Teachers learn inside a
traveling science lab which is now at BHSU - top
 Science teachers from across the state are doing science lab work
inside a 53-foot semi-trailer that has been transformed into a mobile
science lab during the ‘Science on the Move’ summer institute which
is at Black Hills State University this week.
The semi-trailer, with bold red lettering proclaiming it ‘Science
On the Move,’ pulled into the parking lot at BHSU to set up for the
workshop that will then allow the teachers to bring the truck to their
school district and involve middle school and high school students in a
variety of activities inside the unique traveling science lab.
The truck, specially designed and built to hold a traveling science
lab with nearly $100,000 worth of science equipment, is one of two
operated under the auspices of the Center for Advancement of Math and
Science Education at BHSU. As an outreach program, BHSU will make the
mobile science lab available to school districts across the state.
According to Jerry Opbroek, coordinator of ‘Science on the Move’,
the lab has 12 workstations equipped with everything needed to do a
multitude of scientific work. The stations are also wired to computers.
The van is equipped with state-of-the-art science equipment that very
few South Dakota schools have and will provide inquiry-based science
learning developed to create more interest and exposure to science for
the state’s students.
“The labs cover all science disciplines,” Opbroek said. “We
have labs for chemistry, physics, biology as well as astronomy.”
Each day of this five-day workshop is spent focused on a specific
science discipline: physics, chemistry, biology, criminalistics and
environmental science. Opbroek
noted that participants have the opportunity to do DNA fingerprinting,
microscopic work, EKG and physical fitness labs, global positioning,
protein analysis, water quality index labs and many other activities.
The workshop at BHSU this week is the last of three ‘Science on the
Move’ teacher workshops in the state. The 75 teachers who participated
in the training institutes will then introduce the lab to their middle
school and high school students as it travels throughout the state
during the school year.
“Sometime during the year we hope to go to those school districts
and work with as many students as we can,” Opbroek said.
“Obviously, it’s crowded at times,” Opbroek said, “but
teachers and students function just fine.”
The ‘Science on the Move’ van is equipped with a computer at each
workstation, biotechnology equipment for DNA analysis, lasers,
oscilloscopes and wave generators for sound, spectrophotometers for
chemical analysis, global positioning systems, dissecting and binocular
microscopes, a sound system, a DDN connection, access to the internet
and all the other supplies a modern science classroom would need.
The traveling lab was the brainchild of several university professors
in South Dakota who envisioned a way to get high-tech science to
students who don’t have access to that type of equipment. William
Janklow, who was then governor, supported the project and eventually the
entire truck was outfitted with a unique science lab that is now being
made available to students throughout the state.
Trade supervisors directed inmates at the state prison who basically
built the lab inside the trailer according to Opbroek. The science labs
were constructed in nine months with more than 6,000 hours of inmate
labor.
“The inmates did a phenomenal job putting it together,” Opbroek
said.
The truck was officially unveiled last December and hit the road in
February. Since that time Opbroek has logged approximately 3,000 miles
with the science lab. He expects the two trucks to visit between 25 and
30 school districts during the year.
“In five days we've covered everything from physics and chemistry
to biology and environmental science. We've been exploring the
activities our students will be working on when the trailer arrives in
Rapid City,” said Rapid City teacher Carlene Roper. “What a
tremendous learning experience for all involved.”
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Jerry Opbroek (center), coordinator of Science on the Move, gives
instructions to science teachers who are doing a multitude of science
lab activities in a 53-foot traveling science lab as a part of the
summer institute at Black Hills State University. The truck will travel
statewide to school districts to provide high-tech learning
opportunities for middle-school and high-school students.
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Ochse's
entry included in Shakespeare database - top
 An
annotated entry by Dr. Roger Ochse, professor of humanities at Black
Hills State University, for "Digital Shakespeare: Integrating Texts
and Technology" has been entered in the World Shakespeare
Bibliography (WSB) database.
The
entry will appear in the annual WSB in Shakespeare Quarterly and
in the next update of WSB Online, the most complete and
authoritative source for Shakespeare studies, at www.worldshakesbib.org.
The reference is edited by James L. Harner, Samuel Rhea Gammon professor
of liberal arts at Texas A&M University.
The
WSB Online provides over 83,000 annotated entries for important
books, articles, book reviews, dissertations, theatrical productions,
reviews of productions, audiovisual materials, electronic media, and
other materials related to Shakespeare. Its range is international,
extending to more than 92 languages and representing nearly every
country. BHSU is an institutional subscriber of WSB Online.
Ochse received
his master’s in English from the University of Rochester and his
doctorate in education administration from the University of South
Dakota. He has been a member of the BHSU faculty since 1993.
