(ARA) - Teaching is now competing with testing, leaving less classroom time for hands-on, experienced-based learning. With record debt -- upwards of $200 billion -- and school funding dependent on compliance and performance, programs promoting creative thinking have become unaffordable luxuries.
Its not just P.E. hours and pencil allotments being cut, says Susan Singer, president and founder of Field Trip Factory (FTF), a company which provides free, experiential learning adventures to U.S. schools. Were seeing less active learning in classrooms despite research showing a direct correlation between the learners involvement and learning retention. Studies have demonstrated 40 to 60 percent increases in retention when students have an opportunity to test previously learned facts and theories, revise assumptions, and derive new and first-hand knowledge.
The growing success of Singers company is a testament to the overwhelming demand for creative, affordable ways to reinforce curriculums and engage all kinds of learners. Last year, Field Trip Factory took 200,000 pre-K through 8th grade students out of the classroom -- into the field -- to teach lessons in nutrition, fitness, creative problem-solving, teamwork, eye science, biology, recycling and geography.
Students were able to taste their way up the Food Pyramid, suit up with sports safety gear, plan birthday parties using time and budget allotments, examine the similarities linking living beings, and much more. According to Chicago public school teacher and field trip participant, Mee Soohoo, The interaction between the students and the community professionals on-the-job had a real impact on students learning and behavior. In a survey done following a recent nutrition field trip, student participants reported eating 38 percent healthier and increasing their consumption of nutritious foods by 12 to 18 percent.
This past spring, 600 schools signed-up for FTFs new in-school Creative Break program, which promotes self-expression and creative problem-solving, while supporting cross-curricular instruction. Teachers embraced the Breaks art-based, no wrong answer activities and students eagerly exchanged their number two pencils for colored markers.
Interest in experiential learning has ebbed and flowed since the late 19th century, but is growing by leaps and bounds today. Cost has always been a consideration but now Singer and Field Trip Factory have taken that consideration off the table. Educational psychologists support hands-on learning not only for learners whod be left behind by traditional classroom instruction, but for all students. In an ever-changing, highly competitive global market, children must be readied to apply flexible, creative strategies to practical, real-world problems.
For more information about any of Field Trip Factorys programs, call (800) 987-6409 or visit the website at: www.fieldtripfactory.com.
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Building a Foundation of Learning ARABuilding a Foundation of Learning
(ARA) - Any parent with school-age children knows that school budgets have been strained to their limits in recent years. State and federal government pledges of no new taxes also mean no new funding for schools. Extra-curricular activities such as band and drama are usually the first casualties, but basic academic programs can be affected, too. Some schools, in an effort to raise money, resort to solutions like installing vending machines selling soda pop, or bringing fast food franchises into the school cafeteria.
Coming up with exciting lesson plans that include hands-on learning elements can be a challenge for teachers under these circumstances. Two programs that have won thumbs up reviews from both teachers and students are Build Up! and On Site!. These two programs help teach math, science, technology and language arts to fifth through ninth grade students, using a fun curriculum based on the buildings around them.
In teams, the kids in my class built bridges and skyscrapers, said Dan Jordan, a fifth-grade teacher at Barton Intermediate School in Queensbury, N.Y. They thoroughly enjoyed this weeklong project. Some of the teams had structures that held over 100 pounds! As an educator, and former businessman, I appreciate whenever companies or groups get involved with helping to educate our children.
Build Up! is geared to fifth grade students, and takes them on a journey of discovery inside the structures that make up their world. In addition to using math skills, students also stretch their imaginations and use their science knowledge as they look ahead and discuss futuristic building challenges, such as mile-high buildings, extra-long bridges and energy efficient buildings.
The Build Up! curriculum was very well received by the students and the activities were highly motivational. It gave them an excellent understanding of the skills required by those in the construction industry, as well as the career opportunities that are available, said Sara Miller, a fifth-grade teacher (ret.) from Washington, D.C., who piloted the program during the 1997 to 98 school year.
The On Site! program is tailored to middle/junior high school students (grades 6 through 9). This multi-media program travels through time and brings students from the early construction in ancient Rome to construction today, where environmental, economic and social impacts are considered as new projects are undertaken.
