WLSC SMARTCenter

1
WLSC SMART-Center

• 3rd Annual WV Center for
• Professional Development Showcase
• SMART-Center
• (Science, Mathematics, Art, Research, and
  Technology)
• West Liberty State College
• Robert E. Strong Director strongro_at_westliberty.
  edu
• Libby Strong Program Coordinator
  strongli_at_westliberty.edu

2
SMART-Center Origins

• The SMART-Center was founded as a partnership in
  1994 to create an informal science and math
  outreach of West Liberty State College.
• WV-Handle On Science Kits
• Venus Transit June 8th 2004

3
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Customized, hands-on, content rich,
  standards-based field trips PreK through 12th
  grade students

4
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Customized, hands-on,
  content rich, standards-based science camps for
  2nd through 9th graders
• Fun with Chemistry Camp
• A two day summer science camp for 2nd through 7th
  graders
• Two groups 2nd-4th 5th-7th
• Concentrating on grade level appropriate
  Chemistry content and activities

5
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Customized, hands-on,
  content rich, standards-based science camps for
  2nd through 9th graders
• Fun with Physics Camp
• A two day summer science camp for 2nd through 7th
  graders
• Two groups 2nd-4th 5th-7th
• Concentrating on grade level appropriate Physics
  content and activities

6
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Customized, hands-on,
  content rich, standards-based science camps for
  2nd through 9th graders
• Robotics Camp
• A three day summer science camp for 6th through
  9th graders
• Concentrating on grade level appropriate math and
  engineering content and activities

7
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Customized, hands-on,
  content rich, standards-based science camps for
  2nd through 9th graders
• Nanotechnology Camp
• A two day summer science camp for 6th through 8th
  graders
• Concentrating on grade level appropriate math,
  and nanoscale physics, chemistry, engineering
  content and activities

8
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Customized, hands-on,
  content rich, standards-based science camps for
  2nd through 9th graders
• Girls Enjoying Math and Science Camp (GEMS)
• A two day summer science camp for Girls only in
  5th through 8th graders
• Concentrating on grade level appropriate math,
  physics, chemistry, biology, geology, engineering
  content and activities

9
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Summer SMART Institutes.
• First started in 1996 as a one week long (with
  astronomy night sleepover) specialized gifted
  program for regional students. Students are
  Ambassadors from their schools and counties.
  Selection is based on teacher and principal
  recommendations and parent and student
  application
• Summer SMART Institute I
• 13 to date a 5 day accelerated summer science
  camp students starting grade 4

10
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Summer SMART Institutes.
• First started in 1996 as a one week long (with
  astronomy night sleepover) specialized gifted
  program for regional students. Students are
  Ambassadors from their schools and counties.
  Selection is based on teacher and principal
  recommendations and parent and student
  application
• Summer SMART Institute II
• 12 to date a 5 day accelerated summer science
  camp students starting grade 5

11
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Summer SMART Institutes.
• First started in 1996 as a one week long (with
  astronomy night sleepover) specialized gifted
  program for regional students. Students are
  Ambassadors from their schools and counties.
  Selection is based on teacher and principal
  recommendations and parent and student
  application
• Summer SMART Institute III
• 11 to date a 5 day accelerated summer science
  camp students starting grade 6

12
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Informal Science, Math, and Engineering student
  programs Science Bowls.
• High School Science Bowl
• The High School Science Bowl as utilized the
  SMART-Center staff and facility for the last 11
  years for this regional event
• Middle School Science Bowl
• The SMART-Center is the only site in West
  Virginia for the Middle School Science Bowl

13
SMART-Center Programs on-site

• On-Site Programs include
• Informal Science, Math, and Engineering student
  programs
• Educator Professional Development Workshops
• Since the the summer of 1996, the SMART-Center
  has had several summer professional development
  workshops for WV regional educators
• Often these are facilitated by SMART-Center
  staff. Recently
• Hot Topics in Environmental Science
• Chemistry is Elementary
• Technology Integration in Earth and Space Science

14
SMART-Center Facility

• Educator Research Laboratory
• Full Wet Laboratory
• Can serve up to 30 students or educators at one
  time
• Donated glassware, instrumentation, and chemicals
  from WLSC and local business and industry started
  this laboratory
• Additional needed materials have been purchased
  with grants and user fees

