IN-CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers serve as mentors in 2nd through 6th grade classroom. In this roll, mentors work with a small group of three to six elementary students and help guide the students through the experimental process including designing their experiment, carrying out their experiment, and presenting their findings to the class. Mentors are encourages to guide students through by using guiding questions. There is always a SciTrek staff member in the class to provide guidance and assistance to mentors. This opportunity allow mentors to build their communication skills. Spanish speaking volunteers are greatly appreciated due to the high number of multi langue learners in the area.
The modules are scheduled for two to three days per week (M/W/F or T/Th schedules) for a duration of two to four weeks at a time (transportation to and from UCSB [outside CHEM 1204] to the local school is provided). Since mentors work with one group of students through an entire module it is important for them to be able to attend every day (between 6 and 8 days per module) of the module. Prior to the start of the module, there is a module specific orientation that allows mentors to work with module materials, gain pedagogical tips on how to work with elementary students, as well meet other mentors and the classroom teacher. Online orientations are available, if needed.
Module schedules are posted on the Elementary Schedules page. If you find module you would like to volunteer for email: scitrekelementary@chem.ucsb.edu with the module you are interested in and the elementary coordinator will help get you signed up. If you are not doing SciTrek as part of a class, then hours spent in the classroom or at orientations can be used as community service hours. (Transportation time does not count as community service hours.)
BEHIND THE SCENES VOLUNTEERS
Join us any weekday afternoon from 3-5 pm in CHEM 1009 to help us prepare module materials. We have many jobs that must be completed to get experiments ready for elementary students and we'd love to have you join us! This is a great way to get community service hours. If you have any questions email: scitrekelementary@chem.ucsb.edu.
EARNING CREDIT FOR SCITREK - CHEM 193
CHEM 193 is a pass/no pass class that offers one unit of credit for helping with the SciTrek program.
Requirements
- Complete 2 modules with SciTrek during the quarter
- Dates and times can be found on the Elementary Modules page
- Complete 5 hours of behind the scenes work work, helping prepare module materials.
- Behind the scenes work can be done any weekday between 3-5 pm in CHEM 1009. These hours must be completed before the end of dead week.
To enroll in the class, e-mail scitrekelementary@chem.ucsb.edu and include the module topic, school, and teacher that you plan to serve as a mentor for and the elementary coordinate will send you an add code. Add codes will not be given out after the UCSB add deadline, typically the third week of the quarter.
Grade Note: If you miss more than two days (of modules or orientations), you will get a no pass. For each missed module day, you will need to complete 1.5 hours of behind the scenes work within one week of the missed day. If you missed the orientation, you MUST complete the online orientation BEFORE the start of the module AND complete 1 hour of behind the scenes work. You will not be allowed to go to the module until you complete the online orientation. Missing a day due to not completing an orientation will count towards your missed days and will need to be made up.
If you are using CHEM 193 for the Minor in Science and Math Education or for preprofessional hours, you must log your hours on the CalTeach Google Sheet (see below for instructions).
OTHER CLASSES ASSOCIATED WITH SCITREK
CHEM 102: Teaching Chemistry at the Secondary Level: In this class students design a chemistry unit for either a junior high and high school chemistry topic. In addition, students complete one SciTrek module and spend 15 hours in a local chemistry class. This class is offered the fall of each year.
ED 129: Teaching Science at the Elementary Level: In this class students will carryout science activities intended for elementary students and then reflect on the activity to determine what the learning goals of the activity are and how the activity exemplifies the Next Generation Science Standards. In addition, students complete two SciTrek modules.
Logging Pre Professional hours
If you are taking CHEM 102, ED 129, CHEM 193 (as part of the minor in science and math education), or want pre professional hours, then you must log you yours on the CalTeach Google Sheet. If your instructor has not provided you with the link, email scitrekelementary@chem.ucsb.edu and requite the link. For orientations, log 1.5 hours and for each day of the module, log 1 hour. Each day should be logged separately. Please let the SciTrek coordinator know if this applies to you and they will give you access to the form.
CHEMISTRY/TEP JOINT GRADUATE PROGRAM
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a joint two-year program with the Gervitz Graduate School of Education. Students spend their first year working on an MA in Chemistry while simultaneously running modules and doing research on the SciTrek Program. Year two is spent working on a Single Subject Credential in Chemistry. For more information, please see Chemistry/TEP Joint Graduate Degree Program.