Outreach Activities
Science and Technology Outreach and Mentoring Program (S.T.O.M.P.)
The S.T.O.M.P. objectives:
- To augment the inquiry-based science opportunities available to elementary students;
- To provide teachers with opportunities to observe and participate in state-of-the-art laboratory research; and
- To utilize University of Chicago faculty and students as science resources and role models.
To this end, the following concepts -- three events and three
on-going activities -- are presented. A staggered program launch
is utilized (with potential implementation dates in parentheses).
Michelle D. Terry
directs the University of Chicago's S.T.O.M.P. program.
S.T.O.M.P. Science Sprees: Outings to University of
Chicago science laboratories and hospital facilities are organized to
introduce students to a variety of scientific research environments
and topics and to bring to life issues presented in the classroom. (September
to June three visits/year)
S.T.O.M.P. Ask-A-Scientist: This telementor program
links University of Chicago graduate students with a select group
of science students (e.g., seventh graders) with E-mail as the
primary communication method. At least two in-person visits --
an initial visit so that students and their telementor may get
acquainted and a year-end occasion to review the accomplishments
-- are held. This program could be linked with the summer science
institute, the activities of the after-school science club and/or
the science sprees. (October weekly activity)
S.T.O.M.P. Science Club: University of Chicago
scientists, graduate students and/or advanced undergraduate students
work with school staff to create an after-school science program.
University graduate students direct the science club throughout
the year. Resources from the Argonne National Laboratory Division
of Educational Programs are available. (October to June
one day/week)
S.T.O.M.P. Science Teacher for a Day: This initiative
is designed so that older students (seventh and eighth graders)
involved in the science programs may develop and present a science
lesson to the younger students (kindergarten or first grade).
Likewise, high school students participating in the University's
Office of Special Programs courses may develop and present science
lessons to S.T.O.M.P. Science Club students. (May, single day
event).
S.T.O.M.P. Summer Science Scene: If there is sufficient
interest, the after-school science club could be extended to
a summer (hence year-round) activity. (June through August
one day/week)
S.T.O.M.P. Summer Science Seminar: (Conducted only
if there are enough registered participants.) University of Chicago
scientists provide innovative examples to teach scientific concepts
(e.g., movie monsters to demonstrate the concept of scaling,
every day kitchen occurrences to teach physics, etc.). Teachers
attending the seminars would then discuss the science and render
these adult lectures into classroom curriculum they may use with
their students. This program is designed so that teachers may
earn CPU credits. (July/August five-week summer program)
Mechanisms to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of each component may be developed and included.
