The Agilent After School science program is a hands-on learning resource that engages thousands of Delaware students in the wonders of scientific discovery. Through the program, students across Delaware and around the nation work in small teams with dedicated volunteers to build an understanding of scientific principles. In Delaware, the program is implemented through major partnerships with the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouts Council, the Delaware Workforce Investment Board, Delaware Technical and Community College, and the Delaware Department of Education.
The Agilent After School science program is designed for children from ages 8 to 14. The focus of the program is to engage students in science education, particularly targeting females and other populations under-represented in the technology industry, to better prepare them for careers in technologically advanced industries. This program supplements in-school science lessons and supports most international, federal and state science standards. Agilent After School can be implemented in a school setting or in non-traditional venues such as community centers, group homes, hospitals or wherever students are able to gather. The program has been made available to a number of students through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware, the Latin American Community Center, programs during National Engineering Week, School Science Days and a number of after school programs.
Susan Zawislak from DTCC notes, "This collaborative effort combines the support and resources of Agilent, combined with the community outreach efforts of Delaware Tech , to deliver age appropriate , fun-to do, hands -on science projects to elementary and middle school students that participate in our youth enrichment programs. It builds on what they are learning in the classroom."
The program consists of hands-on science experiments designed to be a complete "program-in-a-box." Agilent After School boxes contain all of the materials for students to build electronic circuit games, balloon-powered cars, solar energy cars, sun dials, or periscopes as well as to perform science experiments using paper chromatography, light refraction, and other concepts. Volunteers lead students through the projects and experiments in small groups so all students have the chance to actively engage with the materials. Instructions for the volunteer help them guide students in understanding the scientific principles that they are learning and insure that the finished projects reflect the design of the experiment.
Since 2000, over 100,000 children around the world have had the opportunity to work with the Agilent After School science kits, including over 7,000 students in and around Delaware. Over 800 students that participated in the program were surveyed, and a majority reported being inspired to pursue careers in science related fields.
Carlyn Nelson, STEM Program Specialist with the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouts council said, "For the past two years, Agilent Hands-On Science Kits have been a huge success with Chesapeake Bay Council Girl Scouts from ages 6 - 18 yrs old. Whether creating Oobleck (Non-Newtonian liquid), dissecting Owl Pellets, exploring increased pressure effects on density and air pressure or making their own electric circuits, the girls are so excited. It’s incredible!"
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Contact
Agilent Technologies
Bob Lydum
302.633.8065
bob_lydum@agilent.com
Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouts Council
Carlyn Nelson
302-456-7150
cnelson@cbgsc.org
Delaware Technical and Community College
Susan Zawislak
302-453-3721
zawislak@dtcc.edu