Annual Report of The Science House
North Carolina State University
July 1, 1995 - June 30, 1996
Contents
| Who We Are | The Science House is the learning outreach center of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at N C State University. We collaborate actively with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Biology Outreach) and the College of Education and Psychology (Mathematics and Science Education) at N C State. |
| Our Mission | The mission of The Science House is to increase student enthusiasm for mathematics and science. To achieve this we will work in partnership with K-12 teachers to increase the use and impact of hands-on learning activities for mathematics and science. |
| Our Activities | Teacher Training Programs - The Science House offers many teacher training workshops for K-12 teachers ranging from low-tech (Countertop Chemistry) to high-tech (Using Computers in Teaching Physics and Physical Science). Workshops are offered year-round, on the NC State campus and at local schools, and last from two days to two weeks. Teachers receive recertification credit. |
| Science on the Road - The Science House brings exciting demonstration programs in Chemistry, Physics, and the Earth Sciences to students and schools all over North Carolina. The programs include thrills, audience participation, and an attitude that science is fun and is found all around us. | |
| Rural Schools Support Programs - Since 1993, The Science House has worked in partnership with over forty high school physics, physical science, chemistry, and biology teachers from rural areas throughout Eastern North Carolina. The teachers have attended summer training institutes and workshops to learn to use computers and computer based laboratory equipment. During the academic year, three vans from The Science House distribute that same equipment on a rotating basis to the participating high schools. | |
| Imhotep Academy of Physical and Mathematical Sciences - The Academy includes a Saturday program and summer day camp to encourage African American middle and high school students to seek careers in mathematics and science. The sessions include lots of hands-on science and math activities, as well as lessons about African American scientists and inventors and preparation for the SAT. |
The Science House at a Glance July 1,1995 - June 30,1996
| Faculty and Staff | 7 |
| Associated Faculty | 5 |
| Teacher In-Service Training Programs | 34 |
| Science on the Road Presentations | 113 |
| Students Reached | 20,000 |
| Teachers Enrolled in In-Service Training | 600 |
| Counties Reached | 40 |
Highlights of the Year 1995-1996
The Science House completed its fifth year of existence in July, 1996. The project began with one faculty member, one part-time teacher, and one teaching technician. Now the staff includes eight people and works on activities that span North Carolina.
With support from NC State University and the Glaxo Wellcome Foundation, we are opening a satellite Science House in Lenoir at the office of the Caldwell County Schools. The satellite will house a Master Teacher and a vanload of computers and laboratory equipment. The Master Teacher and van will support high school science teachers in eight high schools in Caldwell and neighboring counties.
The Rural Schools programs (NSF Team Science and Howard Hughes PreCollege Program) are beginning their fourth academic year of operation. Teachers from high schools in eighteen counties have received training and lab equipment support through the Rural Schools initiatives. Because some of the schools have been so successful in obtaining their own equipment, in 1996-1997, new schools in Durham, Wake and Halifax counties will be added to the equipment rotations.
In September of 1996, The Science House will move from Nelson Hall to the new Research Building IV on the N C State University Centennial Campus. The facilities will include a chemistry teaching laboratory, a computer teaching classroom, a television classroom, the Scibrary reference library, a general purpose classroom, and increased office space for the rapidly growing Science House family. There will also be adequate parking and easy access.
The Science on the Road program brought exciting science demonstrations to 18,000 students, parents, and teachers at schools across the state. One of the highlights was Isaac and Albert's Excellent Adventure, an annual physics demonstration extravaganza that is co-sponsored with the NC State Department of Physics. This year Isaac and Albert was extended to two nights, one of which was a special presentation for the inaugural meeting of the NC Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers.
The Science House has received national notice in newspaper articles and TV spots about the physics of football, basketball, and the Olympic Games. Newspapers in almost all of the NFL playoff cities cited football physics information supplied by The Science House. A segment about the effect of the weather in Atlanta on Olympic performance was broadcast world-wide on CNN.
In the summer of 1995, The Science House hosted the first Teacher-to-Teacher technology workshops on Using Computers in Teaching Physical Science, Chemistry, and Biology. The workshops were taught by rural high school teachers who had participated in the Team Science and Howard Hughes Medical Institute PreCollege programs. We are seeking to increase the number of workshops we sponsor that are taught by teachers trained at The Science House.
