Addressing an Overlooked Science Outreach Audience: Development of a Science Mentorship Program Focusing on Critical Thinking Skills for Adults Working toward a High School Equivalency Degree

Autor/inn/en	Gagnon, Nicole L.; Komor, Anna J.
Titel	Addressing an Overlooked Science Outreach Audience: Development of a Science Mentorship Program Focusing on Critical Thinking Skills for Adults Working toward a High School Equivalency Degree
Quelle	In: Journal of Chemical Education, 94 (2017) 10, S.1435-1442 (8 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Gagnon, Nicole L.) ORCID (Komor, Anna J.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9584
DOI	10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b01002
Schlagwörter	Adult Learning; High School Equivalency Programs; Science Education; Outreach Programs; Chemistry; Minority Group Students; Low Income Students; Disadvantaged; Mentors; Scientific Concepts; Critical Thinking; Science Process Skills; Hands on Science; Program Evaluation; Student Attitudes; Student Surveys; Outcomes of Education; Mastery Learning; Volunteers; Minnesota + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Adulte education; Adult training; Erwachsenenbildung; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Jobcoaching; Chemie; Kritisches Denken; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation; Schülerverhalten; Schülerbefragung; Lernleistung; Schulerfolg; Freiwilliger
Abstract	Adult learners seeking a high school equivalency degree are a highly motivated group of students that almost universally meet outreach audience goals of serving minority, low-income, and other disadvantaged populations. Despite the demonstrated need of this population, these students are not commonly served by university-sponsored science outreach programs. To address this omission, we developed a science outreach program called SciMentors that provides experiment-based lessons to existing science classes at adult learning centers, focusing equally on scientific concepts and critical thinking skills. SciMentors provides an opportunity for hands-on learning that would otherwise not be available to this population of students. The program is run by graduate students and postdoctoral associates in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota. Evaluation of the impact of the program on both the students and the volunteer teachers was performed by surveying participants. Via the surveys, students reported an increase in knowledge of and interest in science as a result of the program, and learning center staff reported an increased attendance on science experiment days. Volunteers reported increased mastery in a wide range of skills including science communication, leadership, confidence, and cultural awareness. Now entering its fourth year, SciMentors has served over 60 adult learners, provided over 270 volunteer hours to the community, and received positive feedback from all involved. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01