2538 Views (as of 05/2023)
Icon for: Jan Smith

JAN SMITH

Boise State University

Closing the Loop: From Student to STEM Teacher for Idaho Schools

NSF Awards: 1758436

2021 (see original presentation & discussion)

Undergraduate

Boise State University Noyce Scholars engage in a service requirement each semester.  Our typical options for scholars to engage in community service were quickly stripped away as the global pandemic took hold.  As a result, we came up with some creative and unique options for our Noyce Scholars to engage in service, at a distance.  Our video will highlight a few of our service projects from the 2020-2021 school year including virtual seminars on STEM topics, STEM to Them video production and materials preparation for K-6 students from Title 1 schools to engage in STEM at home, as well as creative attempts at recruitment using student-made videos.

 

This video has had approximately 124 visits by 103 visitors from 53 unique locations. It has been played 66 times as of 05/2023.
Click to See Activity Worldwide
Map reflects activity with this presentation from the 2021 STEM For All Video Showcase website, as well as the STEM For All Multiplex website.
Based on periodically updated Google Analytics data. This is intended to show usage trends but may not capture all activity from every visitor.
show more
Discussion from the 2021 STEM For All Video Showcase (13 posts)
  • Icon for: Jan Smith

    Jan Smith

    Lead Presenter
    Clinical Assistant Professor
    May 10, 2021 | 05:05 p.m.

    It's been a whirlwind year for educators for sure!  We made some modifications in so many ways to accommodate our students and community.  This video highlights a few, but I'm curious to learn about changes you had in education this year; as a student, parent, or teacher.  I'm also wondering what your thoughts are on how education might see some permanent changes due to the pandemic.  I know we will be adopting some new projects and practices. Thanks for taking the time to watch our video! 

  • Icon for: Anne Kern

    Anne Kern

    Facilitator
    Professor
    May 11, 2021 | 04:53 p.m.

    Hello Boise State Noyce,

    I love the idea of the "STEM to Them" program. It was mentioned the kits are prepared and go to schools. Do the Noyce scholars provide PD or assistants for teaching with the kits to the classrooms? How far do the kits get distributed to in Idaho (Idaho is a big state :))?

    Cheers,

    Anne

  • Icon for: Jan Smith

    Jan Smith

    Lead Presenter
    Clinical Assistant Professor
    May 12, 2021 | 10:31 a.m.

    Hi Anne,

    The Noyce Scholars created videos for each kit to help parents help their kids do the activities at home.  So far we have distributed kits to a few title one schools close to Boise State.  We hope to continue and expand to more schools.

  • Icon for: Elizabeth Allan

    Elizabeth Allan

    Facilitator
    Professor; Secondary Science Education Program Coordinator
    May 13, 2021 | 09:14 p.m.

    It looked like the materials seem to be common household materials- do you provide a material list and instructions (like the student instructional videos) so that other schools and teachers can use the lessons?

  • Icon for: Megan Davis

    Megan Davis

    Higher Ed Administrator
    May 11, 2021 | 12:28 p.m.

    Thanks for sharing your ideas about how to pivot in the pandemic. As you may know, Lipscomb University just launched Noyce Scholars, and COVID delayed the recruitment of the first class by a year. I've shared your video with my colleague, the lead on Lipscomb's Noyce Scholars, Dr. Kara Krinks, so she may connect with you. https://www.lipscomb.edu/education/academic-pro...

  • Icon for: Jan Smith

    Jan Smith

    Lead Presenter
    Clinical Assistant Professor
    May 12, 2021 | 10:33 a.m.

    Awesome!  It's such a great program!  Yes, feel free to reach out and I'd be happy to share about our program.  We recently added a service component as detailed in the video and it has had a tremendous impact on our scholars and also the community.  Try to attend conferences such as regional Noyce conferences and the annual Noyce Summit; they are great opportunities to get ideas from other universities.

  • Icon for: Ann Cavallo

    Ann Cavallo

    Facilitator
    Assistant Vice Provost and Director, CRTLE
    May 12, 2021 | 02:08 a.m.

    Thank you for sharing your project! Community service is a "high impact teaching practice" (AAC&U) that is known to lead to students' developing a sense of belonging, and to increase self-efficacy, and persistence at the university. It is great that you generated novel ideas to continue this work during the pandemic for the community and students. Love the kits with videos the Scholars made. Did your Scholars make these as part of paid internships from the grant or were they volunteers? How did you supply the materials for the kits? Did the Scholars design inquiry lessons/learning modules/curricula to go with each kit or were they already developed? How did you manage/evaluate quality of the learning modules and kits? Were there any concerns with safety (since they appear to be for elementary age students, it appears everyday materials were used)? What methods have you or will you use to evaluate impacts of your work?

  • Icon for: Jan Smith

    Jan Smith

    Lead Presenter
    Clinical Assistant Professor
    May 12, 2021 | 10:39 a.m.

    Hi Ann,

     

    So many great questions!  I will do my best to answer them. :)

    The scholars were not paid to create the videos; this work was part of their required 8 hours of service.  The kit materials were provided with outreach funding from the IDoTeach program (our STEM Teacher Preparation Program at Boise State) The lesson ideas were provided for the scholars but they worked to create the video script and video recording to go along with the activities.   If there were safety issues for a particular activity they were addressed in the video but these were pretty simple activities with easy to access simple materials. We do plan to do some research on the impacts the service projects are having on our scholars, but have not begun that process yet.  Methods we are considering are interviews and surveys. Thanks! 

  • Icon for: Ann Cavallo

    Ann Cavallo

    Facilitator
    Assistant Vice Provost and Director, CRTLE
    May 14, 2021 | 03:24 p.m.

    Yes I had a lot of questions, lol! This is great that you have the resources to create the kits and lessons. We would do "Family Science Nights" with our scholars at local elementary schools pre-Covid and they were always a great learning experience (and fun) for all involved. The kits are a great alternative! Good plan to follow up and collect feedback on impacts. Thanks!

  • Icon for: Danielle Harlow

    Danielle Harlow

    Higher Ed Faculty
    May 13, 2021 | 03:24 p.m.

    I love the idea of virtual service. Will you continue that aspect of the program after everything goes back to normal to reach students who might not be able to access the more traditional in person science fairs and other activities? 

  • Icon for: Jan Smith

    Jan Smith

    Lead Presenter
    Clinical Assistant Professor
    May 13, 2021 | 05:41 p.m.

    Yes!  We have many rural communities and feel that this might be a great way to get STEM activities in their hands.  We also plan to do a hybrid version of our educational seminars where some can come in person while others who are more remote can attend via Zoom.  I'm sure some of the more typical service outreach projects such as STEM nights will be back in full swing soon; fingers crossed!

  • Icon for: Kauser Jahan

    Kauser Jahan

    Researcher
    May 13, 2021 | 04:09 p.m.

    Excellent videos with the kits. Very useful.

     

  • Icon for: Jan Smith

    Jan Smith

    Lead Presenter
    Clinical Assistant Professor
    May 13, 2021 | 05:39 p.m.

    Thank you!  We think the project has been well received by the community.

  • Further posting is closed as the event has ended.