30B-5 |
Food science graduate gellow in GK-12 NSF program promoting food science education |
B. L. CALDER, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, M. Bagley, Jefferson Street School, Old Town, ME, and S. Eaton, Indian Island School, Indian Island, ME. The National Science Foundation (NSF) recognizes the challenges of K-12 education. They are addressing these issues by awarding fellowships to graduate students at higher education programs of science, math, engineering and technology (SMET) to help serve K-12 teachers as valuable resources for SMET content and applications. The objectives were to enrich science education for K-12 students, to provide professional development for K-12 teachers in science, and to strengthen partnerships between K-12 schools and university science faculties. Teaching science lessons in classrooms in the local area from the 2nd-12th grade at select sites in which the teacher is involved with the NSF program. Lesson plans are taught to enhance teacher’s curriculum in order to meet Maine’s Learning Results, which are a fixed statewide teaching curriculum. Science lessons cover a wide variety of subject matter and are taught at age specific levels. Food science lessons have been easily integrated into the teaching curriculum. Examples are, Oreo cookie triangle sensory test, natural pigment dyes for coloring Easter eggs, and food safety/preservation labs have all been taught with success in the K-12 environment. Graduate students have become positive role models for K-12 students, as they are more excited about learning science in this environment. Food science concepts are easily incorporated into lesson plans. These lessons help educate students about food science, promotes awareness of the food science field, while also meeting the educational goals of the teacher’s curriculum and the NSF program.
Session 30B, Education
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