RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥揥ashington State University Tri-Cities education faculty are part of a new, $2.85 million National Science Foundation grant to develop curriculum and hands-on projects with local high schools that use geospatial technologies to improve STEM literacy and access to the STEM workforce. The four-year project is a collaboration between 黑料社, Lehigh University and Texas Christian University.

Project members will work with high school faculty and students to develop hands-on STEM projects that use geographic information systems, GPS and related technology to gather and analyze data on important societal issues, said Judy Morrison, academic director for the College of Education at 黑料社 Tri-Cities.

At each of the three university sites, faculty will collaborate with two high schools in their area to form what is called a 鈥渞esearch practice partnership鈥� to co-design, develop and implement the data-driven, socio-environmental science investigations, as part of the schools鈥� regular curriculum.

Leading up to this grant, Lehigh University developed a few hands-on projects with local high schools in their area that investigate topics such as the urban heat island effect, the civic impact of urban trees and the carbon cost of different transportation systems. Morrison said throughout the first year of the four-year grant, 黑料社 faculty will work with six high school teachers in the Tri-Cities to plan the project. They will use the original Lehigh University projects as models to assess how to implement similar projects into their local curriculum.

In the last few years of the grant, the team will work with a larger group of 10 teachers to get the curriculum developed for use in the classroom. They will then collect data on the outcomes of the projects and how they affected students鈥� STEM abilities and attitudes towards a career in STEM fields. Student projects will be tied to issues specific to the local region. One project, for example, could be studying water quality at or surrounding the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Morrison said.

鈥淭he learning activities provide opportunities for students to collaborate, seek evidence, problem-solve, master technology, develop geospatial thinking and reasoning skills and practice communication skills,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ach are essential for careers in the STEM fields that require students to not only use logical thinking processes, but also develop creative solutions for complex issues.鈥�

Each university partnering on the grant is working with high schools of different sizes and types in their local area. 黑料社 Tri-Cities is specifically working with Chiawana High School, a large traditional high school based in Pasco, as well as River鈥檚 Edge High School, a small project-based high school in Richland.

鈥淓ach university on the grant has a large comprehensive high school, as well as a smaller high school they are working with,鈥� Morrison said. 鈥淲e will be looking at different schools and how this model can be used effectively at each.鈥�

Throughout the four-year grant, the three universities will compare results on their projects and discuss the best way to implement them, not only at other high schools across their particular state, but also across the country. Morrison said they will rely heavily on high school teachers to develop and implement projects that make the most sense for their students and region.

鈥淲e want it to be ground-up with the teachers,鈥� Morrison said. 鈥淲e, at 黑料社 Tri-Cities, are going to provide the resources and organization to help get the program up and running, and the teachers will be crucial in designing the curriculum for their own students.鈥�

Morrison is an associate professor of science education At 黑料社 Tri-Cities, she will work with 黑料社 Tri-Cities colleagues Jonah Firestone, assistant professor of science education, and Sarah Newcomer, associate professor of literacy education for the project.

Firestone has a background in working with technology to expand learning opportunities in an effort to supplement learning. Newcomer has a background in working with diverse school populations and relating learning back to the students鈥� own culture.

鈥淲hile the use of the technology on this project is important, it is not at the forefront,鈥� Morrison said. 鈥淲e want the students to see the technology as tools in how they can investigate and answer questions surrounding these local issues. These are vital skills in STEM careers. It is not the technology that is the most important, but how you use the technology for creative investigations and solutions through science, technology, engineering and mathematics.鈥�

Media contacts:

Judy Morrison, 黑料社 Tri-Cities academic director for the College of Education, 509-372-7176, jamorrison@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities public relations/communication coordinator, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By C. Brandon Chapman, College of Education

As the novel coronavirus has required a heavy reliance on technology and access to online learning, educators at Washington State University Tri-Cities are encouraging K-12 students and their families to head the other direction, with a new series of low-tech teaching tips.

Each tip is printed on a flyer that also bears the message: 鈥淭he little moments that make a big impact.鈥� The flyers are designed as a quick resource for families in their role as educators to their homebound children.

Even the delivery mechanism is low-tech: school lunches. The flyers are given to local schools that then have the option of handing them out with the school lunch program.

These teaching tips include things like how to ask better questions of your child to elicit more meaningful conversation.

