A Science House Learning Outreach Project
in Henderson, Transylvania and Polk Counties

Project Overview

The goal of this project has been to extend Science House science and mathematics learning outreach programs to schools and teachers in the Henderson-Transylvania-Polk county region. The Science House is a learning outreach program of North Carolina State University whose mission is to work in partnership with K-12 teachers to emphasize the use of hands-on learning activities in science and mathematics. The Science House annually serves about 2,000 teachers and 20,000 students through a variety of programs that extend across North Carolina.

This project began as a result of conversations with Mr. Dock Kornegay and other Duke Energy Corporation officials about extending Science House outreach programs to areas of the state served by Duke Energy. At that time The Science House was establishing a satellite outreach office in Lenoir. At the request of Duke Energy, meetings were initiated with teachers and school officials from Henderson, Transylvania and Polk counties. In these meetings the needs of the schools were discussed, as well as Science House projects that had been successful in other areas of North Carolina. An operation plan was developed that emphasized teacher training in the use of laboratory activities.

The main goals of the project were:

• Project planning with the local school systems.

• Training program for using computer-based and calculator-based laboratory equipment in teaching mathematics and science.

• Establishment of a lending library of computer and calculator-based lab equipment to be circulated to the participating high schools.

• Teacher training workshops on hands-on science entitled Physics From the Junk Drawer /Countertop Chemistryand Using CBL's in Teaching Mathematics and Science.

• Development with Henderson County Schools of a successful proposal for university Eisenhower Program funding for a two-week teacher training program in summer, 1998.

• Numerous visits by Science House staff to the region for planning, teaching and operation of the equipment loan project.

The original intent of the proposal was a one-year project to seed a longer lasting presence of The Science House in the region. The Eisenhower training project continued through March, 1999.  Currently, the equipment loan program  is being utilized by six high schools and The Science House continues to provide teacher training programs for the area.

Project Planning

The project was planned through several trips to the Henderson area by Dr. David Haase, the first in August, 1996 and through many phone calls. Officials and teachers from Henderson, Transylvania and Polk County school systems participated in these meetings. The structure of the project is very much due to their contributions.

High School Laboratory Workshops

The Science House held several workshops on using computer-based and calculator-based laboratory equipment in teaching physical and biological sciences.  Teachers from five high schools in Henderson and Polk counties attended the training sessions. These workshops took place at North Henderson High School on three consecutive Fridays and Saturdays in September, 1997, and were taught by Science House personnel with the assistance of Henderson County Schools. The local school systems paid substitute teacher costs for the Friday workshop sessions.

Laboratory Equipment Loan Program

The Science House obtained a set of computers and computer-based laboratory equipment and packaged the equipment with lesson-plans suitable for high school classes.  The packaged lesson/equipment kits have been circulated to the participating teachers from a central storage area at North Henderson High School.  A set of TI-83 graphing calculators and CBL units were also made available for circulation.  Mr. Fred Gore, the physics teacher at North Henderson High, has been responsible for storing and signing out the equipment.  Teachers have picked up and returned the equipment themselves following a schedule established by Mr. Gore.

The distribution of the equipment began in December, 1998. The Science House repairs and maintains the equipment as needed and provides consultation to teachers on how to best use it in their classes. The equipment, although owned by NC State University, will be used by the participating schools as long as the distribution program remains viable.

The equipment available for loan includes:

10 Powerbook 1400cs/133 laptop computers
2 Dissolved Oxygen Probes
10 Vernier Software Universal Lab Interfaces
21 Force Sensors
1 Apple presentation System (TV Converter)
2 EKG Sensors
Stylewriter 2500 Printer
11 Heart Rate Monitors
11 TI -83 Calculators
10 Light Sensors
12 TI Calculator Based Laboratory Interface Kits
11 CBL Microphones
1 Calculator Viewscreen (w/TI-83)
10 ULI Microphones
4 Barometers
21 pH Systems
11 Biology Gas Pressure Sensors
21 Pressure Sensors
11 CBL Motion Detectors
3 Relative Humidity Sensors
1 CO2 Gas Sensors
11 ULI Motion Detectors
11 Colorimeters
4 Photogates with CBL adapters
11 Conductivity Probes
Computer and Calculator based Lab Manuals
20 ULI Temp Probes

