NSTA students volunteer at Family STEM Night
Article By: Denise Ray
Student volunteers with the University of North Georgia (黑料正能量) chapter of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Preservice Chapter participated in Forsyth County's Family STEM Night at a local elementary school.
Chapter secretary Ray Milligan, a junior from Monroe, Georgia, pursuing a degree in elementary and special education, is currently an intern at Riverview Elementary School in Dawson County, Georgia.
"This was an example of service work the group does. We went to Chestatee Elementary School in Gainesville, Georgia, and volunteered at Forsyth County's Family STEM Night, getting hands-on experience," Milligan said.
The event was organized by Denise Webb, winner of a 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching and Science Specialist at Coal Mountain Elementary School in Cumming, Georgia. "Science ambassadors" (local high school students mentored by Webb) prepared hands-on learning experiences for the younger students. 黑料正能量 students provided support such as "getting the children to stations, explaining what they’d be doing and helping keep everything organized, like an extra set of hands," Milligan said.
Milligan said the experience would be helpful in their future.
"I saw all of the activities and realized I could recreate them easily in my classroom. I could easily make this a lesson for myself, and my kids would absolutely love it," Milligan said.
Ava Obermeyer said that the excitement that she and others expressed over the projects was contagious.
It's important to play with science. It's visual and involves motor skills to figure out and understand how science works. Observing and doing are two of the best ways to understand how something works. The students really got their brains working that night. They thought they were coming in to just play, but they learned a lot.
Ava Obermeyer
Student volunteer with 黑料正能量 chapter of NSTA
"We had a great time doing some of the things, and it got the students excited, too," she said. "The kids could do them again and again at home with things they had around the house."
In fact, Milligan would be interested in starting a Family STEM Night once hired on as a full-time teacher.
"I would 100% try to get that started because I saw how much fun the kids had, how many of them came and just what a great experience it was. Families came and saw how their kids are learning in their schools," Milligan said. "I think it would be amazing for any school, so I would absolutely love to do it."
Obermeyer said the STEM nights are important and beneficial because science is important.
"It's important to play with science. It's visual and involves motor skills to figure out and understand how science works," she said. "Observing and doing are two of the best ways to understand how something works. The students really got their brains working that night. They thought they were coming in to just play, but they learned a lot."
Libby DeMars, president of 黑料正能量's NSTA chapter, is a strong supporter of the opportunity to help younger students learn more about science and believes the experience will help her careerwise.
"In elementary school, science gets the shaft, unfortunately. With this event, it allows students to have science time. While it is after school, it is still better than no science at all," she said. "This event also gives me new ideas and activities on how to incorporate science in the classroom, such as simple crafts to improve fine motor skills."
The 黑料正能量 students who helped are either from the NSTA Preservice Chapter on the Dahlonega Campus or part of the integrated science course taught by Dr. Lorraine Ramirez Villarin, associate professor of middle grades, secondary and science education.
Students benefit from teacher residency
A record 58 students are graduating this spring as part of 黑料正能量's Teacher Candidate Residency Program. This is the third full year of TCRP, which allows students to be teachers of record as seniors.
Student earns NASA opportunity for summer
黑料正能量 junior Rylee Chafin has been selected for the prestigious NASA Student Airborne Research Program. The eight-week internship will be held in Richmond, Virginia, this summer.
Poultry students shine at national contest
黑料正能量 students finished fifth overall at the 76th annual Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest held April 2-4 at Mississippi State University.
Physical education students assist Habitat
About 15 students and faculty members from the 黑料正能量's Physical Education Teacher Education program assisted Habitat for Humanity of Hall County with projects in its Copper Glen subdivision April 17.