with remote learning in the future if there is a need for us to adapt our programming to other crises.

scholarly journals DISCOVERE: AN OUTREACH PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Cao ◽  
Seach Chyr Goh ◽  
Ahmad Rteil ◽  
Deborah Roberts ◽  
Kevin Golovin
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Summer Program ◽  
Outreach Programs ◽  
Hands On ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Education Outreach

Canadian universities are devoting more and more resources to develop K-12 engineering education outreach programs. The School of Engineering at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus offers a variety of outreach and community programs for students of all ages. This paper provides details on the DiscoverE Engineering Summer Program which has been delivered since 2016. The objective of the program is to introduce students general design processes through hands-on civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering projects. The overall goal is to foster a passion in engineering and at the same time attract students who have already had an interest in engineering and are eager to learn more about the discipline. The program is taught by faculty members and exposes students to a variety of hands-on projects in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. This paper will provide curriculum details for each topic and reflect on the student learning experience based on observations. Future qualitative plans on the measure of the impact of this program qualitatively will be explored.  

scholarly journals The in’s and out’s of science outreach: assessment of an engaging new program

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Metz ◽  
Sarah Downes ◽  
Michael J. Metz
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Respiratory Physiology ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Science Careers ◽  
American Physiological Society ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
High Level ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Science Activities

Many professors are interested in providing science outreach to local K–12 students, but may not have the time or resources needed to create an engaging presentation. The American Physiological Society supports outreach initiatives through programs such as the Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week. Building on these activities, it was desired to create and assess an immersive and engaging Outreach Program in a disadvantaged K–12 student population. Three distinct modules were created on cardiovascular physiology, respiratory physiology, and oral health. All resources for these modules underwent peer review and publication, allowing other professors to easily execute their own outreach programming. The outreach modules were presented to 288 students in 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade classes. Implementation of the modules resulted in significant increases in student content knowledge, ranging from 32 to 57% improvement ( P < 0.001, dependent t-test), with an average increase of 46%. K–12 science teachers reported that the program was at an appropriate educational level, increased students’ enthusiasm for science, and increased students’ exposure to science careers. Additionally, the presenters of the Outreach Program were perceived to be enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and proficient at interacting with the students. On open-response survey items, the science teachers indicated a high level of satisfaction with the program and an enthusiasm for continued collaborations. These results indicate the importance of organized and interactive science activities for the success of a new Outreach Program.

Performing international outreach: PhUn Week in an Australian primary school

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Halpin
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Set Up ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Family Vacation

Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week is an annual science outreach program sponsored by the American Physiological Society in which K–12 students learn about physiology through meeting a physiologist and performing an experiment. Performing PhUn Week at an Australian private primary school during a family vacation in 2014 enabled me to receive a fellowship to return the following year for further implementation. To set up the outreach, I contacted the assistant principal of a public primary school, and she connected me with the physical education (PE) teacher. Together, the PE teacher and I planned the event. Over the course of 2 days, I taught eight classes, a total of 176 K–12 students. I started each lesson by explaining the role of a physiologist. The scientific method was described and explained. A hypothesis, “Exercise increases heart rate,” was designed and tested. The students measured their heart rates, exercised, and measured their heart rates again. After data collection, results were reported, and the students all agreed that their hypothesis was supported. We then discussed heart function and why heart rate increases with exercise. The students then performed a pedometer challenge, where they estimated the number of steps during walking, running, and kangaroo hopping. They enjoyed testing their predictions and repeated these experiments several times. The students then made suggestions of ways they could continue this lesson outside of school. This first report of an international PhUn week confirmed that these events form partnerships among educators and inspire K–12 students to think about becoming scientists.

scholarly journals Launching STEM Interst: Using Rockets to Propel to Excel in STEM Results of the Lift-Off for Teachers and Youths (LOFTY) Program

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reynee Kachur ◽  
Michelle Fleming ◽  
Sara Seidling
Keyword(s):  
College Of Education ◽  
Design And Technology ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Science Olympiad ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Critical Skills ◽  
Related Science ◽  
Lift Off ◽  
And Mathematics

The Lift-Off For Teachers and Youths (LOFTY) program brought together the UW Oshkosh Science Outreach Program within the College of Letters and Science and College of Education and Human Services faculty to provide a space-related science learning opportunity for in- service teachers that in turn excites and engages the students they teach in aerospace-related science, design and technology. This project dovetailed nicely with many of the other hands-on science programs already conducted by Science Outreach, while at the same time filling a void of increasing the content knowledge of elementary teachers, and increasing the interest and hands-on space-related science experiences for elementary students in Wisconsin. The LOFTY project also emphasized current NASA education goals including helping educators and students develop the critical skills and knowledge base in space-related science. By bringing in elements of an in-service hands-on teacher training, cross disciplinary discussions to incorporate a rocket unit into each subject, planetarium shows at the Buckstaff Planetarium, and using the framework of the Science Olympiad rules and values, the LOFTY project increased interest in and excitement for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

scholarly journals Moving beyond GK–12

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Ufnar ◽  
Susan Kuner ◽  
V. L. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
National Science Foundation ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Classroom Activity ◽  
Potential Models ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
National Science ◽  
Internet Searches ◽  
K 12

The National Science Foundation GK–12 program has made more than 300 awards to universities, supported thousands of graduate student trainees, and impacted thousands of K–12 students and teachers. The goals of the current study were to determine the number of sustained GK–12 programs that follow the original GK–12 structure of placing graduate students into classrooms and to propose models for universities with current funding or universities interested in starting a program. Results from surveys, literature reviews, and Internet searches of programs funded between 1999 and 2008 indicated that 19 of 188 funded sites had sustained in-classroom programs. Three distinct models emerged from an analysis of these programs: a full-stipend model, in which graduate fellows worked with partner teachers in a K–12 classroom for 2 d/wk; a supplemental stipend model in which fellows worked with teachers for 1 d/wk; and a service-learning model, in which in-classroom activity was integrated into university academic coursework. Based on these results, potential models for sustainability and replication are suggested, including establishment of formal collaborations between sustained GK–12 programs and universities interested in starting in-classroom programs; development of a new Teaching Experience for Fellows program; and integration of supplemental fellow stipends into grant broader-impact sections.

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