Page 10 - SRNS Today August 2021

10 | SRNS TODAY | OCTOBER 2021
Education Outreach initiatives go national

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, educators and mentioned in a column, “Freebies for Science
students across the United States have been Teachers, July 20, 2021” by Debra Shapiro,
restrained from their normal use of academic Associate Editor, NSTA Reports.
resources, field trips and extracurricular programs. “They (SRNS Education Outreach) cover relevant
SRNS is striving to help provide alternatives, not topics such as habitats, conservation, freshwater
just locally, but nationally, through their education EDUCATORS INTERESTED ecosystems, sampling to determine pond health
outreach organization. IN ACCESSING SRNS ONLINE through virtual field trips and a video explaining
virtual field trips or the mass
In July, SRNS shared online virtual field trips and spectrometer video can use the mass spectrometry. These resources also can
a mass spectrometer video with 40,000 science following links to recieve each expose students to potential careers in fields
educators and professionals, using the National video and a student activity sheet related to science, technology, engineering and
Science Teaching Association (NSTA) – a free with answer key: math. In addition, our teachers have said they
resource. NTSA provides news, information and appreciate the high quality of free resources from
teaching tools related to science education. Wet Wonders – federal agencies, so we’re always on the lookout
surveymonkey.com/r/ for them,” said Shapiro.
“This opportunity to work through NSTA to reach a
national and – as of late – an international group of VirtualTripWetWondersSRS To date, the NSTA Reports column has resulted
students and educators occurred when a teacher Feathers in the Forest – in contacts from 5,300 students and educators
from New Jersey suggested the idea,” said Kim surveymonkey.com/r/ in 62 schools and academic organizations
Mitchell, SRNS Education Outreach. “We’ve had RCWvirtualfieldtrip2 across the country including distant locations
teachers across the country begin to contact us Mass Spectrometer – in Anchorage, Alaska; Honolulu, Hawaii; and the
and express their interest in the virtual learning surveymonkey.com/r/INTHEBEAM west coast states of California, Washington
tools we’re providing. We’ve even received a and Oregon.
request from a school in Australia.”
Pittwater High School, in Mona Vale, New South
For Mitchell and her co-workers, it quickly became evident that the Wales, Australia, was recently added to the growing list of schools
pandemic would require a new approach to overcome the challenges world-wide, participating in SRNS online programs.
they faced. The demand for SRNS Education Outreach videos is still growing.
“Out of necessity, we had to find new ways to connect with the To date, more than 30,800 students have seen the videos (educators
education community,” said Mitchell. “When COVID-19 hit, we were received corresponding guides).
managing 12 different education outreach programs – all of which Mitchell is quick to credit the value of this new approach to members
required face-to-face communication within a small to large group of the video production, computer graphics, engineering and
environment. That all came to a temporary stop in March of 2020.”
Information Technology groups within SRNS. “Each made valuable
After extensive research, SRNS Education Outreach determined contributions towards the success of this initiative,” said Mitchell.
that the most promising solution was to develop a platform using “It’s a new era for all facets of education. It will require new ways
available, highly effective and affordable technology offered through to meet the needs of those who, year after year, find value in our
web-based applications. outreach programs. There’s no doubt in my mind; we’ll get there.
One of the primary reasons SRNS Education Outreach has become It’s too important,” said Francine Burroughs, SRNS Director, Human
so frequently accessed throughout the U.S. was due to being Resources Operations and Education Outreach.

ONLINE EVENT
2021 CSRA

COLLEGE NIGHT Register for College Night online event

You are invited to this free event! Explore, chat, connect virtually with: High school students and parents will have a special opportunity to virtually engage with representatives
Colleges and universities • Technical schools • Professional societies
Military organizations • Georgia and South Carolina Financial Aid and Counseling Center
Thursday, November 4 • 5-8:30 p.m. from colleges, universities and technical schools, helping them make informed decisions at this year’s

Who should attend?
Financial High school students, parents
or anyone interested in college center/career
aid seminars Counseling College Night. Registered students will be able to log in on Nov. 4, 5-8:30 p.m., from the comfort of their

Scholarship For more information, visit exploration And homes and at no cost. Seniors will be eligible for $15,000 in scholarships.
drawings*
www.srs.gov>Outreach>
Education Outreach Programs>CSRA College Night more!
Additionally, guidance counselors, military recruiters, and financial experts from Georgia and South Carolina
will be available to provide valuable information via online conversations.
Attending College Night will be easy to do! To register, using a computer or mobile device such as a cell
phone or tablet,, look for a link on the SRS web page: Click on Education Outreach, then CSRA Virtual
College Night: srs.gov/general/outreach/edoutrch/coll_night.htm
SCAN OR CLICK
SPONSORS
TO REGISTER
starting 10.20.21
Once registered, you may browse through the existing virtual exhibits and information booths available at
*SCHOLARSHIP DRAWING RULES: 12th grade students must attend a portion of the live event, must have
a minimum 2.5 GPA, must attend an accredited college/university/tech school in the fall of 2022. 21CC00431
that time; however, check back frequently as other exhibitors will be added prior to the live event.