Grant opportunities
announced - top
Below are the program materials received July 17-23 in the Grants
Office, Woodburn 309. For copies of the information, contact the office
at 642-6627 or email requests to grants@bhsu.edu.
Fellowship information will also be posted on the Student Union
bulletin board near the information desk.
- National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) - Landmarks of American History:
Workshops for School Teachers Program. The National Endowment
for the Humanities (NEH) expects to grant five awards of up to
$300,000 each to support a series of weeklong, residence-based
workshops for K-12 educators. The deadline is Aug. 15. www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/landmarks.html
- National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Special Initiative: Lewis and
Clark Bicentennial. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the
expedition of Lewis and Clark, NEH has invited nonprofits to apply
for funding for projects “commemorating this epic journey and its
historical consequences.” Applications must be submitted to one of
NEH's existing programs at its determined deadline. For a full list
of programs and their specific requirements, visit www.neh.gov/grants/grants.html.
This special initiative will run through 2006.
- National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Stipends. Summer
Stipends provide individuals with an opportunity to pursue research
in the humanities that contributes to scholarly knowledge or to the
public's understanding of the humanities. Successful applicants will
receive an outright award of $5,000 for two consecutive months of
full-time research and writing. Projects should be completed during
the tenure of an award or represent part of a long-term endeavor.
Recipients might eventually produce scholarly articles, a monograph
or a specialized subject, a book on a broad topic, an archaeological
site report, a translation, an edition, a database, or other
scholarly tools. The deadline is Oct. 1. www.neh.gov/grants/grants.html
- American
Chamber Music Players (ACMP) Foundation fosters the singing and
playing of chamber music at all levels. Grants encourage and
create opportunities for chamber music programs. Most funds are used
for scholarship aid and to underwrite staff salaries. Program goals
stress the importance of incorporating chamber music activities into
curriculum to boost overall student growth and learning. Community
Music applications will be accepted through mid-December. First-time
applicants are encourage to contact ACMP prior to applying. Special
Events applications will be accepted the last day of February, May,
August and November each year. www.acmp.net/foundation.html
- Mockingbird
Foundation supports music education. The Mockingbird Foundation,
funded by Phish and its fans, supports music for its own sake, for
education initiatives, and for children and youth. Preference will
go to applicants “working with diverse or unusual musical styles,
genres, forms, or philosophies.” Education grants may be used to
acquire instruments, texts, and office materials; improve learning,
practice, and performance spaces; and support instructors or
instruction methods. The foundation is particularly interested in
projects addressing self-esteem and creative expression. The
deadline is Aug. 1 for letters of inquiry. www.mockingbirdfoundation.org/funding/guidelines.html
- National
Geographic Society (NGS). The National Geographic Society (NGS)
awards grants for scientific field research and exploration through
its Committee for Research and Exploration (CRE). All proposed
projects must have both a geographical dimension and relevance to
other fields and be of broad scientific interest. Applying for a
grant from the CRE is a two-step process. Pre-applications must be
submitted online. For assistance with the online pre-application
form, email cre@ngs.org.
Pre-applications are accepted throughout the year, but must be
submitted at least 10 months prior to anticipated field dates.
Electronic submission of all documents is strongly encouraged.
- Indian
Education Demonstration Programs (ED). The
Department of Education is soliciting applications for pre-K
readiness and college preparatory programs to enable Native American
preschoolers to enter kindergarten and secondary school students to
make a successful transition to postsecondary education. The
deadline is Aug. 25. www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html
- Indian
Education Professional Development (ED).
The Department of Education is inviting applications for
pre-service professional development and training to increase the
number of qualified Native American teachers. Proposals will be
funded that support and train Native Americans to complete a
pre-service education program that meets requirements for full state
certification. The deadline is Aug. 25. www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html
Faculty
research funds available - top
The Faculty Research Committee has
funds available for the current fiscal year. Write a short (about
three-page) proposal. Proposal forms are available in the Grants and
Special Projects Office, Woodburn 309, or can be printed from the website.
It is anticipated that successful
applicants will request support for faculty release time, research
equipment, travel to research sites or research support for the
production of creative work. Preference is given to new applicants,
particularly in the areas of education, business, social sciences and
humanities. Applications are now being accepted for faculty release time
for spring 2004. Release time is awarded to full-time faculty who teach
on the BHSU campus. The next application deadline is Monday,
Aug. 18 at
12 p.m.
The applicants are encouraged to
contact the committee members for advice prior to completing their
proposals. The members are John Alsup, Earl Chrysler, Tom Cox, Abdollah
Farrokhi (chair), Jim Hess, Kathleen Parrow, Shane Sarver, and Rob
Schurrer.
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