Science on wheels

Lutheran, The, Nov 2002 by Rich, Anne Flentgen

Gettysburg College program brings advanced science to Pa. schools

gettysburg [Pa.] College doesn't just educate college students. It also brings hands-on learning opportunities to kindergartners through 12th-grade students and teachers throughout Pennsylvania.

In response to teachers' requests, staff from Gettysburg's Advancing Science program drive a "science van" to schools. There, they conduct or assist with science labs such as "Lightstick Kinetics," "Down to Earth Astronomy" or "Effects of Drugs on Daphnia."

Marjorie Hartman, a teacher at Redland High School, Lewisberry, Pa., often requests science van visits. "I overheard students in the hall saying they were excited about [the latest] lab even before we performed it," she said.

"Ideally, every day would be as exciting as [lab] days."

Greg Anderson, the program's assistant director, said the goal is to increase "opportunities for students to 'do' science." In addition to onsite labs, the program loans science equipment and provides workshops for teachers, a bimonthly newsletter and a Web site.

"The science van [is] a cost-effective program for the state," said Kay Etheridge, program director. The labs bring equipment most schools couldn't afford and probably couldn't find room to store, ranging from microscopes and magnets to spectrophotometers (a device to measure light in different parts of the spectrum) and sound meters.

The van's staff brought their state-of-the-art equipment and expertise to 93 schools during the 2001-02 school year, with many repeat visits. Teachers request the van up to five months in advance, Anderson said.

Each teacher who requests a van visit must participate in a workshop to learn about scheduling and to try some of the labs. A recent workshop featured elementary science, basic chemistry, plant biology and physical science.

Penny Ritter, who teaches at Hanover [Pa.] Middle School, has called on the team since the program started nine years ago. "It's a terrific program," she said. "It makes the students feel like real scientists."

Ritter, a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hanover, is among the teachers who work with van staff to develop labs and refine old ones.

In addition, Gettysburg's education majors participate in the program as part of their coursework. "We were required to go, but it's more like we wanted to go," said Morgan Greenawalt, a senior at Gettysburg. "The kids loved it."

The schools' teachers benefit too. "Sometimes a teacher says to us, `That student was never interested in science before, and they were today.' That is the best reward," Anderson said.

Etheridge said other colleges that hope to replicate the program should first find out what the schools' needs are.

"We're providing a community service. A top-down approach won't work," she said.

The program's financial and in-kind support has come from Gettysburg and several other organizations, foundations and state grants.

For more information, visit the Advancing Science Web site (www.gettysburg.edu/academics/as/AS.html) or call Greg Anderson at (717) 337-6150.

Rich is a free-lance writer in Upper Marlboro, Md.