MBTRC Spring 2018 Forum

MTS, Winnipeg, MB.

May 11, 2018

Teacher Inquiry Project:

The SCIENCE AMBASSADOR

Program

Presenter: Adrianna Sawchyn,

Senior Science Teacher, MBCI, Kelsey School Division

asawchyn@ksd.mb.ca

Affiliation: Coordinator of the Science Ambassador Program

Collaboration between Kelsey School Division, Opaskwayak Educational Authority,

University College of the North and University of Saskatchewan

What were our Goals of the Science Ambassador Program?

The aims of the Science Ambassador Program are:

� To provide teachers and students with exciting hands-on science experiences

� To have the Science Ambassadors serve as academic role models to youth

� To form relational partnerships with teachers, schools, and communities with the goal

of generating best-practices and dialogue to enhance Aboriginal students’

perceptions of and experiences within science teaching and learning, at all levels

What did we do to achieve these Goals?

The Science Ambassador Program selects senior undergraduate or graduate students from the

University of Saskatchewan or University College of the North with a background in STEM

(science, technology, engineering, and math)

disciplines. These Science Ambassadors work

alongside teachers from Kelsey School Division

and Opaskwayak Educational Authority to

support creative and culturally relevant science

teaching and learning. Science Ambassadors are

hosted by our community for a six-week

placement, allowing time and space for

relationship-building, two-way learning, and

bridge building between local priorities and K-12

science curricula.

Why did we want to achieve these Goals?

A Science Ambassador program entails activities that respond to the school’s teaching and

learning needs and, in addition to organizing hands-on experiments and demonstrations, may

include…

� Being "science contacts" for teachers

� Coaching student work for a science fair or inquiry project

� Catalyzing class discussions about advancements in science, or science of special interest to

students and community

� Providing tutoring or study support to students preparing for exams

� Modeling a healthy lifestyle and participating in extracurricular and cultural events

� Providing information about STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) careers

and choices for post-secondary education

Were we successful in achieving these Goals? When Students were asked…

What was the best thing you did with your Science Ambassadors?

� Making slime, Dissecting a worm, Mixing colours in the Milk Glue, Beading Molecules,

Balance birds, Bridge making, Making toothpaste, Our water study.

What was the best thing you learned?

Science Fundamentals such as:

“How Earth moves”, “Triangles are strong”, “Why space has no air to breathe”, “Owls puke up

bones” “Bacteria eat teeth, sugar doesn’t eat teeth”

Learning Strategies & Perspectives:

“I liked all the

experiments, it opened

my eyes” (Gr. 7)

“That I like to learn about

stuff” (Gr. 4)

“The best thing was

teamwork and how to build

things together” (Gr. 6)

“Science is knowledge and

knowledge is a key needed

to open many doors” (Gr.

11)

“Science isn’t a big part of

my life, really, but I do want

to be familiar with certain

subjects, like Microbiology

and DNA; it is a big part of

health” (Gr. 12)

When Teachers & Community Educators were asked what they appreciated the most about

the program…

� Elements of novelty & fun that encouraged student engagement

� Curriculum-connection & hands-on support - Our SA’s are asked to do some activities that tie

in with the Science Topics of Instruction for that grade level – we chose activities that a teacher

could easily do in class with materials that are easy to obtain. Then we ask SA’s to perform

some enriched activities that highlight that SA’s postsecondary background, or promote STEM

careers, problem solving or scientific literacy.

� Teachers love that they are given lesson plans for each activity at the end of the program.

What makes the Science Ambassador Program successful?

Communities love the support

� Program continues to spread to now 12 Northern communities from the pilot project that

was started in The Pas/OCN back in 2006.

Collaboration

� ”Many hands make light work” especially when each hand has limited funds in their

operating budget!

� Community members, classroom teachers, administrators, work together with post-

secondary institutions and business organizations – all are onboard with STEM capacity-building

Concluding Thoughts

Since its start in 2007, the Science

Ambassador Program has shown steady

and sustainable growth, providing high-

quality, hands-on science experiences

and meeting STEM teaching and

learning needs for thousands of

students in our Northern communities.

Our program pairs students with strong science knowledge with communities in need of

teaching support and resource access to create a successful learning partnership that we look

forward to continuing in the years ahead.

For 2018, if funding is available, we

hope to continue our learning

partnership and we are looking to

increase access to our program for

new communities and schools with

the help of our sponsors and

supporters.