Georgia Southern’s College of Education hits the road with Science To-Go, brings STEM education to Southeast Georgia
Pictured (l-r): Mary Thaler, i2STEMe senior administrative assistant; Cynthia Bolton, Ph.D., associate dean for educational outreach, partnership and diversity; and Kania Greer, Ed.D., i2STEMe coordinator.
Georgia Southern University College of Education’s (COE) Institute for Interdisciplinary STEM Education (i2STEMe) is taking science on the road. Equipped with a new enclosed cargo trailer, the institute plans to travel around Southeast Georgia providing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities to K-12 students and community members as a part of their new project called Science To-Go.
“Typically, people who come to science events are already engaged in the sciences,” explained i2STEMe Coordinator Kania Greer, Ed.D. “We want to take science to new audiences and garner new interest in STEM activities and education.”
Science To-Go offers hands-on educational activities in physical science, life sciences, chemistry, mathematics, physics, engineering and technology through a mobile unit. Activities will rotate periodically, allowing for new and interesting experiments for participants.
While the idea originated with Greer, she says many members of the University have helped Science To-Go come to life. The striking appearance of the trailer was designed and completed by Georgia Southern graphic design students under the guidance of Santanu Majumdar, MFA, associate professor in the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art. The Georgia Southern Museum is also collaborating on the project.
Greer says additional partnerships are being requested as the institute will need volunteers to help facilitate and create new activities for the project.
Participant attempts to trace an outline in the neuroscience activity while i2STEMe Coordinator Kania Greer explains the science behind the activity.
“Science To-Go volunteers will have the opportunity to evaluate student comprehension of activities and learn how to develop engaging activities that can span grade levels, all while actively engaging with the participants,” Greer said. “With a mobile and informal environment such as this, activities must grab the attention of participants and provide educational content in a short amount of time. That will be what helps generate the spark of passion for STEM education that we hope to grow in those we encounter on the road.”
With colleagues from the COE and College of Science and Mathematics, Science To-Go plans to hit the road in March with five activities focusing on neuroscience, forensics, physics, biology and chemistry.
“Learning isn’t always in school and teachers aren’t always in classrooms,” Greer said. “Science To-Go brings STEM education and teaching to students and the community.”
For more information on how to bring Science To-Go to your school or event, email stem@georgiasouthern.edu.
Posted in COE Events