It has been a busy year for STEM Outreach! During the 2022-2023 school year, Dr. Amy Dolan, along with her Graduate Assistant, Ms. Mary Fullmer have overseen the program and delivered over 1,700 hands-on STEM activities. They train undergraduate students–mostly elementary education and science majors–who then lead monthly activities in area 3rd and 4th grade classrooms. This past year, they have worked with approximately 290 elementary students in the Aberdeen, Britton-Hecla, Groton and the Evergreen Hutterite Colony schools. STEM activities have included: • States of matter/Slime • Newton’s second and third laws– balloon car challenge • Scientific Method – Diapers • Solar Energy • Bristle Bots • Hearing/Design A speaker “This program is so much fun,” said Dolan. “The undergraduate volunteers get some valuable, STEM teaching experience and the elementary students get to learn science with fun, hands-on activities. It is a win-win!” Northern is looking forward to continuing this program in the 2023-2024 school year. Together, Drs. Susan Citrak and Amy Dolan have developed a summer workshop for area 3rd -5th grade teachers that utilize six science kits that they have developed. The topics for these kits are soldering, photosynthesis, plant studies, cells, water analysis, and flashlights. Each of the kits includes all the materials required to complete the experiments, experimental procedures, and companion worksheets for the students to complete. The teachers enrolled in the workshop have access to experimental procedures, instructional PowerPoint presentations, and other teacher NSU students delivering STEM content to elementary classroom. STEM kits implemented into additional elementary school classrooms. PARTNERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Outreach Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society Northern State University’s Xi Gamma chapter of the prestigious Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, will induct 10 new members this spring. Since the Xi Gamma chapter’s charter in 1932, it has inducted over 1,200 members. Membership is by invitation only and is extended to undergraduate English majors and minors who meet a minimum overall and English course specific 3.6 GPA requirement. Society members are eligible to apply for scholarships and paid internships available only to Sigma Tau Delta members, to receive priority application status with certain employers, to participate in the society’s annual international conference and other society events, and to submit original work for publication in the society’s internationally recognized journals. Dr. Amy Dolan Dr. Susan Citrak resources. During the summer and fall of 2022, the workshop enrolled 12 area teachers who then lead an estimated 450 experiments over the fall semester. Drs. Dolan and Citrak have plans to develop new kits and to hold a teacher workshop this upcoming summer.
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