The quasi-linear dynamics of a career in science education
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This is a talk that I gave for the University of Oregon Women in Science group on my career in science research, science journalism, museums, teacher education, and education research, culminating in my own consulting business.
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The quasi-linear dynamics of a career in science education
- 1. The Quasi-Linear Dynamics of a Career in Science Education Stephanie Chasteen stephanie@sciencegeekgirl.com http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com
- 5. Who are you? What is the main thing that interests you now (or that you are employed in)? A.Science B.Writing & communication C.Education D.Business / Industry E. More than one / something else
- 6. What interests you? Introduce yourself to your neighbor. Explain at least one struggle you have / have had in choosing a life path.
- 7. Who am I now?
- 8. Who am I now?
- 9. Let’s try an activity Secret Bells or Head Harp More like this at http://exploratorium.edu/snacks
- 10. Who was I then?
- 11. Mentors: Dr. Dennis Chasteen What kind of a student Margaret Chasteen was I?
- 12. Mentors: Dr. Dennis Chasteen Mr. Perry High School Brendan Crill
- 13. College: What to study? Physics Social Psychology Physics Now what?
- 15. Now what? BA in Social Psychology ? Peace Corps
- 16. What we can learn from bacteria: where is the warm spot? sense temperature gradients or changes
- 17. Mentor: Dr. Sue Carter Figuring out how things work
- 18. How to keep my love for science...? Physics research BA in Social Psychology ? Peace Corps
- 19. Communicating Science What is science journalism? What techniques does the piece use to reach its audience? (David Kestenbaum and Marvin Marshak - NPR)
- 20. What is the purpose of that piece? A.To educate people about science B.To keep the listener informed about current research C.To get the listener interested in science D.To give the journalist a job E. More than one / something else
- 21. Mentors: Dr. Sue Carter Dr. Sarah Rabkin Communicating Science Dr. David Kestenbaum
- 22. Some principles of good writing Know your audience Build from the familiar (e.g., analogy) Tell a story No jargon Short simple sentences, active voice Walk the line between accuracy and understandability (you won’t be as precise as you want to be!)
- 23. How to reach the public with exciting science? Now what? Physics research BA in Social Psychology Peace Corps freelance writing NPR intern
- 24. Mentor: Dr. Paul Doherty Communicating Science... to Teachers & the Public
- 25. Mentor: Dr. Paul Doherty Communicating Science... to Teachers & the Public
- 27. And another: Head Harp More like this at http://exploratorium.edu/snacks
- 28. Let’s try an activity
- 29. Teacher Institute Blue Sky Blue Sky Now you can explain why the Now you can the sky is blue and the sunset is sky is blue and is red red Iron science When sunlight travels through the When sunlight travels through the atmosphere, blue light scatters more atmosphere, blue light scatters more than the other colors, leaving a dominant than the other colors, leaving a dominant teacher yellow-orange hue to the transmitted yellow-orange hue to the transmitted light. The scattered light makes the sky light. The scattered light makes the sky blue; the transmitted light makes the blue; the transmitted light makes the sunset reddish orange. sunset reddish orange. A transparent plastic box, or a large A transparent plastic box, or a large beaker, jar, or aquarium beaker, jar, or aquarium A flashlight or projector (either a slide or filmstrip projector) A flashlight or projector (either a slide or filmstrip projector) Powdered milk Powdered milk Polarizing filter (such as the lens from an old pair of polarized sunglasses) Polarizing filter (such as the lens from an old pair of polarized sunglasses) Blank white card for image screen Blank white card for image screen Paper hole-punch Paper hole-punch Optional: Unexposed (black) 35 mm slide or photographic film, or an index card cut to slide size Optional: Unexposed (black) 35 mm slide or photographic film, or an index card cut to slide size (15 minutes or less) (15 minutes or less) Fill the container with water. Place the light source so that the beam shines through the container. Add Fill the container with water. Place the light source clearly see the beam shining through the liquid. Add powdered milk a pinch at a time; stir until you can so that the beam shines through the container. powdered milk a pinch at a time; stir until you can clearly see the beam shining through the liquid. (15 minutes or more) (15 minutes or more) Look at the beam from the side of the tank and then from the end of the tank. You can also let the light Look at the beam from thewhich of the tank and thenof the the end of the tank. the beam looks bluish- project onto a white card, side you hold at the end from tank. From the side, You can also let the light project from the end,card, which you hold at the end of the tank. From the side, the beam looks bluish- white; onto a white it looks yellow-orange. white; from the end, it looks yellow-orange. If you have added enough milk to the water, you will be able to If you have added enough change fromwater, you willyelloworange see the color of the beam milk to the blue-white to be able to see the color of the the beam. along the length of beam change from blue-white to yelloworange along the length of the beam. If you want to look at a narrower beam of light, use a paper If you want to look ataahole in the beam of light, use a paper a hole-punch to punch narrower unexposed black slide or in
- 31. What is the primary purpose of an interactive exhibit? A.To give hands-on experience with a phenomenon B.To motivate students to learn about science in school C.To give the exhibit designer a job D.To teach science content E. More than one / something else
- 32. What I did at the Exploratorium
- 33. I want to know more about education... Physics Exploratorium & research BA in Social teacher education Psychology Now what? Peace Corps freelance writing NPR intern
- 34. Mentors: Dr. Kathy Perkins Dr. Steve Pollock An informed education activist Dr. Carl Wieman
- 35. Education Research The teaching of science AS a science Studying how people learn Designing instructional materials Traditional lecture isn’t very effective!
- 36. Can we affect students’ beliefs? Attitude survey Shift (%) I think about the physics I experience in everyday life. Real world connect... -6 Spending a lot of time understanding where formulas come from is a waste of time. Personal interest........ -8 There is usually only one correct approach to solving a physics problem. Sense making/effort... -12 how do you think intro Conceptual................ -11 physics classes affect student attitudes? Math understanding... -10 A. More positive Confidence................ -17 B. More negative C. Stay same Students come out of introductory classes with more negative views of physics than they came in with!
- 37. Trad’l Model of Education
- 38. Common themes in Education & Communication Principles of learning 1. Motivation is essential for learning 2. People learn by actively constructing their own understanding. 3. Working memory limited (cognitive load) 4. People learn by building on what they know. Principles of communication 1. Know audience 2. Hook people in 3. Help people relate to the topic 4. Keep it simple 5. Tell stories
- 39. Now how to use all this? Physics Exploratorium & research BA in Social teacher education Psychology physics education research Peace Corps freelance writing NPR intern
- 40. Tying it all together: sciencegeekgirl enterprises
- 41. A non-specialized specialist Physics Exploratorium & research BA in Social teacher education Psychology physics education research Peace Corps freelance writing NPR intern
- 43. I found a warm spot Physics Exploratorium & research BA in Social teacher education Psychology physics education research Peace Corps freelance writing NPR intern
- 44. What my mentors gave me FLEXIBILITY benefit of the doubt encouragement enthusiasm expertise feedback
- 45. What I’ve learned Don’t hesitate to try It doesn’t hurt to ask Generosity yields returns So does hard work Pay attention & be curious Seek inspiration You are not a prisoner of your choices The world needs eclectic generalists too
- 46. Thank you! Please ask me questions! Please read my blog! Please contact me anytime! Please hire me! http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com stephanie@sciencegeekgirl.com