ScienceQuest Newsletter

Please email Vivian (vwong@edc.org) any news, tips, and advice you would like to share with ScienceQuest coaches and coordinators.

In this newsletter:

• Stuff Happening: Conference Calls for Coaches & Coordinators
• What's Up: New Web site building software; national training in Austin, TX; spring ScienceQuest team Web sites launched; welcome new ScienceQuest interns
• News You Can Use: Tips on Recruiting Coaches
• Science Resources & Ideas for Teams: Assistive Technology Resources, The Why Files, Institute for Inquiry Based Science Learning
• Next Issue Features

Stuff Happening

Conference Calls for all Coaches & Coordinators
Friday, July 19th, and August 9th at 12:00 PM (EST)
Share your knowledge and get advice from ScienceQuest coaches and coordinators from around the country. Conference call number (888) 526-6657. The secret code is 6594#.

Jennifer Dorsen on Vacation from July 4 - July 22
Please contact Vivian Wong if you have questions about ScienceQuest.
Ph: 617.618.2932
Email: vwong@edc.org

Do you like ScienceQuest?
Help keep the program running by recording all staff and volunteer time on cost share forms. If you need forms, please visit the ScienceQuest Web site and look under "Administrative Forms." Or, download the forms here.

What's Up?

New Web Site Building Software:
ScienceQuest & Homestead Partnership
We are pleased to announce a new partnership with Homestead, a company that provides Web site building and hosting services. Teams that have not built Web sites before will find Homestead especially useful because of the "point and click" functionality. With Homestead, team members can create links and images, upload graphics and sounds, build navigation bars, and develop fun features such as online polls. Launch Web sites by pressing one simple button.

Each ScienceQuest team has access to a free Homestead account for one year. Get the Web Site Building Guide and contact Vivian or Jennifer for your Homestead promotional code. The Web Site Building Guide will provide step-by-step directions on how to download the Homestead software and build Web pages with your teams.

For teams that want to build their Web sites in HTML or using Macs, please contact Vivian and Jennifer for information on how ScienceQuest can help.

Resources
Homestead: http://www.homestead.com/

National Training in Austin, TX
On June 13th, 30 community technology center (CTC) staff from around the country gathered in Austin, TX to take part in the national launch of ScienceQuest. Participants attended a day-long training where they received hands-on experience with the I-Search inquiry process, learned tips for building Web sites with kids, and developed plans for launching ScienceQuest teams in their communities. Thirteen cities and towns were selected to be part of the training. A complete list is on the Web site.

Resources
Pictures from the national training & list of participants: http://www2.edc.org/sciencequest/hot/nationaltrainingpics.htm

SQ Team Web Sites Launched
Congratulations to teams at Cooper Community Center, Cruz Management, and South Middle School for launching their spring teams Web sites! Check out the following Web sites:

• Social Behavior of SkateBoarders
  The team at South Middle School conducted a study on the social attitudes of skateboarders. The study examined how youth responded to evocative questions such as, "Does the level of a skateboarder affect how he/she treats others?" and "Why do you think a lot of girls don't skateboard?" For more information, view the PowerPoint presentation while the Web site is under construction.
• Shark Attack! (Built through Homestead software)
  Before you head to the beach this summer, check Cooper Community Center's heart-pounding Web site entitled, "Shark Attack!" Get valuable information about lemon sharks, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and bull sharks.
  
• Snow & Computers
  This spring, the Cruz Management team answered eternal questions such as, "What is Snow?" and "How do computers work?" While investigating their questions, the Cruz Management team did what many of us daydream about -- they built a snowman and took apart their computer!
  

Announce Your ScienceQuest Web Site! Contact Vivian Wong (vwong@edc.org) when your team has launched a Web site and we will feature it on the ScienceQuest Web site.

Welcome Kristy and Rick
This summer, Kristy Rowe and Rick Dash will join ScienceQuest as interns. Kristy, a former ScienceQuest coach, will work with SQ staff to design various ScienceQuest materials, including a new youth section of the ScienceQuest Web site. Rick will work the Family Investment Center in Chicago, IL to implement a new ScienceQuest program in Chicago community technology centers. We're glad to have you on board!

News You Can Use: Tips & Advice

Building the SQ Empire ... One Volunteer at a Time
Over the next couple of months, some centers will be recruiting volunteers as ScienceQuest coaches. But where do you find good coaches? The following coordinators shared their ideas for recruitment:

• Brenda (Rapid City, SD) contacted a retired and senior volunteer group, the School of Technology's University-Relations office, and local Boy and Girl Scout troops.
• Brenda (Billings, MT) plans to recruit coaches through a newsletter that is sent to local families, and network with other centers in the area.
• Stephanie (Harlem, NY) is recruiting coaches through outreach to local schools. She will create a ScienceQuest flyer and distribute them in teachers' mailboxes.
• Bob (Lufkin, TX) generated interest from community members through an article about ScienceQuest in the local newspaper.

Other ideas for finding coaches include working with community service programs at local colleges and universities, applying for a CTC Vista volunteer, recruiting parents and family members, and creating partnerships with local churches and organizations.

Tips for Working with Coaches
After a training with new ScienceQuest coaches, Mereides (Somerset, NJ) reported that volunteer coaches felt more at ease about leading a science and technology after school project because they realized they did not have to be experts. Coaches learned that adults and kids learn about science together through the I-Search. The training included hands-on experience with the four phases of I-Search and practice with Homestead.

Resources:
For more tips, advice, and resources on recruiting coaches, visit: http://www2.edc.org/sciencequest/coachescenters/team/howto.htm

Science Resources & Ideas for Teams

Assistive Technology Resources
During the last conference call with coaches and coordinators, Brenda (Billings, MT) had great recommendations for assistive technology resources.

• Voice software: http://www.assistivetechnologies.com/
• Training, product information, school integration: http://www.atto.buffalo.edu/
• Writing tool (check out DANA): http://www.alphasmart.com/
• Literacy Support: http://www.texthelp.com/

Science Is All Around Us, Even in the News!
How does war affect ecology? What's happening with the Colorado forest fires? The Why Files teaches kids and adults the science behind the news. This is a great resource for an immersion activity. http://whyfiles.org/

Institute for Inquiry Based Science Learning
Provides workshops, courses, and online support for inquiry based science educators.
http://www.exploratorium.org/IFI/index.html

Resources on the ScienceQuest Web site
Check out the ScienceQuest for assistance on the following I-Search phases:

• Setting Up Teams: How to Do It Guide
• Setting Up Teams Tool Kit
• Immerse in Science: How to Do It Guide
• Immerse in Science Tool Kit
• Online Resources for Research

Next Issue: Features

• Mind Your P's and C's: Avoiding Plagiarism and Using Appropriate Citations on Web Sites
• Getting your Team to Agree on a Question.

Read other What's Hot news.