We kicked off the STEM Education and Public Outreach (EPO) component of Dr. Kovalewki's Po Plain NSF Research project at the beginning of the 2010 spring semester.
By working with our partner over in Multicultural Programs we hired an undergraduate intern who will work with us, Ceseley. She is a Biology major, so first off we need to start building her understanding of the background geosciences information for her to be able to help us with the "Communicating STEM with the Public" aspect of this project. She will also be working on some of the research after our samples arrive in March.
Jackie, one of the Graduate Assistants on the project is doing a great job of helping translate complex geo concepts. She said this is helpful to her just in communicating about the science. She is really taking seriously the concept of mentoring.
I had the idea to get Ceseley to help us with social networking like Facebook and Blogspot to start out. The Geos Outreach program hasn't done that yet although I have colleagues who have encouraged it (thanks Beth and Denny!). Turns out this may be a really good idea. It is easy for her! But because I am not in that world yet it has been really hard for me to imagine how to even get started. I am SO EXCITED to be able to have this opportunity to move forward with these communication technologies!
One of the educational tools I really believe in and try to build into all my work is reflection. I have tried to encourage it with students and colleagues, but now it looks like using blogs we can actually make it pretty easy for everyone to document the various viewpoints that are working on our EPO.
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