In the summer of 1995, a group of 20 high school teachers from Korea attended a five- week training workshop hosted by the Physics Department and The Science House.
Papers about activities and research results from The Science House were reported at meetings of
Papers were published in The Physics Teacher, Coaching Women's Basketball, and The North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Journal.
Annual Report: July 1, 1995 - June 30, 1996
The Science House is the learning outreach center of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at N.C. State University. The mission of The Science House is to increase enthusiasm among K-12 students for science and mathematics. The Science House annually reaches over 600 teachers and more than 20,000 students in school systems across North Carolina. By combining hands-on learning activities, teacher training, and teaching support, The Science House is in a unique position to encourage natural curiosity, to develop critical thinking, and to make technology relevant among K-12 students and teachers in North Carolina.
The goals of The Science House are important because in the last two years the N. C. State Department of Public Instruction has cut 250 staff positions and closed its regional Technical Assistance Centers. The state is returning more of its functions to local school systems and requiring testing standards in only the basic subjects. Each school system will have the option of choosing which, if any, areas of science to emphasize. In the high schools, only the statewide biology end-of-course test will be required. As a result, The Science House must work more closely with individual school systems and must convince them of the importance of the physical sciences (chemistry, physics, and earth sciences) to the educational and economic success of their students.
Because of its high visibility in high schools around the state, The Science House is an important part of the recruiting process for the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at N C State. As the science requirements for high school students shrink, it will become even more important to encourage student interest in the physical sciences. To do this, The Science House must be involved in more visible and focused recruiting activities.
The Science House works on activities across North Carolina reaching students and teachers through programs like these:
Science on the Road combines three traveling programs (Physics on the Road, Chemistry on the Road and EarthCycle) that present physical science, chemistry, and the earth sciences in easy-to-understand formats. K-12 students and teachers participate in demonstrations of mechanics, sound, light, energy, atoms, and more using simple items such as bottles and balloons to show that the laws of science apply to everyday experiences. A listing of the Science on the Road visits for 1995-1996 is given in the Appendices.
The Imhotep Academy of Physical and Mathematical Sciences provides hands-on learning experiences for African American middle and high school students to interest them in science or mathematics careers. A complete description of the Imhotep Academy and the year's activities are given in the Appendices.
The Rural Schools Programs include the PreCollege Science Program, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Team Science Program, supported by the National Science Foundation. These programs are collaborations of The Science House, Biology Outreach, the Department of Chemistry, and the Department of Mathematics and Science Education. The primary goal of the Rural Schools Programs is to encourage students, especially those from rural schools in North Carolina, to consider careers in the sciences. We can achieve this goal by helping teachers improve the quality of their teaching, increasing the amount of laboratory teaching, and increasing the usage of computers and computer-based laboratory equipment. The original group of teachers in the program are now showing other teachers in their schools, in their counties, and in their districts how to use technology to improve their science teaching. These teachers have taught summer programs at N C State for teachers from other areas of the state and have presented papers or workshops at state and national education meetings.
The Rural Schools Programs provide ongoing equipment support for 37 teachers in 18 high schools in rural North Carolina. Each Master Teacher makes about 80 trips per year to transfer equipment and to provide assistance to this core group of schools. Most of these schools have large minority populations and large groups of economically disadvantaged students. This core group of teachers teaches about 3700 students annually using NCSU supplies and equipment.
Other foundations have provided funding to extend the learning outreach built upon the HHMI and Team Science programs. In particular, the following foundations have supplied equipment and funds for teacher training and equipment support for more schools
The renovation of Nelson Hall, which caused many problems and interruptions for our teaching programs, is now complete. We look forward to moving to the Research Building IV on the Centennial Campus in the Fall of 1996. We are still seeking funds to bring our new facilities to the level of the Nelson Hall operation and are working now to pass the operation of the Nelson Hall television studio to the College of Management.
With funds from the Glaxo Wellcome Foundation, we have acquired a van for distributing teaching equipment to rural high schools and a set of computers and laboratory equipment to be used for teacher training. From internal funds we have assembled a multimedia computer system to be used for video editing, multimedia, and Internet distribution.
We continue to agfressively seek funding from federal agencies or private foundations. Proposals included collaborations among several departments in PAMS, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Education and Psychology. Through the PAMS Foundation we have made contacts with four other foundations or corporations to whom we will submit proposals. The lack of a grant writer or full-time fund raiser is a significant obstacle to the long-term growth of The Science House.
