High School Science Institutes: Maine - || 2008 ||2007 || 2006 || Rhode Island - EAST/URI ||
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High school science institutes are for students with a 504 plan or IEP who are interested in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, and or mathematics. Students come to the University of Southern Maine in Gorham and participate in weeklong sessions of learning. This summer we offered Field Based Natural Science, Video Production, and Programming using Robots/Video Game Programming.
A $50.00 deposit is required to attend but is returned when the student completes the full session. There are no other costs. All supplies and meals are provided.

Field Based Natural Science involved going to the Chaffin Pond Preserve in Windham Maine and setting up a field study site facilitated by professors and industry professionals. Students participated in the study of aquatics, botany, soil science, forestry, and entomology. A variety of technology and data gathering techniques were presented. Students had digital cameras, digital recorders, field notebooks, proscopes (computer attached microscopes), and observation sheets through which to collect, observe and record data. Analysis of data was also done out in the field.
Despite a week of rain students had a great experience and left each day with more and more knowledge and excitement for field science! Click here for pictures!

Video production required students to work as a camera team and acquire film after learning a variety of techniques. Students then individually manipulated software and suing what they filmed produced a product that marketed the great things about the university here in Gorham. Students used Final Cut computer software to edit and produce this short film which could be used on You Tube.

Students who attended the seven day Programming Using Robots/Video Game Programming experienced a wild time! They showed parents the last day how they used computer logarithms to make a small robot dance, play music, draw geometric figures, and escape from a boxed in area. The final three days were spent learning the “Scratch” Game Programming. In addition students played a variety of video games and competed with each other for fun.

All students will be invited to workshops in the fall to encourage planning for college. College planning starts in the freshman year! Students will look at the ways they learn, practice self-advocacy and build confidence! Students will look at the college decision processes such as choosing a college, the application process, and the financial aid process! College tours in the area will be available. These sessions will be on Saturdays each month throughout the school year.

The EAST Alliance2 for Students with a Disability in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is funded by the National Science Foundation. Our mission is to increase the number of students with a disability that attend college and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We provide a pipeline of supports from high school through graduate school. This starts with our high school science institutes.

When asked what did you like best? Students said:

Field Based Institute:
"the fact that we got to actually do things instead of just listening to the idea"

"the field work, working hands-on"

Video Production:
“I enjoyed the behind the scenes look”

“hanging out with new people” was really fun

Programming:
“I enjoyed making mistakes up to the point of it becoming critical, and then learning from my mistakes"