POWERGRAMS

36 This past fall, with support from the Alabama Power Foundation, Birmingham's McWane Science Center introduced two educational programs, "Think Like a Scientist" and "Portable Creativity Lab," that will bolster regional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) awareness and understanding. About 20,000 children are expected to learn through McWane outreach programs in 2017. Three-fourths of those will be low-income or at-risk youths. By incorporating state standards into lessons, McWane's staff will bridge the gap between traditional classrooms and real-world applications to help prepare students for careers in STEM fields. "I feel that sometimes kids are intimidated by science," said Gabriel Higdon, educational specialist at McWane. "They feel that science is too hard to understand or they can't relate to it. 'Think Like a Scientist,' however, is a wonderful program that tries to combat this fear. The program tries to make science personal by connecting with students on their level. "The hands-on aspect of 'Think Like a Scientist' promotes the idea that science is tangible, which in turn creates excitement for students," Higdon said. "Once this excitement develops, students realize that science is no longer a foreign concept but rather a familiar friend. I've seen firsthand how students respond to this program and how much they enjoy the connections they get to make with science." These programs package the renowned creative and educational excellence of the center to expand access to science resources. Think Like a Scientist is a three-day series that will be delivered to every fifth-grade classroom in Birmingham City Schools. The first day involves science and engineering concepts. Next, they are introduced to STEM professionals, to gain knowledge and connections to careers. Finally, students visit McWane to test their new inquiry and problem-solving skills on the exhibits. "It has been such a fulfilling experience working with students and teachers on our Think Like a Scientist program," said Lawrence Cooper, senior director of Science Education. "The goal of this program is not to have students memorize science facts but to encourage them to experience science concepts hands-on and firsthand. "Think Like a Scientist gives McWane Science Center the opportunity to share novel educational techniques with the participating teachers," Cooper said. "We are modeling science education approaches that they can implement into their classroom curriculum and professional practice." The Portable Creativity Lab program partners with schools and libraries to bring STEM exploration to after-school programs. The lab, run by McWane's education staff, remains at each partner site for five days, offering 45-minute programs each day. Lab topics include circuit building, 3-D doodling, robotic programming, arts and technology. The Center for a New Generation (CNG) is an after-school location visited by the Portable Creativity Lab. CNG site director Jalencia Moultrie said it is "an experience way beyond" most students' imagination. "The children were introduced to creativity on another level through different activities such as the creation of robots that actually move," Moultrie said. "Every time that I entered the classroom the students were fully engaged, and I am looking forward to the next session with them." Some fifth-grade students who participated in the lab were surprised science can be interesting. One said, "I like science more now because you never know how an experiment will turn out; it's exciting." Another said, "I didn't know what to expect when they said that the McWane Center was going to come and teach us. I really wanted to go to the drum class instead, but once I got in the class I did not want to leave." McWane exhibits and education programs often provide a critical first step in developing a student's curiosity about science. "I have been able to see how programs such as these encourage students to ask questions, share inferences and reach conclusions based on their own observations," Cooper said. "Think Like a Scientist may encourage some of these students to pursue careers in STEM but, more importantly, we want them to realize that they can use scientific methods to help them solve everyday problems." Opened in 1998, McWane Science Center has welcomed millions of visitors of all ages to experience its unique, hands-on exhibitions and science-learning experiences, which currently include the Fox 6 Weather Lab, Science on a Sphere, Nature Scope, Alabama Dinosaurs and Sea Monsters, the John W. Woods IMAX Dome Theatre and Itty Bitty Magic City. "Today's young McWane visitor is tomorrow's doctor, scientist or engineer," said Myla Calhoun, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. "We have been proud supporters of McWane's educational programs for many years because we believe that their unique educational experiences have the power to spark lifelong interest in scientific concepts." The McWane Center in Birmingham has outreach programs for thousands of students. Kids enjoy Portable Creativity Lab.

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