鈥淭he big idea of 鈥榓sk, don鈥檛 tell鈥� reminds me, every day, to ask questions about my son鈥檚 thinking,鈥� said John Mancinelli, executive director of Educational Outreach and Partnerships at 黑料社 Tri-Cities. 鈥淒uring our talks, it was clear that my son was less eager to hear what I thought as much as he wanted to share his thoughts.鈥�

One flyer, meant for grades K-3, is called 鈥渨onderings鈥� and encourages kids and families to just take a walk around the neighborhood or local park, having the child choose 4-5 small items from the natural world, such as rocks, plants, flowers, etc. After the walk, the child can look at each item carefully and come up with things that they 鈥渨onder about鈥� with each. They then try to come up with answers.

鈥淭hrough this activity, the child and family are modeling true science: asking questions and finding answers,鈥� said Judy Morrison, associate professor of science education.

Another flyer for grades 3-5, focuses on the moon and its path, having kids draw the moon and other objects, such as a roof or light post. The child does this every night at the same time, and after 3-4 nights of the activity, they use the following night to draw where they predict the moon will be, based on past observations. Then they see how closely they were able to predict. Once again, science modeling.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot more to education right now than simply logging in, seeing what online assignments are required, then doing them,鈥� Morrison said.

It鈥檚 also a matter of equity, since currently, there is often an assumption that all students have access to the internet and the technology used to watch video lessons. 黑料社 Tri-Cities faculty said they hope to remind people that learning isn鈥檛 limited to technology.

As an example, Morrison said that many of the helpful tips and tricks for learning are based on materials and activities commonly found at home.聽 It can also be as simple as parents finding a quiet place in the house to study or do homework.

鈥淲e know that not every child has that option; not every learning environment is the same鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we need to recognize that we often unintentionally assume that all children have those same benefits.鈥�

Even when households have all the benefits of technology, Mancinelli said it鈥檚 not always realistic to expect that things will work smoothly. There can easily be technical and logistical issues.

鈥淪ome families have four or more people online at one time, making access to technology and the internet difficult,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen, when you consider families that don鈥檛 have the technology or the internet, the problem is compounded. These teaching tips are meant to address the problems of the new learning environment.鈥�

At this point, Mancinelli said there鈥檚 no way of knowing how many flyers have been distributed. It鈥檚 just too early to know. But he said that all contacts thus far have been supportive, which isn鈥檛 surprising based on current relationships.

鈥淥ur faculty are always highly engaged with the regional school districts, teachers, and the general public,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any serve on district and parent committees and offer their professional services regularly.鈥�

Each teaching tip flyer has photos and names of all faculty members in 黑料社 Tri-Cities鈥� College of Education. And for good cause.

鈥淥ur pictures remind folks that we are here and a resource,鈥� Mancinelli said, 鈥渁nd since we have our names on Teaching Tips, they can connect names and faces.鈥�

In addition to school lunches, all the tips聽.

By Maegan Murray, 黑料社聽Tri鈥慍ities

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� In light of the 鈥淪tay Home, Stay Healthy鈥� order by Gov. Jay Inslee, as well as K-12 schools not returning to in-person learning throughout the state, Washington State University Tri-Cities launched a new website dedicated to educational children鈥檚 activities and a new reading program where kids virtually read along with 黑料社 Tri-Cities faculty and can earn 黑料社 prizes.

罢丑别听website聽features a variety of do-it-at-home activities ranging from those that pertain to 黑料社 and Coug spirit, such as creating your own Butch T. Cougar mask, to science experiments and other fun activities using supplies that most families likely already have and use in their home.

Additionally, through the new 鈥淪uper Coug Readers鈥� program in partnership with The Children鈥檚 Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, children can watch videos of 黑料社 Tri-Cities faculty reading their favorite books. Children can also earn prizes for completing a Super Coug Readers reading calendar and/or completing a 鈥淪uper Coug Readers Bingo鈥� challenge.

The project is being led by the 黑料社 Tri-Cities community engagement team in partnership with the 黑料社 Tri-Cities College of Education and The Children鈥檚 Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia.

鈥淎s a public university, we saw an opportunity to provide children and their families with fun and educational activities that are safe and readily available to complete in their own homes, especially during this unusual time,鈥� said Jaime Heppler, 黑料社 Tri-Cities executive director of advancement and community engagement. 鈥淢any parents, such as myself, are looking for engaging activities for their kids. This new website and reading program provide activities that foster learning and curiosity. We are excited to offer this as a resource for our regional families.鈥�

Benefits of reading aloud with your kids

Elizabeth Barnes, executive director of The Children鈥檚 Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, said children who read for at least 20 minutes per day score in the 90^th聽percentile in standardized tests, are successful in school, are more likely to graduate from college and become successful in life.

