Comments from the Director

This is our first issue of the Science in Motion Newsletter. As we get the Science in Motion program running here at Susquehanna University, I would hope that this newsletter will not only provide information, but will also serve as a forum for teachers to share ideas about classroom experiments and activities that have been successful in their classrooms. Since I am a biologist … I anticipate that this newsletter will evolve to fill an empty niche in the science education of the students and teachers in the Central Susquehanna Valley. Please feel free to contact me at any time with your ideas and concerns.

Jan Reichard-Brown

Program Director-Science in Motion

570.372.4778 or reichardbrown@susqu.edu

Mission Statement

The mission of the Science in Motion Program at Susquehanna University is to encourage and improve science instruction and education in the secondary schools in our region through an out reach program. To accomplish this mission we provide to local high schools a van equipped with the latest technology, a trained secondary science teacher, and the ability to provide a science activity or to assist the local teacher with an activity designed by that teacher. We also provide workshops in the summer for high school science teacher to broaden and further their professional education.

What’s Happening at Science in Motion

Premier Van Visit a Great Success

The premier visit of the Science in Motion van at Danville Area High School was a huge success! Thanks to the tremendous hard work of Deb Slattery, Tracy Hepner, Mike McDevitt, and Chris Janzen we were able to provide acid-base titration experiments to Danville Area High School students all day and some spectrophotometric labs in the morning. Deb Slattery emceed the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new van and there were remarks from Richard Martz, Danville Superintendent, Chris Janzen from Susquehanna University, Representative Merle Phillips and Jan Reichard- Brown program director. We are off to a good start!

Chemistry Mobile Science Educator Selected

We are pleased to announce that Mike McDevitt has agreed to join us as our chemistry mobile educator. Mike joins the Science in Motion program after 28 years of teaching experience. We know that Mike will be sorely missed at the Danville Area High School. Look for more about Mike in the next issue.

The Science and Motion Web site is Up and Running

Thanks to the diligence of Ken Kopf and Megan Owen in the Information Technology Department at Susquehanna University our Web site is just about ready to go. We should be going hot very shortly. Check it out at www.susqu.edu/SIM. We plan to keep this Web site updated so check it often for changes.

Biology Van in the Works

A second van, to be the biology van has been ordered from Sunbury Motors, who generously donated the lease on the chemistry van. We really want your input as we start to purchase the instruments and equipment for the van. A letter has been sent out to the area teachers who are currently on our mailing list. Please feel free to e-mail, phone or snail mail your ideas to us. We want this van to be equipped with the items you need most to make your science programs successful.

Workshops Scheduled

June 17-21 Secondary Science Teacher Workshop- This first workshop is a week long, hands on workshop focusing on the equipment we currently have available and how to use it in your classroom. Enrollment is limited to 20. We would like to reach as many districts as possible, so teachers will be enrolled on a first come first serve basis by school district. Teachers attending will receive a stipend for the week. Extra spaces will be allotted to individual teachers based upon date of application. Deadline for enrollment is June 10.

June 26 The Investigative Approach to Science Education- The second workshop will be a one-day workshop focused on teaching investigative science and adapting curriculum materials all ready in use to the investigative approach. We will also look at the newly adopted state science standards and how the investigative approach could be used to address those standards. Enrollment is open to science teachers at all grade levels with a limit of 30. Preference will be given to secondary science teachers. Deadline for enrollment it June 17.

Contact Melanie at 372-4779 or e-mail her at sciencemotion@susqu.edu

Funding for 2002-2003 Fiscal Year-State Budget Concerns

The funding for the Pennsylvania Basic Education/Higher Education Science and Technology Partnerships for this year ends June 30. Rep. Merle Phillips had the line item for this program inserted into the House budget. However, it is not currently in the Senate version or the governor’s version. Please contact your local state legislators and let them know what this program can mean to the children in the Central Susquehanna Valley as well as the whole state.

Letters to SciMo

This section will be available for you to send in comments or items you wish to share.

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