Teachers bring new activity into the classroom: radioactivity
"Science education develops students' curiosity and that provides them with opportunities to learn," said Candace Davison, workshop presenter and senior reactor operator at Penn State University's Radiation Science and Education Center. "Teaching lessons about radioactivity opens classroom discussions to topics from appraising art with nuclear technology to preserving lives with nuclear diagnostics."
Held in conjunction with the 2003 ANS/ENS International Winter Meeting, the workshop introduced teachers to professionals working in the field of nuclear science and technology. Specialists from NASA, University of Florida, Penn State University, Idaho National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory provided valuable information and hands-on activities for teaching about radiation, radioactivity and nuclear technology in classrooms.
Participants learned to use and received free, analog Geiger Counters to use with their students, in addition to getting additional visual materials and experiments. The workshop assists teachers striving to meet National Science Education Standards.
The ANS Public Education Program provides current information on nuclear-related topics to educators, students and the public. Educators rely on ANS for credible information that is based on scientific evidence and free from commercialism. ANS resources include the www.aboutnuclear.org Web site, printed publications and the ReActions newsletter for teachers.
Funding for this workshop is provided in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, a gift from The Atlantic Group, and through individual contributions to the ANS Public Education Program. Entergy Nuclear provided meeting space and additional assistance.
