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Project DESIGNS:
Doable Engineering Science Investigations Geared for Non-science Students
The Science Education Department of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics (CfA) is developing an engineering/technology-education
modular curriculum, funded in 1995 by the National Science Foundation.
Project Summary:
Having students build and test devices of their own design shows great
promise as a method for discovery and exploration of major scientific
concepts, displacing the role for most lectures and conventional laboratory
experiments. DESIGNS is researching, developing, and testing six modules
using iterative design-based projects for middle-school students. These
materials will be aimed at inclusion in introductory physical-science and
technology-education courses, but may also be used for general-science and
after-school or other informal teaching situations. This effort will
involve a team of experienced middle-school/junior-high school
physical-science and technology-education teachers, research engineers, and
scientists in producing effective, up-to-date, activity-based,
middle-school educational materials dealing with "designing to
constraints."
DESIGNS materials will be evaluated to determine their effect on students'
involvement and interest in pursuing technical careers, as well as changes
in their conceptual understanding and science process skills. A particular
focus of the evaluation will be on the impact of the project strategies on
urban underrepresented minorities and girls, many of whom have little
experience with, or avoid work on, mechanical devices.
Notice of Opportunity to Teachers:
At this time, the project is seeking ten middle-school/junior-high school
(i.e., grades 5-9) teachers experienced in physical science and/or
technology education to join the local teachers on the curriculum
development team. All DESIGNS teachers will participate in a two-week
institute at the CfA, 18-31 July 1996, where they will share their ideas,
develop prototype modules, test them with students in the MassPEP summer
program at Wentworth Institute in Boston, and then pilot the materials in
their classes during the 1996-97 school year. A second summer institute
will be held in July 1997 to revise materials for publication. Interested
teachers are encouraged to contact the project to request an application;
completed applications are due by 20 March 1996:
Project DESIGNS Application Office
Center for Astrophysics
60 Garden St., MS-71
Cambridge, MA 02138
Voice: (617) 496-4796
E-mail: hcoyle@cfa.harvard.edu
Tom Sewell, telementor Taylor Rd. Middle School
tom@trms.k12.fulton.ga.net Alpharetta, GA 30202
URL http://www.trms.ga.net voice (770)740-7090 ext.146
BBS (770)442-0474 fax (770)740-7062
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