One of the most popular aspects of On Site! is The Most Astounding Structures video. Developed in conjunction with the History Channel, the video provides a 30-minute overview of the most extreme structures on earth -- the tallest, strangest, largest.
All of the lessons in Build Up! and On Site! are linked to National Standards for social studies, science, math and language arts. Build Up! debuted in January 1999 and has been refined and improved using teacher feedback. This feedback was also used in creating On Site! To date, the two programs have reached over 1 million students.
The construction industry is an honorable profession, says Dennis Day, executive director of public affairs for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), a Washington, D.C.-based trade group for the construction industry. It is still one of a few industries where you can climb the ladder of success as high as you want. By creating our Build Up! and On Site! curriculum, AGC brings the merits of the profession to students, teachers, and parents allowing them learn how construction contributes to our quality of life.
Build Up! and On Site! are available free to teachers and schools courtesy of AGC. The tool kits for each program are turnkey supplementary education programs that include a teaching guide with lesson plans, student activity books, audio visual components, and consumable materials for hands-on projects such as wooden dowels, washers, Popsicle sticks, rubber bands, floatable concrete mix, etc., which are used in conjunction with the student activities.
AGC members and chapters sponsor kits at a cost of $199 each; after a teacher requests a kit, AGC works to find someone in their area who will sponsor their materials. AGC members are also available as speakers to provide real-world connections to the academic material, sharing their knowledge and experience with students.
For more information on Build Up! and On Site!, visit www.agc.org.
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Parents Need a Back-to-School Checklist for Educational Technology ARA(ARA) - New clothes that strike a balance between appropriate and cool? Check. New school supplies that include the latest backpack style? Check. New ulcer caused by your teens impending first day of high school? Check mate. You may not be ready for it, but youre pretty sure they are. Youve raised them to appreciate an education, youve taught them everything you know and youve given them all the trappings of the 21st century teen. But have you given them an edge?
Technology has dramatically altered the classroom in the last decade, allowing students to achieve a deeper level of understanding of their schoolwork. The calculator you used, which probably offered a one line screen and had only basic math functionality, is now as antiquated as the abacus. There is a new breed of educational handheld devices more akin to handheld computers. They make the word calculator woefully inadequate to describe what is possible for your teen. This new technology is not a calculator at all, but closer to a portable and personal handheld computer. It leverages software algorithms and micro-technology and offers functions beyond mere mathematical calculation to enrich the learning experience across a spectrum of subjects. It gives a child the edge that the hippest clothes, the coolest school supplies and even a parents best intentions cant provide.
But your VCR still flashes 12:00 a.m. You know as much about the latest technology as you do about the newest boy band. So how do you know youve given your child the best tool to succeed? What should you look for in an educational handheld? There are three elements to consider in the checklist for this back-to-school purchase: educational value, lifecycle and price.
Educational Value
Perhaps the most important factor in choosing an educational handheld device is the company that makes it. Are they focused on education? Some companies are marketing their business handhelds, or personal digital assistant (PDAs) as educational handhelds. However, these are often not created with the student, or learning, as the priority. The best devices are developed after rigorous research and testing with educators. Teachers should be involved in developing the products as they offer significant input on what capabilities are necessary to heighten the impact of the coursework. Teens are also often asked what they would like to see integrated into the handheld. The devices themselves are even tested in the school environment, having to survive a crunch test in a book bag that simulates the wear and tear the average teen can inflict. The best way to research a company to make sure it meets this educational criterion is by asking your childs teacher or looking on the companys Web site.
Another way to evaluate the educational value of these products is to look at the additional software applications that are offered. These applications extend the capabilities of a handheld device into different subject areas. Some companies, like Texas Instruments, have developed educational apps that are easily downloadable via computer from their Web site. Again, ask your students teacher what applications will be used in class, but also know that many apps can be used as student-driven study aids. They add functionality, flexibility and fun to the learning process, and top-of-the-line devices allow you to choose from an array of subjects.
