Meet the Scientists
Area
Sciences
Duration
1 session
Dimension of the advised group of students
One group of 10-20 people in groups of five
Specific objectives
- To get to know scientists
- To stimulate interest and raise questions
- To select, organize and present scientific information
- To evaluate scientific information and make informed judgements from it
Needed Materials
- Copies of handout
- Printed downloads for scientists’ profiles
- Paper and pens
If the training is organized online one communication platform will be necessary.
Software
- One online communication platform, such us: Zoom, Google Meet, Webex,
etc.
- In person, no software is needed.
Description
As educators prepare their students to succeed in a rapidly evolving world, providing
quality STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education has
become increasingly important. One of the most effective ways to create and maintain
engagement is by introducing relatable STEM role models who will show students
what they too can achieve.
Relatable role models are essential during a child’s developmental learning state, as
children who see themselves in others imitate traits with which they most identify. For
students interested in STEM, exposure to role models involved in these fields has the
power to maintain their interest and increase the likelihood they will innovate in the
future.
The effectiveness of role models has roots in what’s called “observational learning,”
where children learn and copy behaviors and actions by watching and listening to
other people.
Procedure on how to put in practice
Duration: 60 minutes
No of participants: 10-20
Methods used: open discussion, role-play
Competences developed: critical thinking, interviewing
Step-by-step description:
1. Split participants into groups of five. Ask them to think about what they
imagine scientist are like. Draw a scientist as a group. Each person draws a
different part without others seeing, folds over what they have done and
passes it on.
2. Unfold and look at the pictures: are there any common themes?
3. Assign each group a scientist and hand them a profile. Get them to read
through it.
4. Split the groups into A’s and B’s. Those in Group A will go around and question
the scientists. Group B are the scientists who will use the printed scientist
profile pages on which to base their answers.
5. Hand the Group A participants the list of Assigned Questions to ask the Group
B scientists. They can also ask questions of their own. If the answer is not
available on the scientist profile the group can speculate as to what their
answers could be.
6. The Group B scientists will stay seated, and the Group A students will rotate
between each scientist, asking questions. Ring a bell every 3 minutes to move
the students on to new scientists.
7. All participants to discuss the scientists. Go over the questions for each
scientist to make sure they got the right answers.
Debriefing question: Did they like the questions? Did they feel they got to know the
scientists? Would they ask similar questions or others?
