Section 5: Under Represented Audiences--What Works?

Focal Questions: What is the percentage of minority students you teach each day?
What special problems do minority students face in science? What can teachers and schools do?
Do you know steps to increase minority participation in science? Is that important to you and your students?
Do you have access to information about role models and diversity in science? Is that important to you and do you think it is important to your students?
What are some of the things you have done to engage and interest your students in aquatic science/science?

 

Introduction

Video: Bridging the Gap: Minorities in Marine Science
Savannah State University Marine Science Program

Four topics to discuss in class:

Heritage:
African Americans @ Sea, use W. Jeffrey Bolster's Black Jacks
Native American contribution to Fisheries (VA Mariners Museum)

Historical:
Ernest Everett Just
www.princeton.edu/~mcbrown/display/just.html

Role Models of Today:
www.aslo.org/mas/profiles

Survey:
Minorities in the Sciences
Eric Von Battles, Jr.

Six Questions to Ask:

Why do you think many minorities (African-Americans in particular) aren't involved in science?
What do you think can be done to reach minorities to get more involved in the sciences?
When you hear the word "science" or "scientist", what first comes to mind?
Do you think science is "hard"? Why? Why not?
What do you already know about science?
Do you think science could benefit the African-American race or any other minority race?

Useful References:

COSEE Website: Links to Minority Serving Institutions

Blacks in Science-Ancient and Modern, by Ivan Van Sertima
Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization, by Anthony Browder
Before the Mayflower, by Lerone Bennett
What They Never Told You in History Class, by Indus Kush
Journal of African Civilizations, edited by Ivan Van Sertima
Africa Counts, by Claudia Zaslavsky

Rubrics to help teachers assess gaps in equity awareness:
http://www.enc.org/professional/learn/equity/selfassessment/

Problems minorities face in science:
http://www.enc.org/professional/learn/equity/selfassessment/document.shtm?input=ACQ-111359-1359,00.shtm
http://www.enc.org/professional/learn/equity/selfassessment/document.shtm?input=ACQ-111533-1533,00.shtm

Profile of an equitable classroom
http://www.enc.org/professional/learn/equity/selfassessment/document.shtm?input=ACQ-111590-1590,00.shtm

Increasing numbers:
www.ge.com/foundation/GEFund_UppingNumbers.pdf

 

Laura Murray and Deidre Gibson, Editors