Notes from the Education meeting. April 4, 2000. (Thanks Bonnie, Marge and Susan!)

Marge Barden and Susan Dahl from the Education Office reviewed the history of the K-12 education programs at Fermilab ending with current programs.

The K-12 education programs began in earnest when Leon Lederman started the Friends of Fermilab organization to provide funding for programs other than Saturday Morning Physics. In 1989, DOE added education to its mission, and the Lab could directly support K-12 education programs. Fermilab has many programs for students and teachers locally and nationally, and Marge and Susan outlined the ones which would benefit from our involvemment. These are:

Beauty and Charm for Middle Schoolers: Time Committment .5 hours
High School Field Trips to FNAL: Time Committment .5 hrs.
Science Adventures grades 2-3,4-5,6-8: Time Committment .5 hrs.
Phriendly Physics K-5 teachers: Time Committment 1-2 hrs.
Cryo Show K-8: Time Committment .5 days. (+ travel to school)
Public-Career days, Science Fairs MS-HS: Time Committment 2hr-.5day (+ travel time to school)

The most important role a young scientist can play is to spend some time in a class with a child or young student, to answer a question, to show interest in the children's questions and let them know scientists are "real" people. Your support can encourage teachers as their confidence grows. Through our workshops teacher gain content knowledge and practice an inquiry approach to teaching that models the nature of science. Susan passed around a list of available times in the next few months when we would be needed. Please stop by the 15th floor Education Office in the high rise to get a packet of information describing the above programs.

If you are willing to PARTICIPATE AS A ROLE MODEL OR PROVIDE CONTENT SUPPORT to any program, contact Nancy Lanning, X5588 or lanning@fnal.gov The GSA is trying to coordinate an online calendar such that you can sign up, pr see available slots online.

For more information about how you can be involved, contact Susan Dahl, X3094 or sdahl@fnal.gov