The SEPPO program pairs undergraduate science majors and education majors in performing science outreach activities. Both bring unique experiences and perspectives to the partnership that the other often does not have. Science students receive rigorous mathematical and scientific training. They are likely to be comfortable with complex science and understand the scientific process and they are well-prepared to deal with questions about science in general. Education students give more thought to how to convey science to others and are more likely to have excellent communication skills. They also have a better understanding of the inner workings of the classroom and the needs of teachers. Although these generalizations are not true in all cases, what has been consistently true is that the sum of the pair's abilities is far greater than those of either student alone.



The partnering of science and education students builds "collaboration into the educational system." When the science students become the scientists of the future and the education students become the teachers of the future, they will have had positive experiences in working together, will recognize the value of such collaboration, and will feel comfortable interacting in such relationships.



The Presentations



Electric Charge
Activities:
  • Charging up PVC and acrylic rods with paper towels
  • Pulling a pop can by induction from a charged rod
  • Using a pair of electroscopes to see a conductor vs. insulator
  • Feeling the power of induction through an electrophorus

Optics
Activities:
  • Phantom crystals to show index of refraction
  • Blackboard optics to show path of light
  • Follow-along worksheets to learn focal length
  • Voting cards to accompany an online question program
  • Create take-home small cardboard telescope

Night Sky
Activities:
  • Learn how to use a printed sky chart
  • Create a paper Star Clock
  • Watch the presenter show objects through Stellarium program
  • (Optional) Color, cut out & glue planets onto Solar System Diorama

Squishy Circuits
Activities:
  • Build a simple circuit using Play-Dough, batteries, and LED.
  • Build series and parallel circuits
  • Personally see the difference between LEDs and light bulbs