Proposal Title
Creating a sense of belonging for all students using science storytelling
Session Type
Workshop
Room
Somerville House, room 2355
Start Date
12-7-2023 2:00 PM
End Date
12-7-2023 2:50 PM
Keywords
storytelling, identity, diversity, biographies, student engagement, nature of science
Primary Threads
Teaching and Learning Science
Abstract
When young science students are asked to identify familiar scientists, the list is typically short. Common answers include Albert Einstein and Bill Nye. If a woman is named, it’s usually Marie Curie. If a person of colour is named, it’s usually Neil deGrasse Tyson. Members of other underrepresented groups rarely make the list. With such a limited selection of scientists known to them, it can be difficult for some students to imagine themselves following careers in science. When famous scientists are talked about in classrooms, the narratives often focus on their brilliant discoveries rather than the obstacles that they overcame to make them. For students to feel that they belong in the world of science, they need to see people who look like them. They need to learn about humans rather than icons. They need role models who show them that a life in science is attainable. To engage students from diverse backgrounds, we’ve shared stories about historical scientists and modern-day professionals, all under the banner of People to Ponder. Our results are empirical and anecdotal, but in our experience, this approach deeply engages students, enhances their comprehension of science content, and increases their understanding of the nature of science, all while introducing them to relatable examples of people from the world of science. Workshop participants will bring their own devices to access shared online resources and develop narratives about scientists that they can use to engage students and make them feel welcome in their science classrooms.
Elements of Engagement
Participants will listen to a brief presentation explaining the benefits of storytelling for engagement of diverse groups of students, enhancement of content learning, and improvement in understanding of the nature of science. After the presentation, participants will break out into discipline-specific groups to work together to create their own narratives. Necessary resources will be provided in a shared Google folder. The folder will include a PowerPoint template for participants to fill in, and a sample presentation about a famous scientist. Also included is a Google sheet with links to biographies of scientists sorted by science discipline (Earth/Ocean/Atmospheric Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology/Medical Science). To help participants choose appropriate subjects, the Google sheet also will include codes to direct participants to specific underrepresented groups (e.g., differently abled, female, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S, POC, etc.). It’s recommended to bring devices (laptops, iPads, etc.) in order to access internet resources and develop story presentations. By the end of the workshop, participants should be able to begin constructing, and hopefully complete, narratives to use in their own classes.
Creating a sense of belonging for all students using science storytelling
Somerville House, room 2355
When young science students are asked to identify familiar scientists, the list is typically short. Common answers include Albert Einstein and Bill Nye. If a woman is named, it’s usually Marie Curie. If a person of colour is named, it’s usually Neil deGrasse Tyson. Members of other underrepresented groups rarely make the list. With such a limited selection of scientists known to them, it can be difficult for some students to imagine themselves following careers in science. When famous scientists are talked about in classrooms, the narratives often focus on their brilliant discoveries rather than the obstacles that they overcame to make them. For students to feel that they belong in the world of science, they need to see people who look like them. They need to learn about humans rather than icons. They need role models who show them that a life in science is attainable. To engage students from diverse backgrounds, we’ve shared stories about historical scientists and modern-day professionals, all under the banner of People to Ponder. Our results are empirical and anecdotal, but in our experience, this approach deeply engages students, enhances their comprehension of science content, and increases their understanding of the nature of science, all while introducing them to relatable examples of people from the world of science. Workshop participants will bring their own devices to access shared online resources and develop narratives about scientists that they can use to engage students and make them feel welcome in their science classrooms.