Education News Spring 2021 | Page 5

engaging

One student , Robertson , a mother of two , says , " This has been an extremely beneficial experience as I have learned an abundance of ways to incorporate the contents of this kit into the elementary classroom . Beyond this , it ’ s pretty incredible to see how much one can learn and experience from the comfort of one ' s own home ."
Robertson continues , " Not only have I gained knowledge from this class but so have my daughters , who are ages 8 and 9 . Mr . McCoy was kind enough to let my children join in the fun and learning . They looked forward to our Thursday night classes very much and I appreciate it as well ."
Robertson outlines some of the topics explored with the kit and the methods used in the course : " We explored forces and motion using toy cars and ramps ( ruler and books ), electricity as we saw what happens when you bring a negatively charged balloon close to a stream of water , investigating UV intensity with UV beads , aerodynamics using two cans and a straw and the list goes on . Throughout these Zoom classes , we have had the chance to formulate questions , design procedures , collect data and create explanations based on what we see . I never had this experience as an elementary school student , but I am sure I would have learned so much more if I had . My science class experience included reading a textbook and memorizing the terms to regurgitate on an exam or worksheet . It was quite mundane and not very stimulating for the mind . On the other hand , these classes have been exciting and inspiring . I have enjoyed watching my daughters learn how to think for themselves as they join me in these experiments . I appreciate this and want to do the same for my future students , as it not only betters them as individuals in the science classroom , but for life in general ."
Student Lakeland Scriver describes their experience of the kits : " Our professors gave us the kits with little to no explanation as to the contents outside of safety concerns . I love this : It makes the science kits feel magical . I may not know what an object or a chemical or a container might be used for , but I know that when the mystery is revealed , it will be spectacular . My professors are big advocates for inquiry-driven learning and having us investigate rather than go through cookbook experiments . This method helped capture our attention — no matter where we were attending class . I commend my professors for taking the time to put these kits together , and for having the patience to walk us through all of the activities remotely ." ( See Scriver ' s full story on the next page )
Professor Graham says , " The pandemic has not been easy for many people to deal with , so I have tried to be as flexible as possible with assignment deadlines . Similarly , my main goal is to push my students to excel to the best of their capacity , so I also allow them to resubmit work that is subpar . The point of teaching , in my mind , is to do whatever it takes to help someone learn and grow . It can be most rewarding when you help students to have higher expectations of themselves by insisting on setting the bar high and offering multiple chances to reach it , rather than having them , or you , settling for anything less .
I hope that my students take away that being patient , flexible , and caring are perhaps some of the most important elements of effective learning / teaching relationships ."
With students taking away those important lessons about caring for their future students , there is something to be grateful for in a trying time , an unexpected moment of grace coming out of the pandemic .
Moveable Pulley Photos
Of the science kits , student Chandra Palazzo says , “ The kits were very helpful and interactive , making science come alive in these times when we cannot meet in the classroom . It gives hand- on learners a great visual rather than focusing too much on content heavy material . Without the science kits , it would be very hard to understand the concepts , tactics and science terms that come along with each activity .” ( Photo right )
Education News | Page 5