Science-A-Go-GoUsing Experiential Learning to Engage Students in Science

North Bay Science Educators’ Council

Mark Niemann, Novato High School

Vic Chow, Bodega Marine Laboratory, UC Davis

California Partnership for Achieving Student Success

Vision

• A Seamless Educational Pipeline Facilitating Student Success

Mission

• Identifying and Removing Barriers to Student Success

http://www.cal-pass.org

Principles and Goals

• Discovery

• Collaboration

• Alignment

• Innovation

• Evaluation

• Expansion

Discovery, Alignment, Evaluation

Collects, analyzes and shares student data in order to track performance and improve success from elementary school through university.

Already includes over 6,800 elementary schools, high schools, community colleges, colleges and universities, from over 52 California counties.

Facilitates database inquiries from participating school districts, teachers, and education researchers

Types of Data Collected

Student identifier (encrypted)

Student file: demographic information, attendance

Course file: enrollment information, course performance

Student test file: STAR (achievement), HS exit exam

Award file: diplomas, degrees, certificates

Optional files: information collected on interventions

Improves communication and networking among educators.

Brings together faculty from different educational systems to ensure that courses articulate with a smooth transition between segments.

Builds stronger educational communities and collaborative partnerships and projects (e.g. North Bay Regional Consortium, Science-A-Go-Go).

Collaboration, Innovation, Expansion

Cal-PASS Regional Consortia

Cal-PASSCalifornia Partnership for Achieving

Student Success

Cal-PASS Description Mission, goal, and resources

Student performance Student transitions Communication and networking among educators Collaborative partnerships and projects

Regional Councils North Bay Science Educators’ Council

Science-A-Go-Go

Program Description Engineer for a Day Geologist for a day Marine Biologist for a

day

Science-A-Go-Go: Goals

Science experiences for high school students Science content Scientific process: inquiry-

based learning Science role models

Collaborations between scientists and teachers

Cross-age teaching experience for college students

Science-A-Go-Go

Participants High schools

Novato High School: Mark Niemann El Molino High School: Joan Vreeburg

Universities Sonoma State University

Engineering: Shailendhar (Shally) Saraf

Geology: Dan Karner University of California, Davis

Bodega Marine Laboratory: Vic & Michelle Chow

Science-A-Go-Go: Program Components

Engineer for a day Sonoma State University

Engineering Lab Undergraduate students

hosts Robots Electron Microscope Circuits Lasers

Science-A-Go-Go: Program Components

Geologist for a day

Kehoe Beach at Point Reyes Graduate student

assistant Investigated where might

be best to drill for oil Gathered rock samples Observed millions of years

of geologic rock formation Clear fault transitions

Science-A-Go-Go: Program Components

Marine biologist for a day

UC Davis Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory Investigated invasive

species Sampled an area of the bay

at low tide Counted, sized, and

graphed the invasive species results

Toured the Lab Facility

Science-A-Go-Go: Outcomes & Evaluation

Long-term focus How does this change long

term decision making?

Positive feedback from students.

Unintended benefits Students exposed to college

campus for the first time. Interacted with university

students

Science-A-Go-Go: Accomplishments

Real-world science experiences for high school students

Science role models and academic/career paths for high school students

Science teaching experiences for college students: cross-age teaching

Partnership between scientists and college and high school educators

Next steps:

Where do we go from here?

Montgomery College Round Table (October 2007):

Rising Above the Gathering Storm: the Role of Community Colleges in Preparing STEM Professionals— Issues and Challenges

Reasons behind the shortage of students choosing a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

1) Students don’t understand what the career opportunities are or what STEM careerists do.

2) Students get turned off to mathematics and science early in their educational experience.

3) There is a very high attrition rate among students who choose a STEM major in college.

4) STEM careers don’t seem interesting, appealing, glitzy, or rewarding to students.

5) There is insufficient public appreciation and support of the importance of math and science in this country.

Current and future goals:

Program expansion Increase the number of

participating schools, teachers, and students

Publish and disseminate curriculum

Develop a network of science and education experts

Include elementary and middle school students and teachers

Program obstacles Funding Transportation Liability Local expertise

Proposed Program Expansion:

Strategies Leverage Cal-PASS collaborations and resources

Utilize existing programs, resources, and expertise (tutor & mentor programs, community service, internships & apprenticeships)

Develop scalable, systemic solutions for available (local) expertise, consistent training, and sustained funding

North Bay Science Ambassadors

Proposed Program Expansion:

Program Elements Develop a series of classroom and field science

activities for elementary school students

Includes inter-related earth science, physics, chemistry, and biology strands culminating in a field experience

Trained college science education majors to lead the activities with the assistance of high school students

North Bay Science Ambassadors

Goals / Expected Outcomes

Greater program capacity

Enhanced science opportunities and activities for elementary school students

Collaboration among K-16 educators to align curriculum and facilitate student transitions

Cross-age teaching

Role models for all students and model lessons for elementary school teachers

Academic and career training for college and high school students

Proposed Program Expansion:

North Bay Science Ambassadors

Acknowledgments

Cal-PASSMichelle Kalina (Senior Director for Operations)Shelly Valdez (Director of Regional Collaborations)Katheryn Horton (Regional Coordinator)

Sonoma State University and the Bodega Marine LaboratoryResearchers, educators, staff, and graduate and undergraduate assistants

North Bay Science Educators’ CouncilCarlos Ayala Sonoma State U Katheryn Horton Cal-PASS Darci Rosales Santa Rosa JC

Judy Barcelon Piner HS Dan Karner Sonoma State U Karen Santiago PROBE

Lee Boyes Petaluma HS Dan Karner Sonoma State U Shally Saraf Sonoma State U

Victor Brazil Petaluma HS Mark Niemann Novato HS John Shribbs Casa Grande HS

Amy Breminger Maria Carrillo HS Teri O'Donnell Maria Carrillo HS Barbara Shubin Rincon Valley MS

Michelle Chow Ocean Discovery! Tatjana Omrcen Santa Rosa JC Penny Sirota Rincon Valley MS

Vic Chow UC Davis Mike Roa SCOE John Vogt Rancho Cotate HS

Deb Grima-Lowe Willowside MS Joan Vreeburg El Molino HS