May 29, 2000

Local Teachers Participate in National Science Foundation Meeting

(from left) Dr. Laura Bottomley (NCSU College of Engineering), Deb Andrews (Combs Elementary), Sara Washburn (NCSU Engineering student) and Liz Parry (Science Surround) attend a meeting of investigators from across the country at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C.

(from left) Teachers Deb Andrews (Combs Elementary), Robin Hensarling (Washington Elementary) and Jan Kidwell (Washington Elementary) participate in a meeting of teachers and engineers from across the country at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C.

(from left) Robin Hensarling (Washington Elementary), Kathy Barcus (Duke University Engineering student) and Jan Kidwell (Washington Elementary) attend a meeting of investigators from across the country at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Wake County teachers Deb Andrews (Combs Elementary), Jan Kidwell (Washington Elementary) and Robin Hensarling (Washington Elementary) recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in a two-day session conducted by the National Science Foundation. Combs and Washington are the pilot schools in the NSF's GK-12 Teaching Fellows Program, a three-year, $670,000 grant awarded in September 1999.

The grant, a joint collaboration between Duke University, NC State University and Wake County schools, places graduate and undergraduate students in engineering in the schools for 10 to 12 hours per week. The students serve as math, science and technology resources for the teachers. Both programs began last fall, with Duke placing four college students at Washington and NC State placing three at Combs. The college students have been involved in many activities, including teaching science to K-5 students, tutoring in math, devising ways to integrate science into other areas of study, helping to develop curricula for regular and elective classes, developing methods to teach science to hearing-impaired and ESL students and participating in schoolwide science- and math-related functions like Science Night and Science Fair. The universities have also lent their expertise in technology to the schools, from developing websites and designing networks to consulting on technology-related issues. A team of senior electrical engineering students installed a computer network at Combs to allow classrooms to "speak" to each other (with a video connection).

In March the National Science Foundation invited participants from the nationwide program to Washington for a strategy session and program update. Attending from NC State University was Dr. Laura Bottomley, College of Engineering faculty member and NC State principle investigator for this project; Liz Parry, owner of Science Surround and program manager; Sara Washburn, Electrical and Computer Engineering fellow; and Deb Andrews, a teacher for the hearing-impaired at Combs. Duke representatives included Dr. Gary Ybarra, College of Engineering faculty member and Duke principle investigator; Kathy Barcus, Civil Engineering fellow; Ms. Jan Kidwell, Instructional Resource Teacher at Washington; and Ms. Robin Hensarling, a fifth grade teacher at Washington. Next year NC State will be working with Combs Elementary, Washington Elementary and Centennial Campus Middle School. Duke will expand into Orange and Durham counties.

NOTE TO TELEVISION MEDIA AND EDITORS: Upcoming events under this program include a lesson in the science of sports at Combs Elementary from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 1, and Friday, June 2, in conjunction with field day. This is an example of how science can be integrated with physical education. An additional event will take place at Washington Elementary from noon to 3 p.m. May 30 and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on June 5.

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