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“What is a polymer?”
Ohio science teachers are better able to answer that question, now that they have access to resources provided by a University of Akron Web site.
The Akron Global Polymer Academy site — located at www.agpa.uakron.edu — includes fully developed lesson plans and videos of sample lectures, as well as links to Ohio science standards, best teaching practices and polymer resource materials. The academy is part of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering.
The site was designed to provide educators with the opportunity to enhance their scientific knowledge, and, in turn, improve the scientific literacy of their K-12 students, says Charles Parsons, the academy’s associate director for educational programs.
“We recognize that the teaching profession doesn’t provide much time during the traditional work day for teachers to do research or improve their skills,” says Parsons, a former superintendent for the Wadsworth School District. “We are packaging content in such a way that teachers can access it in short bits so they can study it, absorb it and revisit it as needed.”
Polymers are the perfect vehicle to promote improved science learning in school systems throughout the state and nationwide, adds Parsons, who had the opportunity to introduce the AGPA site to Ohio science teachers at the recent School Science and Mathematics Association annual conference in Columbus.
The reaction was gratifying, he reports.
“Most were not aware of it or the usefulness of it, and all the resources available to them.
“Polymers are pervasive in our world,” adds Parsons. “Some of our lesson plans get even the youngest children to bring in materials from around the house and classify them — separating them into products that are polymers and those that are not. These activities can help to engage students in meaningful scientific work and applying scientific principles.”
In addition to promoting K-12 science instruction, AGPA will use distance-learning technologies to support global research collaboration, Internet instrument sharing, virtual laboratories, graduate education and workforce development.
Parsons, who is continuing his efforts to broaden awareness of the AGPA site, has been invited, along with Katherine Owens, an associate professor of education at UA, to make a presentation at the national conference of the National Science Teachers Association in April in Atlanta.
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