2006 National GK-12 Conference

1
2006 National GK-12 Conference
Louisiana State University
This GK-12 program (Track 1, 2005-08) is a joint
effort of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and
the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Basic
Sciences, and Engineering at LSU. It is
coordinated by LSUs Gordon A. Cain Center which
currently manages or collaborates in over 8M in
grant and contract funding for a variety of
education, research, and outreach programs. The
GK-12 program profits in many ways by the vast
opportunities to network, share, and collaborate
with other major education initiatives like LSUs
(a) content department based Concentrations in
Secondary Education, (b)
Math and Science Partnerships, and (c) Advanced
Placement Initiative. The GK-12 activities
address the educational needs of the school
systems in the greater Baton Rouge area. All
activities are designed to directly impact
student achievement in the participating
classrooms and, equally important, to lay the
foundation for systemic and sustainable links
between our university and K-12. The project
supports nine school teams per year consisting of
one graduate fellow, two teachers, and one
undergraduate fellow. Below, four of the nine
teams present their GK-12 projects in more
detail.
Kenilworth Middle School
Broadmoor High School
Belaire High School
Capitol Middle School
The majority of Belaire high school students feel
that chemistry is often presented in an abstract
manner. Thus, it is sometimes difficult to
effectively convey chemistry concepts using
conventional blackboard-style lectures. In fact,
a significant number of students tend to lose
attention at critical points during instruction
making it difficult for them to build the
prerequisite knowledge needed for college.
Mathematics graduate student Karli Morris helps
students in the Kenilworth Middle School math lab.
(Left) Science teacher Sue Johnson joins with
GK-12 undergraduate fellow Ashleigh Cullen and
students during the demonstrations using
chemicals to make silly puddy. The
demonstration was used to illustrate how
important fractions and percents are to
chemistry. (Right) Students display their
projects with the GK-12 fellows.
Field trip to the Louisiana Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatory
Undergraduate student tutors students.

• Individualizing Math Instruction and raising test
  scores.
• Program Objectives
• To improving standardized test scores using
  tutoring during school, after school, and on
  Saturdays.
• Utilizing the Leap Test scores to identify high
  achieving students for enrichment activities.
• To increase teacher collaboration and cross
  curricular activities.
• Our Program
• Karli Morris, a GK-12 graduate student in the
  math department at Louisiana State University,
  enriches instruction by tutoring high achieving
  students in small groups.
• Danika Robinson, an undergraduate student,
  prepares students for state testing.
• The students in each group have been identified
  by analyzing data from previous standardized
  tests.
• Accomplishments
• Raised interest in mathematics and math related
  fields.
• Collaboration of team members and math teachers
  has made it easier to identify high achievers and
  direct them toward advanced placement courses
  such as calculus.
• The project affords graduate and undergraduate
  students valuable teaching experience in their
  field.

• Program Objectives
• Implement an AP physics course and upgrade the
  regular physics to honors.
• Raise the level of interest in STEM disciplines.
• Link undergraduate science and math to the
  secondary level.
• Our Program
• A graduate candidate from LSU is working as a
  liaison between the math and physics courses.
• Lab activities that include inquiry and
  technology are being designed and implemented.
• Lab manuals are being prepared which include
  detailed documentation for teachers and students.
• Higher level mathematics concepts are introduced
  in selected physics lectures/demonstrations.
• Alignment of advanced math, calculus and physics
  curricula.
• Accomplishments
• The students are adjusting remarkably well to the
  transition from honors to AP level physics.
• An AP physics class will be offered in 2006-2007.
• The possibility of offering Algebra I and
  physical science to 7th graders geometry and
  conceptual physics to 8th graders is being
  explored.
• The GK-12 team supports the schools new math
  lab, which has 32 new computers as well as probes
  for data collection and analysis. The GK-12
  undergraduate fellow has been instrumental in the
  activities of the new lab, tutoring students and
  developing an efficient scheduling procedure.

• Algebra in the 8th grade
• Program Objectives
• Algebra students in 8th grade will be adequately
  prepared for high school mathematics.
• Students will participate in tutoring that is
  offered during school and after school which
  prepares the students for standardized tests.
• To raise the interest in the fields of Science,
  Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

• Program Objectives
• Produce supplemental instruction material for
  existing honors chemistry class and non-honors
  classes.
• Provide material support for chemistry lab
  demonstrations.
• Utilize multimedia-based lectures.
• Build infrastructure for an AP chemistry course
  and bridge high school level chemistry with
  college freshmen level chemistry.
• Our Program
• An LSU chemistry Ph.D. candidate is working with
  a veteran high school chemistry teacher to
  augment the existing chemistry curriculum.
• Conventional chemistry lecture notes and related
  instruction materials are being converted into
  electronic notes.
• Multimedia Chemistry Lectures
• Use Microsoft PowerPoint to present chemistry
  lectures in a more attractive and exciting way.
• Color code text to help students to mentally
  link terminology with concepts.
• Color code numbers and equations to help students
  better understand mathematical operations related
  to instruction.
• Use animation to introduce complex concepts in a
  stepwise manner.

Capitol Middle students join other students to
see a demonstration using liquid nitrogen.
Capitol Middle students join other students to
see a demonstration by ExxonMobil.

• Our Program
• Engineering graduate student Kevin Tubbs teaches
  high school level algebra to 8th grade students
  along side an experienced math teacher.
• Ashleigh Cullen, an undergraduate student at
  Louisiana State University operates the math lab,
  which provides tutoring during and after school.
  
• GK-12 team members analyze test data to identify
  advanced students to be steered toward Algebra I.
• Accomplishments
• The development of a math elective course which
  aims to make use of the schools existing video
  production lab to develop math tutoring video
  lessons for the school.
• The tutoring program will expand and incorporate
  peer tutoring.
• LSUs GK-12 program and American Chemical Society
  collaborate to provide both in class
  demonstrations and field trips to the chemistry
  departments Super Saturday Science day on LSU
  campus.

Undergraduate student Danica Robinson tutors
sixth graders with Stanine scores of 3 or less.
Students use manipulatives to study physics.
Graduate student Karim ElKohly demonstrates a
physics lab