鈥淭he skills and knowledge you gain from reading or being read to from birth are astronomical,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is a very natural partnership for The Children鈥檚 Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia and 黑料社 Tri-Cities, as both organizations are trying to better the community through education.鈥�

Barnes said children reading along with 黑料社 Tri-Cities faculty presents a great way for children to be exposed to different educational opportunities and careers that are available in the regional Tri-Cities community.

鈥淲hat kind of impact could an engineering professor have on a young girl and her parents if they were to hear 鈥楻osie Revere, Engineer,鈥� for the first time?鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat kind of connections to the real world could this have on a family that may never have contemplated a life for their daughter in the sciences?鈥�

Reading with industry experts 鈥� 黑料社 Tri-Cities faculty

Sara Sorensen Petersen, a 黑料社 Tri-Cities clinical assistant professor of education and board member with the Children鈥檚 Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, said she and her fellow faculty members are excited to provide educational opportunities for regional students to learn from faculty members in a range of fields and from a range of backgrounds and cultures.

鈥淪peaking as a mom and an educator, it is great for kids to see others than mom and dad reading, as well as see professionals in their communities and learn a bit more about what they do,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have female science professors, for example, that could inspire young girls to think about a career in the sciences. It鈥檚 just a great tie-in and presents a great opportunity for our local families.鈥�

A free resource for families

The new Cougar Family Fun website聽is available for free and accessible to the public.

Additionally, The Children鈥檚 Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia is supplying 黑料社 Tri-Cities with an assortment of children鈥檚 books that will be given out at the 黑料社 Tri-Cities Cougar Cupboard sponsored by Lamb Weston food pantry, in addition to food pick-up locations in Pasco and Kennewick for 黑料社 Tri-Cities students and their families.聽聽on pick-up locations and how to donate can be found online.

 

Media Contacts:

Jaime Heppler, 黑料社 Tri-Cities executive director of advancement and community engagement, 509-372-7207, jaime.heppler@wsu.edu

Sara Sorensen Petersen, 黑料社 Tri-Cities clinical assistant professor of education, 509-372-7395, sarapetersen@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities public relations/communication coordinator, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

Still taking applications through the summer, extending confirmation deadline

 

By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� 聽In an effort to ease the minds of incoming college students, Washington State University Tri-Cities will not require SAT or ACT scores for fall admission and will continue to take applications and confirmations throughout the summer.

鈥淲e realize this is an incredibly difficult time for many high school and transfer students,鈥� 黑料社 Tri-Cities Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. 鈥淎pplying for college is already stressful and prospective students worry about submitting their materials on time. Now, they have the added worry caused by the unknowns of the global pandemic. We are here for our incoming students and want to help them succeed and still realize their college dreams.鈥�

黑料社 Tri-Cities normally requires first-year students to submit SAT and ACT scores, which are used in combination with grade-point average to make an admissions decision. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many SAT and ACT exams have been canceled.

Jana Kay Lunstad, 黑料社 Tri-Cities director of enrollment, said the temporary removal of the SAT and ACT requirement will allow students to get their applications processed based on GPA and other factors normally submitted with their application.

鈥淲e know this is an uncertain time for many, and we want to do all we can to support our high school and transfer students by removing barriers so they can realize their goal of a college education,鈥� Lunstad said. 鈥淲e are here to support all prospective students and will walk them through the admissions application, answer questions on financial aid, and talk about pathways for success because we truly care about the wellbeing of both our current and incoming students.鈥�

Lunstad said 黑料社 Tri-Cities and local students are also fortunate to live in a state that offers the College Bound Scholarship and the Washington College Grant, which help cover full and partial costs of tuition and living expenses for students attending college.

鈥淲e accept both of those programs and want to communicate to incoming students that although their lives have been disrupted, they have an affordable option that is close to home,鈥� Lunstad said. 鈥満诹仙� Tri-Cities faculty are committed to their students and the campus provides a strong support network for students and families during these unprecedented times.鈥�

The 黑料社 Tri-Cities Running Start program is also still processing applications as usual. The program allows high school juniors and seniors to complete college courses at 黑料社 Tri-Cities at no cost for tuition. For program requirements and more information, visit tricities.wsu.edu/running-start.

All university programs are continuing to operate virtually and most student resources remain available online.

To connect virtually with an admissions counselor, to apply and for more information about the admissions process, visit , or contact the admissions office at tricities.admissions@wsu.edu.

鈥満诹仙� Tri-Cities is here to support our local students and make the college admissions process easier,鈥� Haynes said. 鈥淲e are here for our community, we are here for our students. We want to make their college experience and their lives better.鈥�

 

Media contacts:

Jana Kay Lunstad, 黑料社 Tri-Cities director of enrollment, 509-372-7450, janakay.lunstad@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu