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Posted on
01/12/2012 6:14 PM EST
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Tilling the soil of STEM awareness
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Heather O’Mara and Ruth Márquez West
Positive, hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics experiences have lasting impact on students.
“When you think about how students choose their majors, it usually ties back to a positive role model in a subject where they were encouraged through a successful experience,” points out Hope Online School Counselor Kristie Richardson.
Pursuing that opportunity for every student, Hope Online is ensuring those positive experiences include STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) topics, areas in which disproportionate numbers of African-American and Hispanic students consider a career path.*
“We are de-mystifying science on fundamental levels for teachers, mentors and students, alike,” shares Hope Online Teacher Ben Davidson. “This year, through sequential lessons about the scientific method and a science symposium culminating their studies, we are systemically generating excitement about the impact of science on the world around us.”
In addition, some Learning Centers are continuing their success in local and regional science competitions. At Hope Online’s Tubman Hilliard Global Academy, students have earned coveted competition placements. All qualified applicants have navigated through the scientific method steps from hypothesis to data-gathering and then constructed formal displays and presentations of their findings.
“We have found that, regardless of where you are in your academic program, you can engage students in competitive science,” Tubman Hilliard Global Academy Director Tunda Asega asserts, pointing to the impressive roster of students who have been recognized for their science endeavors. In 2009 and 2010, several Hope Online students who entered the local and regional science competitions received high placement honors for outstanding projects.
“We want to open doors for our students who often feel pressure to graduate high school and then go to work immediately,” says Hope Online Teacher Ben Davidson. “The need for financial security in the family is often placed above furthering the student’s education toward a career.”
Ms. Richardson agrees, adding that students overlook many options for technical school and college because they think they are “not good at math or science.”
But all that is changing at Hope Online. With science awareness in high gear, it is also the “year of math.” Ongoing hands-on professional development trainings encompass many facets of effective math coaching. Supplemental homework is also required and online classes are providing discussion forums to exchange relevant examples and friendly solutions for instructional challenges across Learning Centers.
In this way, Hope Online teachers, Learning Center directors and mentors are all working together, excited about one of American students’ most challenging topics – math – one in which they ranked 25th out of 34 participating countries.** However, while everyone at Hope Online is ready to support the push toward math readiness, Hope Online Staff Developer Sandy Fritz emphasizes the balance of offering help and good timing. “We continue to establish a learning environment in which our students are working as hard as the teachers and mentors and sometimes that requires patience, allowing the student to work through an appropriate level of challenge first.”
This environment, as Hope Online Director of Student Achievement Dr. Janet Filbin explains, is part of the greater goal. “We want our students to achieve confidence in articulating their needs and to learn, in the greater landscape of their lives, to approach situations knowing how to collect and process pertinent information and data to make decisions for their futures. We believe this will result in an outcome that our students understand their social responsibility and that each has the ability to respond to important life questions.”
About Hope Online Learning Academy Co-Op: Hope Online Learning Academy Co-Op is a unique online public charter school that bridges the digital divide by affording k-12 students the benefits of online education in a safe and supportive classroom environment. Chartered by the Douglas County School District, Hope Online enrolls students statewide, with the majority of students representing minority populations that qualify for free and reduced lunch. Hope Online provides the only opportunity for Colorado’s at-risk students with working parents to participate in online education. For more information, visit http://www.hopeonline.org or call (720) 402-3000.
Heather O’Mara serves as CEO, and Ruth Márquez West serves as Communications and Public Relations Coordinator for Hope Online Learning Academy Co-Op.
*“Women, Minorities Vastly Underrepresented in Engineering Profession” by Jason Koebler, US News October 28, 2011** “’Wake-up Call’: U.S. students trail global leaders” by Christine Armario, Associated Press, Life on MSNBC.com December 7, 2010.
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