Recommendations and Concerns for the Future
While all evaluations of our teacher and student programs indicate that we are meeting our stated goals and providing quality learning programs, the funding level and rate of growth of The Science House remain concerns. The restructuring of North Carolina schools means that we will have to increase our number of contacts and write more proposals just to stay in place. If The Science House is to progress and achieve a state-wide reach, there is a definite need for a grant writer, fund-raiser and/or public relations person to handle many of these duties.
The Science House also needs to produce more learning materials for print and electronic distribution. The unique contribution The Science House brings to education in North Carolina is a fundamental understanding of science and the scientific enterprise. This understanding can be made available to North Carolina students and teachers, in tandem with teacher training programs, through laboratory books, texts, multimedia, and Web resources. We are beginning to author such learning materials and are seeking commercial or non-profit partners for this work.
There were no new additions to the staff this year. We are losing Todd Boyette, the Team Science Master Teacher, to the Imagination Station science museum in Wilson, NC, where he will be Executive Director. He will be replaced in the Fall of 1996.
Michael Smith received an NCSU Extension Service Award and a PAMS EPA Award for Excellence. Tracey Diggs was the nominee of The Science House for the PAMS SPA Award for Excellence.
The Imhotep Academy of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, located at The Science House, has been in existence since the Fall semester of 1992. The goal of the program is to enhance and increase the awareness and knowledge of mathematics and science among African American middle and high school students. This is achieved through classroom lecture, laboratory experiments, and educational and cultural field trips. The Academy conducts a ten week program on Saturday mornings in the Fall and Spring semesters and a two week Summer day camp. The enrollments for the past year were: Fall - 50 students, Spring - 50 students, Summer - 68 students.
The objectives of the Academy include increasing the numbers of African American students in the physical and mathematical sciences and informing the students of college and professional career opportunities in mathematics and science. Students are exposed to some of the latest technological innovations and discoveries, develop skills of investigation, analysis, and hypothesis, and increase critical thinking skills. The students learn of the many mathematical and scientific contributions of Africans, African Americans, and people from other cultures.
Student grade levels range from sixth through twelfth, with about 70% of the students attending middle school. About twenty percent of the students are honor students maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average. Students are selected by the coordinator using criteria of grades, extracurricular activities, interests, and parental involvement. Students are then placed in one of five teams based on their academic grade level. Teachers and staff include African American teachers, instructors, assistants, and role models. The instructors and assistants are public school, college and university graduate and undergraduate students. There were 20 employees on the Imhotep staff, with 30% not being directly associated with North Carolina State University.
The Imhotep academic program introduced students to many new concepts in learning with fun, hands-on applications and skill building. The Imhotep Academy uses many methods to present supplementary course material consistent with the public school curriculum. The Academy also addresses the needs of students of color that our educational system does not address well, for example, the importance of culture and self-knowledge.
In each session the curriculum includes Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Statistics, MEAS, African American Studies, and SAT Review. Students are introduced to new concepts early in the semester and build upon them throughout the 10-week session. Some of the lessons the teachers prepared in the Summer session are listed below:
Physics: Jet Propulsion, Flying Objects ÒFrom Birds to ShuttlesÓ Physics Resources on the World Wide Web
Mathematics: Geometry andTrigonometry Algebra Problem Solving ÒCreate Your on GameÓ
Chemistry: Chemical Compounds Elements Acids and Bases Balancing Equations
Statistics: Probability Games of Chance
A A Studies: African American Scientists and Inventors Patents and Inventions Play: ÒI Am Because We AreÓ
SAT Review: Vocabulary Building Test-taking Skills and Time Management
Appendices
Undergraduate and graduate student helpers - Thomas Herndon, Scott Ragan, Shannon Harvey, Nicole Hill
Twenty-two NCSU undergraduate and graduate students worked as part-time helpers in the Rural Schools and Imhotep programs.
Teacher In-Service Training Workshops
1. "Countertop Chemistry," September 14, 1995. 25 teachers, 3 hours training. Hosted by Charlotte Area Chemistry Alliance.
2, 3. "Using Computers in the Biology Laboratory," June, 1996. 14 teachers, 30 hours of training, 3 renewal certification credits.
