Need
To succeed in the 21st century the youth of today need skills
in math, science, and technology. The state of New York requires
every middle school to have a technology education teacher
who helps students see how math and science undergirds modern
applications and technologies. A 2004 project in the state
paired these technology teachers (and their math and science
colleagues) with the lifelong learning resources of public
libraries to create a year-long series of presentations that
explored math, science, and technology ideas and enabled teens’
imaginations to take flight.
Seven libraries, serving a mix of urban, suburban,
and rural areas in six counties, participated in the project
that was designed to reach local middle-schoolers—focusing
on underserved youth—with learning opportunities and
one-of-a-kind experiences.
Goals
The idea for the project was developed at the regional library
system level. Mary Fellows, Manager of Youth and Family Services
at Upper Hudson Library System, thought that aviation would
be a great theme to excite teens and get them interested in
learning math, science, and technology. With this grant and
other successful programming grants she has obtained for libraries
in the system, she hoped to fulfill the public library’s
mission as a place for lifelong learning. She said, “Part
of our whole premise is that you can learn about anything
in the public library. Even if you are not a big reader. If
you want to know about planes, we’ve got books, we’ve
got videos, and we’ve got DVDs.”
Fellows worked with her counterpart at the Mohawk
Valley Library System to bundle programming ideas with funding
so that member libraries that chose to participate could hire
presenters, purchase aviation books and materials, and develop
marketing materials to get the word out.
The seven libraries that took advantage of the
opportunity were to develop school, library, and summer camp
programs in collaboration with their local middle school science
and technology teachers. Presentations made at schools were
to be tailored by teachers so that they complemented their
classroom instruction. Other presentations would be designed
to stress real-world applications of science and math in aviation
technology and aviation careers.
The technology presented was to go beyond flying
machines. The project also was designed to expose teens to
information technology through online author chats and database
searches at the libraries.
The presentations developed included watching
a state police helicopter land, meeting aviation meteorologists,
building tissue paper hot-air balloons, and reading about
the history of flight. The final treat planned for teens who
attended the summer camps was a free plane ride arranged by
the libraries through the Empire State Aerosciences Museum
in Schenectady.
Strategy
Darlene Miller, Director of the Castleton Public Library
in the Village of Castleton, described the resources provided
through the project as “phenomenal.” The regional
library system provided her with a timeline for the grant,
a menu of presenters, and $500 for her library and the library
of the local Maple Hill Middle School to purchase aviation
related materials. In addition the regional library system
provided artwork and graphics for Miller to create posters,
flyers, and other promotional materials.
In conjunction with Ken Malloy, the Maple Hill
middle school technology teacher, Miller developed a schedule
of programs for the entire year. She selected some presenters
suggested by Fellows and she explored other resources in her
immediate area.
Each of the presentations offered a different
educational experience and excitement for all involved, not
just the kids. For one session, the library arranged to have
the group walk down to the Hudson River, where amid a crowd
that included the local television crew, they watched a sea
plane land and take off. On a different day, the youth were
treated to a performance by a re-enactor who portrayed the
flamboyant female pioneer aviator Pancho Barnes. During one
of the school programs, Malloy walked his students over to
a state park, where a state helicopter landed and students
could speak with the pilot. In another session, the students
interviewed Jeannine Atkins, author of the book Wings
and Rockets: The Story of Women in Air and Space, during
an online chat. For a number of the children, it was their
first introduction to e-mail.
A demonstration of another sort took place after
Fellows learned of a nearby company that produced motorized
parachutes. The parachutes had been used in a recent James
Bond movie, and a company representative came out to the library
to demonstrate a part of the technology and talk about working
with the film crew.
Teacher Malloy said, “It was an opportunity
to see first of all the variety of things that fly and talk
about the science of why they fly. What’s more math,
science, and technology all rolled into one than putting an
airplane together and having it fly.”
Results
The seven participating libraries arranged 64 presentations.
At the middle school classes, 490 students participated, and
at the presentations held at the libraries more than 250 people
attended. Fifty-three lucky youth participated in the summer
camps.
In surveys following the programs, campers reported
that their math, science, and technology skills had improved.
In addition to those areas, teachers noticed improvements
in information literacy skills.
Students grew in other ways through the program,
as well. One girl camper arrived on the day of her scheduled
flight saying she was not going to fly because she was too
afraid, although her two brothers (they are triplets) were
ready. Like many of the children in the program, none of the
children had ever flown. The librarian gently encouraged her
to reconsider, saying she may regret it later. The girl did
decide to go up with her brothers. She returned with a big
smile on her face, saying next time she will be less afraid
to try something new.
|