Is this role for you? You will want to work directly with students if you are willing to be flexible and inventive you like the satisfaction of seeing immediate results you can say "I don't know" you are very interested in what researchers and practitioners know about how children learn By working directly with students, you will be able to make valuable contributions modeling scientific inquiry sharing your passion for science connecting science and technology to the "real" world augmenting the science background of the teacher and students helping end the stereotype of scientists as "nerds" Advice from the field Scientists and engineers bring to students experience with applications of science the process of inquiry design technology critical and analytical thinking access to resources strong content knowledge In the science classroom what this comes down to is that scientists can help support reflective and critical debriefing of hands-on activities and encourage students to ask and discuss questions that begin with "How?" "Why?" and "What if?" In addition, in working with students inside and outside the classroom, scientists put a personal face on science and help students see why one would choose to do science or to become scientifically literate. They help debunk stereotypes of who scientists are, what they look like, and what they do in their professional and personal lives. Scientists can be personal as well as intellectual role models for students. Scientists can help students understand how they got to where they are, including how they personally faced and met difficult challenges and even seemingly insurmountable obstacles. What do scientists and engineers contribute when working directly with students? They help teachers and students feel comfortable saying "I don't know" help teachers recognize good questions model how scientific questioning has different goals than the usual questions asked in the classroom introduce students to new technologies promote inquiry skills and understandings promote scientific literacy and an inclination to life-long learning help develop a more diverse workforce Many roles are possible--including mentoring outside of school--but scientists and engineers MUST be properly prepared, trained, and supported in order to be effective with students. Preparation must address student diversity, learning theory, teaching methods, age-appropriate content materials, working effectively with educators, and current education reform issues and implications. The Do's and Don'ts of working with students Do: observe in classrooms first work on breaking down the scientific language you use with colleagues work closely with teachers to learn pedagogy, to understand the diversity of students, to get general "reality checks" engage students in activities treat content as a way to engage students in critical thinking strive to become involved on a sustained basis Don't: lecture take on the role of expert be didactic assume the classroom has abundant resources or equipment expect to be of as much help or influence--at first--as you may have hoped to be; this will develop but gradually Resources Working Effectively with Students from Sandia National Laboratories' Science Education In Our Elementary and Secondary Schools: A Guide for Technical Professionals Who Want To Help [Editor's Note: This link may be temporarily out of order due to "remodeling" at the Sandia National Lab website. ] Sharing Science with Children: A Survival Guide for Scientists and Engineers is a classic favorite from the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science. The National Science Education Standards, Principles and Definitions, Teaching, and Content chapters will provide a basic understanding of the goals of K-12 science education. Your child's or grandchild's teacher or the teachers at your local school can tell you which materials and local resources they recommend. Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) are easy to use guides for activities with K-8 students, produced by the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley. Your professional society. Listed below are some of the best professional society resources for working directly with K-12 students. The Chemistry Classroom: Formulas for Successful Teaching, by Dudley J. Herron. American Chemical Society (c) 1996. Great introductory chapter on learning theory. See RISE profile of ACS. The Universe at Your Fingertips is an extensive loose-leaf collection of astronomy activities and resources compiled by Project ASTRO of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Also see their "Ten Steps To A Successful Partnership" brochure online. The World in Motion I (grades 3-5) and World in Motion II (grades 6-8) are design experiences developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers. See RISE profile of World in Motion project.