ENTOM 3350 - Naturalist Outreach Practicum

(CU-CEL, CU-SBY)

Fall. 4 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: one college-level biology course. Enrollment limited to: upperclassmen and graduate students. This course receives more credit than typical for the meeting pattern due to fieldwork outside the formal meeting times.

L.S. Rayor.

An interdisciplinary course on how to do effective scientific outreach. The goals of the course are 1) to train students to speak about science with passion and clarity, 2) for the students to be able to teach science effectively in classrooms, science centers, and in large community outreach events, and 3) to train a generation of civically engaged scientific outreach leaders. Students give presentations in schools. Class size is limited. Students who wish to enroll should read blogs.cornell.edu/naturalistoutreach, please contact the instructor to get an enrollment code.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to give knowledgeable, well-organized and dynamic hands-on presentations. Students learn how to assemble and design illustrative display materials.

Outcome 2: Students will understand the complexities to design, organize, and manage an outreach event.

Outcome 3: Students gain experience with the pleasures and realities of teaching children. Additionally, students interact with teachers to integrate their presentations with the curricular needs of the class.

Outcome 4: Students learn to synthesize biological concepts and create experiential learning materials for use by others