4. "Using Computers in the Chemistry Laboratory," July 17-21, 1995. 8 teachers, 30 hours of training, 3 renewal certification credits.
5. "Using Computers in the Physics and Physical Science Laboratory," July 24-28, 1995. 14 teachers, 30 hours of training, 3 renewal certification credits. 6. "Using CBL and the TI-82 in Teaching Science," August 17-18, 1995. 20 teachers, 10 hours of training, 1 renewal certification credit.
7. "Using Computers in the Chemistry Laboratory," one hour presentation-workshop at the NC Science Teachers Association Meeting, Winston-Salem, NC, November 9, 1995. Attendance approximately 30 teachers.
8. "Using Computers in the Physics and Physical Science Laboratory," one hour presentation-workshop at the NC Science Teachers Association Meeting, Winston-Salem, NC, November 9, 1995. Attendance approximately 30 teachers.
9. "Using Computers in the Biology Laboratory," one hour presentation-workshop at the NC Science Teachers Association Meeting, Winston-Salem, NC, November 9, 1995. Attendance approximately 30 teachers.
10. Weather workshop, 3rd grade teachers, Farmington Woods Elementary School, January, 1996. 7 teachers
11. "Through the Eyes of a Dinosaur," 25 teachers at NC State and Appalachian State Univ, April, 1996., 1 credit hour. Television workshop over NC-REN network.
12. "Introduction to the Macintosh Computer," Presentation and workshop for 20 Korean high school physics teachers participating in a 5-week training program at The Science House, July, 1995.
13. "Computers in the Middle School Science Laboratory," July 10-14, 1995, workshop at Smithfield Middle School, Smithfield, NC. Follow-up session October 23, 1995.
14. "Computers and the Science Laboratory," Workshop for teachers at Davie County High School, Mocksville, NC, September 20, 1995.
15. "Computers and the Science Laboratory," Workshop for teachers at Millbrook High School, Raleigh, NC, September 25, 1995.
16. "Computers in Physical Science," Workshop for teachers at Lee County High School, Sanford, NC, November, 1995.
17. "Computers in Biology," Workshop for teachers at Lee County High School, Sanford, NC, November 3, 1995.
18. "Technology in Science," Science House workshop for teachers from Durham Academy, Durham, NC, November 16-17, 1995. 8 teachers, 10 hours of training.
19. Howard Hughes Medical Institute PreCollege Program follow-up and planning day, December 9, 1995. 10 teachers, 4 hours of training.
20. "Using Computers in Teaching Science," workshop for teachers at Hunter Huss High School, Gastonia, NC, April 11, 1996. 8 teachers.
21. "Using Computers in Teaching Science," workshop for teachers in Halifax County, NC, April 18, 1996, 12 teachers, 4 hours of training.
22."Better Science Labs with Technology," Science Teachers workshop sponsored by NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, March 1, 1996. 42 teachers
23. "Using Computers for Better Science Labs," NC Assoc. for Educational Communication and Technology, Charlotte, NC, Feb. 9, 1996. 30 teachers
24. Acids and Bases for a pre-service group of student teachers at NCSU., September, 1995. 50 student teachers,
25. Density for teachers in New Bern, October, 1995. 8 teachers.
26. A Chemical Test for CO2 for the NC Science Teachers Association Meeting., November, 1995. 50 teachers
27. Matter and Its Changes and Density for the Science House at NCSU., November, 1995. 10 teachers.
28. Acids and Bases for the Science House at NCSU, December, 1995. 10 teachers.
29. A Chemical Test for CO2, Energy and Matter and Its Changes for the Imagination Station, Wilson, January, 1996. 45 teachers.
30. "The Science of Astronomy," at The Science House, October, 1995, 15 teachers, 1 renewal credit.
31. "Computers in the Elementary Science Laboratory," MSEN-Fayetteville State University, 24 teachers, June 12, 1995
32. "CBLs and TI-83s in the Middle and High School Science Laboratory," MSEN-Fayetteville State University, June 11, 1995. 26 teachers,
33. "MBls and CBLs in Middle School Science," MSEN-Fayetteville State UniversityJune 17-21, 1995. 33 teachers.
34. "Using the CBL and TI-82 in Science and Mathematics," St. Mary's High School and College, May 13-14, 1995. 10 teachers.