Physics From The Junk Drawer/ Countertop Chemistry Workshop

This workshop was taught by Charlie Lewis February 18-19, 1998, at the Blue Ridge Community College center in Brevard. Fifteen high school and middle school teachers participated in twelve hours of hands-on activities based on the book Physics From the Junk Drawer / Countertop Chemistry, developed by The Science House. Each participant actually carried out the activities and was provided with a copy of the text. Participants received renewal certification credit from their school systems.

Using CBL in Teaching Math and Science Workshop

This workshop was taught by Dr. David G. Haase March 3-4, 1998, at the Blue Ridge Community College Center in Brevard. Twenty high school and middle school teachers from Henderson and Transylvania counties participated in twelve hours of hands-on training in the use of TI-83 calculators and CBL units for laboratory activities in science and mathematics. The Science House and the local school systems provided pay for substitute teachers. Participants received renewal certification credit from their school systems.

Each of the teacher training programs was evaluated through post-workshop questionnaires. The surveys indicated a high degree of teacher satisfaction with the quality of the training, the use of hands-on learning, the modelling of good pedagogy, and the applicability of the material to their own classes.

Summer Teacher Training Program

Beginning from the foundation of the present project Dr. David Haase worked with Ms. Kathy Revis and Ms. Lynn Clark of Henderson County Schools to prepare a proposal to the UNC Math and Science Education Network Eisenhower program. The program, entitled "Integrating micro-computer based laboratory and calculator-based laboratory equipment into the science classroom," was funded for $30,000 in January, 1998, provides twelve days of teacher training in the use of computer-based and calculator-based laboratory equipment to 19 teachers from the Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk County area. In addition each participant receives six renewal certification credits, along with a TI-83 calculator and CBL kit for their own use. The program included a two-week summer course, held at North Henderson High School June 22- July 3, 1998 and two one-day follow-up sessions in December, 1998, and March, 1999. The participants developed a booklet of laboratory teaching exercises that will be made available to other area teachers.

Extension of the Program

We are continuing to operate the equipment loan program. The equipment will remain at North Henderson High School in Henderson County and Mr. Gore will continue to oversee the scheduling and lending of the equipment.  The Western Science House Coordinator at the Caldwell County office will continue to maintain the equipment and coordinate with Mr. Gore.

As a result of the summer Eisenhower workshop, more teachers have been approved to borrow from the lending library of laboratory equipment. Partly as a result of the summer program, the science department at Brevard High School has obtained five computer-based laboratory setups. They will continue to borrow laboratory probes that they do not currently own.

The Science House will continue to stay in touch with the school systems and explore other workshops and collaborations in the coming year.  The evaluation of the project will continue, especially with regard as to how the use of the lending library of equipment has changed the teaching methods of the local instructors.

The operation of the Duke Energy Corporation project in the Henderson area has been used as an exemplar of how the University can support schools far away from the University campus. Recently the Howard Hughes Medical Institute has funded a similar project in northeastern North Carolina. We are also exploring with University officials the possibility of replicating this project in other areas of the state.

Project Outcomes

Teachers from each of the seven high schools in the three-county region have received thorough training in the use of up-to-date laboratory science teaching technology. Their learning is reinforced through follow-up sessions and continuing contact with the Science House Master Teacher.

The Science House has assembled an extensive lending library of teaching equipment and materials which the teachers collaboratively schedule and transport. The Science House continues to provide maintenance and support.

The Duke Energy Corporation investment was used to leverage a $30,000 project for additional teacher training that links to the present project. This university, school, and corporate partnership has been used as an example for proposals for similar projects in other parts of North Carolina.