By Jo McCulty Louise Van Wey, right, accompanied by Professor of Chemistry Susan Olesik, demonstrates science experiments for teachers at Medary Elementary School.

Outreach program makes learning science elementary

The subject of science is eliciting an enthusiastic response from central Ohio elementary teachers and their students, thanks to a science outreach program created by Ohio State Professor of Chemistry Susan Olesik.

The program, Wonders of Our World (WOW), shows elementary teachers simple science experiments their students can perform, and provides volunteers to assist them in the classroom. Using inexpensive materials, such as balloons, mirrors and plastic pop bottles, a series of hands-on experiments and workshops helps familiarize teachers and students with basic science concepts, including the properties of air, laws of motion and chemical reactions.

"I think the enthusiasm of the kids is just incredible toward the hands-on science experiments," Olesik said.

Since the program's launch about 2 1/2 years ago, scores on fourth-grade state proficiency tests have gone up; at the same time, teachers are growing more comfortable with a wide range of science projects and even are pursuing college-level science classes during summer break.

WOW was started in November 1999, in collaboration with the teaching staff at Chapman Elementary in Dublin. It now serves 2,500 students in five area elementary schools -- Medary, Ecole Kenwood and Gables in Columbus, and Chapman and Wright in Dublin.

WOW has been a tremendous success at Medary, said Angie Rickley, a fourth-grade teacher at the University District school. "It has heightened the students' awareness of science and increased their drive to learn it," she said.

The supplemental material provided through WOW has enhanced her own extensive science background.

"It expands my horizons and causes me to look at some aspects of science in a different way," Rickley said. "By having a stronger base of knowledge, it increases the impact I can have on my students."

The concept for WOW came to Olesik after she demonstrated a science experiment to her daughter's class at Chapman. She was impressed with the children's level of excitement surrounding the experiment, but concerned with their relatively low level of math skills.

Olesik said studies have shown that young children are naturally inquisitive about their world, but that by the time they get to middle school, many turn away from science and are no longer interested in it. As a result, when they get to college, students are not prepared to take college classes.

WOW is striving to change that.

"By my count this program has approximately 2,500 elementary students, 90 to 100 teachers and 160 volunteers," Olesik said. "Of those volunteers, about 60 to 70 are among OSU's best undergraduate students."

Ohio State science majors, many of them honors students, are among the army of volunteers trained to help the teachers run the experiments in the classrooms. The collaboration is proving beneficial to the OSU students involved.

"They get to try their talents at teaching," Olesik said. "They are scientists, and this is a way for them to practice the teaching of their science. They also get the opportunity to interact with each other and also with the faculty at the University in a way that they don't normally interact."

Also, an increased familiarity with faculty is prompting student volunteers to get involved in research activities at an earlier point in their college education.

The WOW volunteer force also includes parents of the elementary school children who either have degrees in an area of science or are science enthusiasts, and scientists from local companies, including Chemical Abstract Services and Ashland Chemical.

Louise Van Wey, who graduated from Ohio State last year with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, also is assisting Olesik this year. As full-time program coordinator for WOW, Van Wey helps design experiments and conducts teacher and volunteer training. She said the children are learning and loving the unique hands-on science experiments.

"Children are getting exposure at a very young age to science as a fun part of life," she said. "It's easy for children to learn by seeing, doing and touching."

Funding comes from a variety of sources, including the Battelle Endowment for Technology and Human Affairs, which provides funding to support Ohio State faculty projects. Companies donating funds are Ashland Chemical, Chemical Abstracts, Dow, The Columbus Foundation, OHAUS and Brechbuhler Scales. To date, Brechbuhler and OHAUS have contributed 10 to 16 small scales called triple-beam balances -- valued at $140 each -- to each school for use in science experiments.

Brennan to deliver winter commencement address

Trustees chair to offer patriotic message

David L. Brennan, chair of the University Board of Trustees, will deliver the winter quarter commencement address on March 22. Approximately 1,500 graduates will receive degrees during the ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m. in St. John Arena.

A native of Akron, Brennan graduated from Ohio State in 1953 and earned his J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1957, where he also serves as a trustee.

In his address to graduates, Brennan plans to offer a patriotic message about America and Americans.

Brennan is chair of Brennan Industrial Group Inc. and The Brenlin Group Inc., both private holding companies of industrial and manufacturing entities headquartered in Akron; founder of Brennan Manna and Diamond LLC law firm; and chair of White Hat Management LLC.

In his experience as a manufacturing executive, Brennan became aware of the deficiencies of the American educational system and established learning centers at his manufacturing and industrial sites to help his employees and their families overcome gaps in their educational backgrounds and increase their capacity for success.

In 1992, he was appointed by Ohio Gov. George Voinovich to head a blue-ribbon commission on education, the report of which led to significant new opportunities in educational choice across Ohio, including the Cleveland voucher program. In 1997, he received The Governor's Award for his unique contributions in the field of education.

In 1998, Brennan founded White Hat Management, a professional educational services firm, which has helped institute 16 new charter schools in Ohio, including eight elementary schools and eight LifeSkills high school programs. LifeSkills works with high school dropouts, helping them gain high school diplomas and on-the-job experience.

Brennan has served as a consultant to public and private schools, sectarian and nonsectarian schools, voucher schools and charter schools, helping develop private and public scholarship funds and programs for needy children in urban school districts throughout the state.

Commencement awards

Five persons will receive commencement awards. Honorary Doctor of Science degrees will be presented to Ray D. Owen, professor emeritus of biology at the California Institute of Technology, and Wilford Robert Gardner, dean and professor emeritus of soil physics at the University of California, Berkeley. Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, will receive the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Award. Distinguished Service Awards will be presented to David W. Cole, professor emeritus of finance in the Fisher College of Business, and Ronald L. Racster, professor emeritus of real estate and finance at Ohio State.

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