Winners' Circle

 

Resources for Authentic Learning in Science (REAL Science)
Dr. Susan Meston, Muskegon Area Intermediate School District

Resources for Authentic Learning in Science (REAL Science) is a community partnership established to purchase modern scientific instruments and provide teacher training and support, ensuring a powerful, real-world science experience for all students. The instruments, equal to those in today's workplace, are rotated through participating high schools, achieving an economy of scale not only for equipment purchases, but also for the associated professional development and curriculum support provided by the MAISD Regional Mathematics and Science Center. Scientists from private business’ assist with training as well. A part-time coordinator provides support and answers questions, maintains the equipment, handles the logistics of scheduling, and transports the equipment between high schools. REAL Science emerged from a 2003 community task force study on the state of high school laboratory science in Muskegon County and has received financial support from every sector of the community: Local businesses, individuals, all 12 public school districts, and the local Community Foundation, including the Muskegon County Medical Society Fund. Most recently a $99,910 grant was awarded to the MAISD from the West Michigan STEM Education Innovation Fund Initiative to expand REAL Science and it now includes Muskegon, Ottawa, and Newaygo counties.

There are four primary ways to measure the success of this program. 1. Participation: Every public and charter high school in Muskegon County has chosen to participate in REAL Science, and now students in Ottawa and Newaygo counties also benefit from the use of equipment, support, and training. 46 teachers of biology or chemistry in the three-county area have received hands-on training and gained the skills and knowledge necessary to design and deliver real-world learning experiences to their high school students. In year one (2007/08), over 1,000 students (96 classes) participated in a lab experience that utilized REAL Science equipment. In year two (2008/09), with new teachers participating, that number grew to over 2,000 (147 classes). So far in 2009/10, over 600 students have experienced REAL Science. The program now spills over into one middle school where a teacher is using it in a forensic science exploratory class. 2. Impact on Student Learning: Classes that use REAL Science range from introductory biology and chemistry courses to advanced placement biology and chemistry, as well as food science, forensic science, genetics and anatomy, and physiology courses. For example, Jen Adams’ Advanced Placement biology program at Mona Shores High School relies on extensive use of the equipment available through REAL Science. With access to this equipment, her students have had the opportunity to perform labs using many techniques utilized by the biotechnology industry. Most recently the students completed a lab simulating the spread of disease through a population. Ms. Adams wrote this response to the REAL Science Coordinator:
“The kit was SUPER fun! My class had a great time doing this lab…Many of them commented that they wished they could do it again because now they know what they did wrong. Very powerful stuff. One girl asked me, ‘What kind of people do this for a living because I want to do this!’ These are freshmen who probably didn't grasp the entirety of how primary and secondary antibodies work, but their questions and curiosity that came out of doing this lab were just awesome! Thanks for letting me use this kit. It may have influenced the career path for some of my kids.”
3. Funding: The financial support provided by local academic, industry, and community leaders has grown from $30,000 in 2006-07 to $342,252 in 2008-09. 4. Equipment Availability: The variety of high quality equipment available through the program is an additional sign of the program's success. Guided by input from local industry, the chemistry equipment includes spectrophotometers, high pressure liquid chromatographs, and gas chromatographs. Each of these is used in analysis of substances, they all lend themselves to inquiry-based student investigations in chemistry and enable students to perform many types of analyses that are common in industry. REAL Science also provides balances, including analytical balances (used for measuring very small amounts of substances). The biology equipment provided allows students to practice techniques used commonly in the biotechnology industry including DNA electrophoresis, Polymerase Chain Reaction, protein electrophoresis, and bacterial transformation. The kits include all of the consumables (DNA samples, dyes, etc.) needed for each activity. Incubators, sterilizers, classroom sets of microscopes, microscope cameras, and phase contrast microscopes (a high-tech microscope that allows students to view live specimens) are also available.

 

For more information regarding this program, please contact Kristin Tank at (231) 767-7263 or ktank@muskegonisd.org.