Student centered outreach and inreach programs at Lamar University

CHED 74

Shyam Shukla, shyam.shukla@lamar.edu1, Alka Shukla, shukla_1998@yahoo.com2, Mohammad Musaddaq, mohammad_musaddaq@hotmail.com1, Dushyant Shukla, kathanthegreat@yahoo.com3, and Richa Shukla, shukla_1998@yahoo.com4. (1) Chemistry Department, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, (2) Chemistry Department, Southeast College, 6815 Rustic, Houston, TX 77270, (3) Vishwabharati Bhavan, Bhaikaka Nagar, Shri M N Shukla College Of Education, Vishwabharati Bhavan, Bhaikaka Nagar, Thaltej, Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad, India, 59, India, (4) University of Texas, Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
The idea of having an outreach and inreach program at the Lamar University was conceived by Dr. Shyam Shukla about 6 years ago. Our activities at Lamar are extensively student centered. To accomplish our outreach goals, our students in higher classes go to schools (grades 5-12) and 2-year colleges (which fall generally within 30-35 miles range, but some students have gone farther too) to make presentations on topics related to the cutting edge science. The instructor mostly assigns the topics for presentation, but students can bring their own topics as well. Each student carries evaluation forms that the students in audience and their teachers fill. These forms are then returned to the instructor at Lamar University. These evaluations have given very high rating to our efforts. These efforts not only enhance the learning ability of our students but the school students in elementary, middle schools, high schools, and 2-year colleges are also exposed to the excitement of science. We also have developed an Inreach or Peer-leading program at Lamar in which students at Lamar help other students at Lamar. So far these programs did not cost Lamar anything but we are now trying to expand the programs in a number of ways. These programs will involve many different branches of education at Lamar and will equally involve schools and colleges in Southeast Texas (which will be greatly beneficial to this somewhat isolated part of the country).
 

General Posters
7:30 PM-9:30 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008