ANNUAL MEETING FOR GK-12 PROJECT TEAMS, MARCH 4-6 2005

USF Team Members, Left to right, standing:

Dr. Griselle Centeno, co-PI, Department of Industrial Engineering;Dr. Tapas Das, co-PI, Department of Industrial Engineering; Dr. O.Geoffrey Okogbaa, PI, Department of Industrial Engineering; Dr. Louis Martin-Vega, Dean and co-PI, College of Engineering; Wilkistar Otieno, Project Manager, Department of Industrial Engineering; Vishnu Nanduri, Project Manager, Department of Industrial Engineering; Ophir Ortiz, Fellow, Dept. of Electrical Engineering; Joniqua Howard, Fellow, Dept.of Environmental Engineering; Kevin Young, Fellow, Dept.of Chemical Engineering; Souheil Zekri, Fellow, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

USF Team Members, Left to right, sitting: Wandaliz Torres-Garcia, Fellow, Department of Industrial Engineering; Tiffaney Mathis, Fellow, Department of Chemistry;; Alfred Ogden, UG Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Caetino Cash, Fellow, Department of Computer Science Eng.; Adrian Defante, Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering; Jorge Lallave, Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Zoe Seda, Fellow, Department of Industrial Engineering.

STARS members not in picture:Patty Davis, Project Coordinator, Institute on Black Life; Dr. Ashok Kumar, co-PI, Department of Mechanical Engineering Dr.Brenda Townsend, co-PI, Department of Education; Dr.Michael Churton, co-PI, Department of Education; Elizabeth Hunnicutt, Science Coordinator, School District of Hillsborough County;

STARS ENRICHMENT MODULE EXAMPLES

Sunshine States Advanced Module

Enrichment

STARS USF TEAM

A Paradigm Shift in Elementary Science Education: The STARS ApproachJ. Howard, J. Lallave, S. Zekri, W. Torres-Garcia, O. C. Cash, O. Ortiz, T. Mathis, K. Young, A. P. Defante, A. Ogden, Z.

Seda

Extensive background material on the below topicsPractical experiments that aid in understanding math and science principlesTeachers provided with advanced technical content on modulesFellows assist teachers to help implement modules and activitiesModules and lessons are developed based on the Florida Sunshine State Standards

Modules include: - Force and Motion - The Nature of Matter- Energy - Processes that Shape the Earth- Processes of Life - The Nature of Science- Earth and Space - How Living Things Interact within Environment

CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

Motivated by the inadequacy of level of science education in the State of Florida, STARS made a paradigm shift in science education by developing pilot modules for all strands of sunshine state standards (SSS) to show how science lessons can be developed by focusing on the mathematics, engineering, and scientific principles that underlie scientific facts. We feel that the SSS and the corresponding grade level expectations (GLE’s) must enforce the need to learn the underlying mathematics, engineering, and the scientific principles and not just the scientific facts.

Paradigm Shift by STARS

In addition to the SSS based modules, the Fellows have also developed modules in cutting edge areas such as electrical, chemical, and environmental engineering. The implementation of these modules in the classroom is currently underway. These modules expose elementary school students to innovative science and engineering applications that can open young minds to new concepts. This helps students appreciate and understand science better by developing an investigation based approach to understanding underlying scientific and engineering principles.

SUNSHINE STATE ADVANCED MODULE ENRICHMENT

Fellows enhance the STEM experiences through the following:Serve as resources for teachers and work toward improving the content of

science and mathematics taught in their classes

Develop new modules and lessons that focus on Sunshine State Standards (SSS), using hands on experiments and innovative science activities

Engage in after school programs, FCAT preparation in State of Florida, Discovery clubs, School science days, Judge County Science Fair projects, and participate in field trips

Organize Theme based STARS Summer Science Camps each year

The STARS Program has:

Intensified the enthusiasm towards entering the academic field

Increased familiarity with many aspects of teaching including inquiry based learning through interactions with school teachers

Provided effective communication skills to convey complex information in a simplistic manner

Exploration of alternate teaching methods

IMPACT ON GRADUATE STUDENTS

ACTIVITES OF GRADUATE FELLOWS

STARS ENRICHMENT MODULE EXAMPLES