Publications and Presentations
1. "The Mysterious Magnets," D. G. Haase, The Physics Teacher 34, 60 (1996).
2. "The Physics of Basketball," D. G. Haase, Coaching Women's Basketball, Jan./Feb. 1996, p. 21.
3. "The Science House: A Partnership Between the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at NCSU and K-12 Science and Mathematics Teachers," Michael C. Smith, AAPT Announcer 25, 65 (1995).
4. "Science Teacher Training Through Interactive Video," D. G. Haase, M. C. Smith, M. C. Brown, and E. D. Woolard, Bull. APS 40, 2076 (1995).
5. "Integrating Math and Science with Technology," T. R. Boyette and D. G. Haase, Joint Conference on Teaching Math and Science, Williamsburg, VA (1995).
Proposals Submitted
1. Burroughs Wellcome Fund - "Science Colloquies at The Science House" - $180,000
2. Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program - "A Technology Training Initiative for Middle School Mathematics and Science Teachers" - $35,000
3. Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program - "A Hands-On Science Training Program for Elementary School Teachers" - $35,000
4. NSF Preliminary Proposal - Local Systemic Change Program - in cooperation with Wake County Public Schools -"A Comprehensive Technology Training Initiative for Middle School Mathematics and Science Teachers"
5. Department of Energy - "The Imhotep Academy of Physical and Mathematical Sciences" - D. G. Haase - $42,000
6. AST Computers - In kind equipment request
7. NSF - Teacher Enhancement Program - "A Technology Outreach Program to Middle School Science Teachers in Rural and Small Town Schools" - D. G. Haase, A. J. Banks, J. C. Park (3 years)
8. University Outreach and Extension Professional Development Grants - "A Student Outreach Program for Physics, Chemistry, and Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences," - D. G. Haase, C. R. Gould, D. Eggleston, and C. Boss.
9. US Dept. of Education, FIPSE -"A Professional Transition Program for New Science Teachers," - D. G. Haase, A. J. Banks, C. Lytle, J. C. Park, (3 years).
10. US Dept. of Education, FIPSE -"Imhotep: A Cooperative Learning Curriculum for Science and Mathematics," - D. G. Haase.
11. NSF, Education and Human Resources - "Teaching Physical Science to Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Settings: a TEAM Approach," D. G. Haase and J. F. West (2 years)
12. NC Space Grant Consortium Outreach Program - "Integrating Global Weather into the EarthCycle Project," D. G. Haase
13. NC Space Grant Consortium Outreach Program - "Space Programs at the Imhotep Academy," D. G. Haase
14. N C State Faculty Outreach and Professional Development Program - "A Student Outreach Program for Physics, Chemistry and Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences," D. G. Haase, C. R. Gould, D. B. Eggleston and C. B. Boss.
Grants in Effect
1. National Science Foundation - Teacher Enhancement Program - "Team Science" - $759,000 over four years
2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute - "PreCollege Outreach Program" - $400,000 over five years 3. Burroughs Wellcome Company - "Hands-On Science Workshops at The Science House" - $21,960
4. Burroughs Wellcome Company - "Teacher-to-Teacher Summer Institutes" - $18,050
5. Glaxo Foundation - "Bringing Learning Technology to Students in Rural North Carolina" - $100,000
6. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation - "Teacher-to-Teacher: A Chemistry Outreach Program" - $30,000
7. Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program - "A Technology Training Initiative for Middle School Mathematics and Science Teachers" - $35,000
8. NC Space Grant Consortium Outreach Program - "Integrating Global Weather into the Earthcycle Project," - $1,000
9. N C State Faculty Outreach and Professional Development Program - "A Student Outreach Program for Physics, Chemistry and Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences," - $4,000.
Science on the Road Presentations 1995-1996
Physics on the Road Presentations
Rural Schools Programs Teachers and Schools
Howard Hughes Medical Institute PreCollege Program
Team Science
School Systems Reached by The Science House in 1995-1996
Avery, Alexander, Ashe, Bladen, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Carteret, Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Craven, Cumberland, Davie, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Moore, Nash/Rocky Mount, Pender, Randolph, Roanoke Rapids, Robeson Sampson, Scotland, Vance, Wake, Watauga, Wayne, Weldon City, Whiteville, Wilkes, Wilson
Last modified 10/25/96 by David Haase
The_Science_House@ncsu.edu