15
SMART-Center Facility

• Light, Optics, and Visual Perception Room
• Dedicated hands-on Exhibit Room made light-tight
  for the study of light, the science of optics,
  and investigations of visual perception
• Color Shadows interactive display, captured
  shadows, UV, lasers, etc.
• Can serve up to 30 students or educators at one
  time

16
SMART-Center Facility

• Demonstration Theater
• Dedicated room having tiered seating and
  demonstration area
• Used for large and small group sessions and
  interactive demonstrations and presentations
• Starts / sets the tone for activities to come and
  serves as a wrap-up space at visit end
• Can serve up to 90 students or educators at one
  time

17
SMART-Center Facility

• Exhibit Hall
• Dedicated 1,300 square foot flexible room that
  houses hands-on interactive exhibits and serves
  as a classroom
• Bubble Dome, pipe organ, geology and fossil area,
  science toys, live animal area, etc.
• Can serve up to 50 students or educators at one
  time

18
SMART-Center Facility

• Cosmosdrome
• Dedicated classroom serves as the STARLAB room
• Houses one of two STARLABS used for in-house
  programs and leasing to schools having STARLAB
  trained educators (over 600 to date)
• Can serve up to 25 students or educators at one
  time
• Cylinders include Star Field, Constellations,
  Native American Indian Constellations, Biological
  Cell, Weather, Ocean Currents, and Plate Tectonics

19
SMART-Center Facility

• Science Hallways
• As students and educators move from one activity
  / room to the next, our hall ways house
  additional hands-on Exhibits
• Educator Resource Center
• Not just a room, more of a concept and an
  educational philosophy
• The WLSC SMART-Center is a lending library of
  equipment, books, videos, and other resources for
  regional educators

20
SMART-Center Programs off-site

• Off-Site Programs include
• Informal Science, Math, and Engineering student
  programs
• Science Challenge
• Science Challenge was started 10 years ago as an
  informal challenge between regional Middle
  Schools to compete in a friendly manner
• There are several competitions that are to be
  worked on by teams previously, i.e., egg-drop
• Additional on-site activities schools

21
SMART-Center Programs off-site

• Off-Site Programs include
• Informal Science, Math, and Engineering student
  programs Events at Brooke Hills Park.
• StarWatches
• On the Third Friday evening of every month at
  800 p.m. the SMART-Center, ASTROLABE Astronomy
  Club, and Near Earth Object Foundation sponsor a
  public StarWatch
• West Virginia Kite Festivals
• For the last three years, on the last Saturday of
  April from 100 p.m. to 500m p.m. we sponsor the
  West Virginia Kite Festival

22
SMART-Center Programs off-site

• Off-Site Programs include
• Summer Science Camps Customized, hands-on,
  content rich, standards-based science camps for
  2nd through 9th graders
• Moon and Mars Camp
• A two day summer science camp for 3rd through 7th
  graders
• Held at Brooke Hills Park, 100 p.m. to 1100
  p.m. with StarWatch
• Concentrating on grade level appropriate
  Astronomy related math and science content and
  activities

23
SMART-CenterProgram Costs on-site

• School Group Fees
• For one hour program 3/student
• Two hour program 5/student
• Three hour (and up) 7/student
• Note teachers and participating chaperones are
  not charged
• Educator Professional Development Fees
• Full day (up to 30 educators) 400
• Two hours to half day (up to 30 educators) 200

24
SMART-CenterProgram Costs off-site

• School Group Fees
• Full school demo program 300
• For one presenter half day 200
• For one presenter full day 300
• For two presenters full day 400
• For three presenters full day 500
• STARLAB rental for trained teachers 200 per 5
  day week
• STARLAB program half day 300
• STARLAB program full day 500
• Note off-site programs require mileage and travel

25
SMART-CenterProgram Costs off-site

• Educator Professional Development Fees
• Full day (up to 30 educators) 400
• Two hours to half day (up to 30 educators) 200
• STARLAB training full day 400
• Note off-site programs require mileage and travel

26
SMART-Center Partners

• West Virginia Handle On Science Kit Program
• Near Earth Object Foundation
• Radio Science News
• ASTROLABE Astronomy Club
• Brooke Hills Park
• West Liberty State College

27
Thank You / Questions

• 3rd Annual WV Center for
• Professional Development Showcase
• SMART-Center
• (Science, Mathematics, Art, Research, and
  Technology)
• West Liberty State College
• Robert E. Strong Director strongro_at_westliberty.
  edu
• Libby Strong Program Coordinator
  strongli_at_westliberty.edu