Establishing Effective Communication Blake Anderson Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR Kathy Prophet Hellstern Middle School, 7771 Har-Ber Ave. Springdale, AR GK-12 K.I.D.S. at the University of Arkansas

Summer Workshop

Communication Issue 1 Fellows and teachers are not ready to have an open dialog. What we did to work through this issue: The Fellows; Learn about the curriculum Learn about the different learning styles Gain an accurate image of a middle school student through the use of videos and discussions with the teachers Gain accurate expectations to have for a middle school student through discussions with the teachers Teacher and Fellows; Go through a diversity workshop Learn about inquiry based teaching methods

Communication Issue 2 Fellow and Teacher Compatibility What we did to work through this issue: Prior to pairing the teachers and fellows have two weeks of designed interaction during which they; Learn to adapt inquiry based lessons to meet the standards Are treated as peers and collaborators Attend a two day retreat centered around team building activities Give personal and professional introductions The K.I.D.S. staff makes teacher and fellow pairing recommendations based on observations.

Communication Issue 3 Teacher Fellow Communication During Lesson Creation and Presentation What we did to work through this issue: Previous fellows present typical lessons. Give the pairs the opportunity to create a lesson without the pressure associated with the school year. Gives them a controlled environment to try the lesson. Gives the fellows the opportunity to gain experience with classroom management. Following the lesson fellows, teachers, and staff are given the opportunity to discuss the lesson and its effectiveness.

Communication Issue 4 Student Motivation What we did to work through this issue: Fellows now have accurate images and expectations of middle school students. Teachers and fellows have gone through a diversity training workshop. Previous fellows discuss classroom management. Fellows and teachers can create interesting and appropriate inquiry based lessons. (inquiry level, concept level, learning styles) Kids Camp Gives the fellows the opportunity to interact with middle school students prior to the school year. Fellows, teachers, and staff are given the opportunity to discuss the lesson and its effectiveness at the end of each day.

Communication Issue 5 Communication Problems During the Year What we did to work through this issue: Monthly teacher/GK-12 staff meetings; Sharing of ideas and resources Submit journal entry Weekly fellow/GK-12 staff meetings; Fellows get advice from other fellows on: How to interact better with students. How to work better with the teachers Create lessons and share ideas Teacher fellow planning and interaction Keep GK-12 staff up to date on what is going on in the classroom.

What do we take away? Skill in creating and presenting lessons Skill in talking to the general public Greater interest in and understanding of public education Greater understanding of fundamental concepts More skill in inquiry based learning Ability to work as part of a team