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Show 2 Sgnposf-Tuesday, May 8, 1984 Dean Travis Establishes WSC Center For Science Education by Steve Fifield Senior Reporter The School of Natural Sciences is planning to initiate a center for science education. Dr. Dennis M. Travis, dean of natural sciences, said that the center should be operational by September. He said that it will be housed in the natural sciences building and will employ two new faculty members. "There are a few centers around the country," Travis said, "but they're in schools of education; ours is in the school of natural science." Travis said, "The center for science education will be a formal organization with faculty who have formal liasons with natural science professors and business people." The center will be "formally inter-relating" with the education department as well as science professionals. "We need to articulate the responsibilities of the organization so we can better serve the students," Travis said. "We're working on stating the mission statement, the goals and the objectives (of the organization)." Travis said that there have been many local, regional and national reports about science education. According to Travis, these reports indicate that "elementary school teachers are not trained or comfortable in science. Some (reports) say that some students get as little as twenty minutes Committee Member Eligible For Office by Steve Fifield Senior Reporter It has come to the attention of the Signpost that one of the members of the ad hoc committee that reorganized student government is now running for office. In a Signpost article dated January 31, 1984, Brad Howell, ASWSC president, is quoted as saying that "the individuals on the committee have committed not to participate in next year's election." Howell said that it would represent a conflict of interest if a person was on the committee and then ran for office. Last week John Morris, ASWSC academic vice-president, said that even though the committee may have said that, the ASWSC legislative council never voted on the issue. Tami Jones, ASWSC student services vice-president, is running for the School of Education senatorial seat. When asked about her involvement on the ad hoc committee, Jones said, "My words to Brad Howell were that I didn't know if I'd be running (for office) or not. I only went to one (the first) ad hoc committee meeting. I wasn't actively involved." Jones said that the meeting was to inform the committee of its duties, and that she made no comments during the meeting. Brad Howell and Rick Sline were both asked if Jones was "on the committee." They both said that she was. Howell said, 'The role of the ad hoc committee was to advise me on the constitutional change. I wanted to have an impartial committee ... at one time I was going to have them sign a paper saying they wouldn't be involved in the election . . . but it was never an iron clad thing." 4 r SHOTGUNS RIFLES DIAMONDS GOLD MONEY TO LOAN 2606 Well Avenue Qgdon, Utah Monday thru Saturday 9 AM. to 6 P,M. "Plenty of Off-Street Parking" (of science) per week." The first goal of the new science education center will be to provide students who are studying to be elementary or secondary science teachers with "preservice" needs. Preservice, explained Travis, "will include initiating andor coordinating appropriate undergraduate curriculum development." This "coordination" will take place between the science and education departments. Travis said that in the past the education department has had the responsibility of training science teachers. However, he said, "We're taking this responsibility." Travis said that preservice will also include a "tutorial service for elementary and secondary education majors taking science courses." Travis said, "Students are entering high school without skills and motivation in science," and aren't learning these skills once in high school. He said, "Up to 50 percent of science teachers aren't qualified." Travis said that elementary and secondary school teachers need inservice training. This will be the second goal of the center for science education. Inservice goals, said lravis, will "develop, provide andor coordinate a resource centerclearinghouse to meet the classroom arid laboratory science teaching needs of current elementary and secondary school teachers." Travis said inservice will also "identify, develop andor foster the use of appropriate and enriching instructional techniques-for example, computer-assisted instruction, team teaching, museum-centered instruction, practicing industry and business scientists, etc." As Travis put it, "Science education is the precursor to technology." He said, "There is not one single sector of private or public business that is not effected by science." It has taken until the present, according to Travis, for government monies to become available to promo'.e the sciences. "I want people to expect things from the Center for Science Education, such as teaching, scholarships and service," Travis said, "I believe it (the center) is integral to the entire school of natural science. ... In a couple of years our system will be emulated throughout the country." ..--H.W-...- d Manufacturer's Semi-Annual 14 Kt. Gold Chain Sale 50 Off All Chains in Stock! Prices start as low as 10.95 Newgate Mall Ogden, Utah 392-9991 Weber State College SICjlNpOST Editor-in-Chief Colleen Mewing Editorial Advisor Joan Wilcox Managing Editor Rae Dawn Olbert Sports Editor Dan Dickson Asst. Sports Editor Steve Spafford Entertainment Editor Dona Skaff Gov't Affairs Kathy Kendell Ad Sales Manager Kevin Carrillo Promotion Manager Don Williams Ad Salesperson Michael Christenson Reporters Steve Fifield David C. Wright Chris Larsen Stephanie DeGraw Shirley Parker Blain Child Advisor Larry Stahle Production Manager Ken Hill Production Jeff Allen Stephanie Christenson Kristie Jenson Peggy Maggio Pauline McReavy Linda Smith Signature Editor Stephanie Chamberlain Chief Photographer Grove Pashley Photographers Bob George Dennis Millet . Jeff Nickerson Secretaries Becky Clark Elizabeth Eichler Circulation Layne Higgs The Weber State Signpost is published twice weekly throughout the academic year by the WSC Department of Communications. Editorial comment appearing in this publication is that of the Signpost staff or an individual writer and not necessarily that of Weber State College. Offices are located in the Union Building, rooms 267 and 281. Mail correspondence to WSC Signpost, Weber State College, Ogden, Utah 84408. The Signpost is distributed to students on Tuesday and Friday free of charge and is available by subscription at a price of $9 per quarter or $25 annually. |