Obviously, students still need the traditional math and science functions that allow them to explore equations for algebra, plot graphs, determine coefficients and perform the higher arithmetic functions, but many educational devices leave off there. There are, however, devices on the market, like the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, that also enable students to graphically analyze data for biology, offer spreadsheet capabilities, and timelines for history, social studies, and other classes. It can even be used as a personal organizer to keep class schedules and important contact information. Educational handhelds like this can connect with computers for software app downloads as well as operating system upgrades that can further extend its usability through the school years.
Some devices even have capabilities to review electronic flash cards for any subject, including foreign languages. The best devices for learning are allowed for use on standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, and even required for some state exams. This gives your child a decided edge in the testing environment, as these are often the same tools they use in class.
Lifecyle
A handhelds lifecycle, or how long its technology is up to date, is another important factor when deciding on an educational device. Always check the applications. Do they cover a variety of educational subjects? Do they actually offer anything new that will help your child succeed? Beware of superficial changes and your childs desire to simply have the coolest looking model, regardless of its value in the classroom.
The second thing to understand is that we live in an age of software. Downloads should be readily available at a companys Web site and should offer a wide range of options that extend the use of the product through multiple subject areas and different educational levels.
Price
Obviously this lifecycle is an important distinction when pricing handhelds, as is the educational value. This is an investment that you are making for your childs future. A good handheld should take a student through three or four years of learning, with the average device costing between $100 and $150. When one thinks of the school supplies bought every year (remember those designer tennis shoes?), an educational handhelds cost is negligible when spread out over its entire lifecycle.
Make sure youre getting what you paid for. Does the device add value by delivering more apps across a wide spectrum of subjects? Was it developed with input from educators? Will it withstand the pressure between a chemistry and English book? Can they use it for standardized testing? Can the lifecycle be extended through downloads saving you multiple purchases?
As your teen begins his or her high school years, you can be confident that their learning experience will be enriched with the right educational handheld device. It is one more tool and one more edge you can give them as they enter that brave new world. As you look for the right device to fit your needs, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you now know more about educational handhelds than you ever thought you would. Boy bands and the clock on the VCR are still a mystery.
Information on TI products can be found at www.education.ti.com/bts.
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Robots Shoveling Snow? Humanoid Robot Inspires Students to Study Science ARA(ARA) Imagine getting some help decorating your holiday tree or shoveling snow off your driveway from a friendly robot. It could happen sometime in the future.
Honda is asking kids to imagine what it would be like if robots were a part of our daily lives. The ASIMO Essay Contest provides a chance for one school to win an exclusive visit from ASIMO, the worlds most advanced humanoid robot, in March of 2004.
We hope that the ASIMO Essay Contest encourages students across the nation to dream about the future of robotics, said Jeffrey Smith, leader of the ASIMO North American Project. We also hope that it inspires them to learn more about the science and technology involved in humanoid robotics.
Developed by Honda after 17 years of research, ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), can walk forward and backward, turn smoothly without pausing, climb stairs and maintain balance while walking on uneven slopes and surfaces. With its smooth moves, ASIMO can even disco dance with the best of them. This compact robot is about the size of a fourth grader, but it represents big possibilities for the future of robotic technology.
Created to resemble a human shape and operate in human environments, ASIMO has two arms and two hands, necessary to someday work in our world where we need to reach and grasp objects, switch lights on and off and open and close doors. ASIMO also can recognize the faces of a select number of individuals and respond to voice commands and hand signals.
Honda hopes that one day ASIMO may be able to assist elderly, disabled and other people in need with day-to-day activities. In the future, a robot like ASIMO could also possibly perform dangerous duties such as fighting fires and cleaning up hazardous wastes.
To enter the contest, each participating class or group of students will research the science and history of robotics and submit an essay on their school's vision of the role of humanoid robots in our society. The contest is open to all public and private elementary, middle, junior high and high schools in the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. The winning school will be notified by February 20, 2004.
ASIMO is currently traveling on a North American Educational to motivate students to study sciences such as math, engineering, physics and computer science. Classroom materials for teachers and robotics-related educational resources for parents can be found at www.asimo.honda.com.
For more information about the ASIMO North American Educational Tour and the essay contest, visit www.asimo.honda.com.
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