Working with Science Club for Girls

As a mentor and curriculum developer with Science Club for Girls, I am constantly thinking about new ways to demonstrate scientific concepts to students. Whenever I am working on new protocols for SeedKit, I immediately try to imagine how students will interact with the material. Where will they have points of confusion? Will they have any preconceived misconceptions about the concept? It’s important for us at SeedKit to remember that when we are creating our protocols, they will be used by students who are just getting to understand the concepts we are emphasizing. Working with Science Club for Girls, I get a first hand view into how students go about problem solving, how they interact with the materials we give them, and what they take away from each activity. In a similar vein, I try to imagine how students will go through the process of conducting the experiment whenever creating protocols for SeedKit. Most importantly, we must remember the importance of emphasizing the scientific process rather than simply retaining information or memorizing facts.

–Mehak Sarang

Experiential Learning

At SeedKit we strive to create protocols for experiments that allow students to use the scientific method to approach problems and understand theories of science. It is often the case, especially in countries that have curricula based on the English model, that students are being taught through year-old textbooks. They are taught science as a static statement of fact. Often, they prepare for tests based on rote memorization, and rarely have access to laboratories or resources to conduct experiments. The foundation of science rests on conducting experiments and learning through observation. That’s why we are striving to write protocols that encourage students to go through the experiments and learn something new with every step.

Homopolar Motor

Here’s an example of a low cost experiment we’ve been working on recently! This is called a homopolar motor, and it was one of the first electrical motors created and originally demonstrated by THE Michael Faraday (of the famed Faraday’s Law). The beauty of this experiment (other than it’s simplicity) is that it demonstrates the concept of a magnetic field created by moving charge. As current passes through the wire from the battery, it creates a magnetic field which in turn exerts a torque on the nail attached to the magnet. Students can then use the right hand rule to understand why the nail spins rather than move away or towards the wire. It’s a great demonstration and has many opportunities for extension activities!

–Mehak Sarang

Why Focus on Women? [Infographic]

If you’ve ever wondered why SeedKit focuses primarily on women’s education, here’s something for you! The people over at InPowerCoaching used data from Forbes, The World Bank and the CIA to put together an awesome info-graphic about the power of and need for women’s education around the globe.

Check out the original here: http://inpowercoaching.com/womens-studies-female-education-matters-infographic.