Dr. Adam Johnston – Associate Professor of Physics
Project Abstract: “OttReach” is a science education outreach program that was first piloted during the summer of 2007 through Weber State’s Ott Planetarium*. Its goal is to bring fun, interactive and engaging science activities to youth in Ogden in parallel with the federally funded summer lunch program that is offered through Ogden School District. As this program reaches large numbers of youth within walking distance of their homes, OttReach is able to similarly reach large numbers of youth who wouldn’t otherwise participate in a Weber State sponsored program (e.g., a summer camp held on campus). OttReach visited three Ogden City parks over the course of three weeks in July. Ott Planetarium staff was hired for these outreach activities, in addition to their “in house” responsibilities. The project director was responsible for designing the curriculum, obtaining and organizing materials, and leading groups of Ott staffers (general five or six undergraduates each day) to the parks. At the parks, kids ranging from preschool age to high school participated in activities that have intrinsic scientific value, natural appeal, and the use of materials that are readily accessible. At the same time that original funding for this program is ending, all participants agree that this program should be expanded.
To obtain permanent funding, we will demonstrate that this project can be extended and directed by undergraduate students looking at futures in science education. We will continue to grow this program by demonstrating the following:
1. A doubling of effort in time and area by expanding the program to 6 different parks and 6 weeks.
2. Placing undergraduate students in more direct control of the program, with the supervision of the faculty mentor.
3. Dedication of students to this program, rather than using students committed to other projects in the planetarium.
GRE Preparation Scholarship for Underrepresented and Economically Disadvantaged WSU Students
Dr. Eric Amsel - Professor and Chair Psychology Department, Vikki Vickers – Asst. Professor History, Carl Porter, Exec Director
Project Abstract: This proposal is to fund a scholarship for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged college students to support their attendance and a WSU-based GRE preparation course. Student Services (Carl Porter) and faculty in psychology (Eric Amsel) and History (Vikki Vickers) are collaborating to insure that needy students will be able to maximize their performance on the GRE exam, which is critical for students to gain admission to a graduate school. The proposal includes the cost to hire the GRE instructor from the University of Utah, and to advertise, administer, and assess the project. The project assessment will include interviewing during their training and recording their GRE success.
World Dance and Music Project
Joanne L. Lawrence – Professor of Performing Arts
Project Abstract: WSU’s World Dance & Music Project (WDMP) is a cross-cultural, dance and music outreach program designed to interact with high school dance, music and humanities classes. The purpose is to empower our local youth to understand themselves in relation to others in the world through music and dance. Through the experience of dance, participants can realize hidden talents, healthy forms of self-expression, and a sense of community. Hip-hop dance, music and culture have their roots in African dance. WSU students will research select dances, music, and cultures from Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana, and northern Africa. Then, based on their research, we will create an interactive program that will conclude with American Hip-hop, demonstrating its cultural roots. The interactive program will be taken to area high schools; segments will be performed in Choir, Percussion Ensemble, and Orchesis Dance Theatre concerts.
Teacher Assistant Path to Teaching (TAPT)
Marilyn Lofgreen – Instructor Specialist Teacher Education
Project Abstract: The Teacher Assistant Path to Teaching Program (TAPT) has as its major objective to provide scholarships to empower disadvantaged members of Ogden and the surrounding communities with education, counseling and mentoring. The TAPT program’s purpose is the eventual goals of helping these individuals obtain teacher licensure. Therefore, the mission of the TAPT Program is to provide a path for Special Education, Early Childhood, Bilingual or culturally diverse teacher assistants or volunteers, to become more skilled in working with students in area schools and potentially leading them to teacher licensure.
The following are procedures, methods and time-line for the TAPT program. The six school districts surrounding Weber State University provide applications to prospective TAPT students. These prospective students are either teacher assistants or volunteers in the various districts. The school districts interview and send to the TAPT Administrative Team the names of those that qualify under the guidelines for admission into the TAPT program. When admitted to the TAPT program the TAPT director becomes an advisor and mentor for the TAPT students.
Because TAPT students are usually those whose circumstances prevented them from attending the university, they are not expected to become full time students upon entry into the TAPT program. Time-lines will vary with individual students. Some students may have had some university experience while others are just beginning. Therefore; scholarship recipients are allowed to register for 18 semester hours in any academic year. They may choose to split these semester hours into fall, spring or summer classes, or just fall and spring. Upon being accepted into the TAPT program, full tuition for each semester is provided until licensure. The TAPT program does not pay any fees or for any books.
Adventures in Pre-Algebra: A Cooperative Teaching Project
Maria D Parrilla de Kokal – Visiting Lecturer Psychology
Project Abstract: The purpose of this project is to increase pre-algebra skills in high-risk, under-represented 6-8th grade students at two Title One Schools: Mount Ogden Middle School and Washington Terrace Elementary. This will be done through the use of math games utilized in after-school math tutoring by several Weber State University students.
Six WSU psychology students will meet with pre-algebra students after school to engage in math application activities. The purpose of these activities is to allow students the opportunity to work on pre-algebra materials to increase their math skills. Most pre-algebra students will be involved in corrective math activities i.e., to help them catch up on their class work. Advanced pre-algebra students will be involved in extensions i.e., math activities designed to help them go beyond the required math skills. Both groups of pre-algebra students will participate in corrections and extensions through the use of manipulatives, computer games, board games, and assorted math paraphernalia found in the Math Center.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Nicole Charlesworth – Student in the Volunteer Improvement Program
Project Abstract: Working as a mentor at Mound Fort Middle School, I have created a club for at-risk youth involved in the after-school program provided by Weber State University’s Community Partner, Ogden City Schools, under the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant. One of the disparities for this group is the distinct digital divide when compared with similar age group children with higher SES status. Beginning the second week of October and operating through mid-December, the WSU After-School Club will expose the youth participating in the club to a collegiate education. As part of this program, students and/or faculty from different areas of study at WSU will present their particular creative outlet. The students will then have the opportunity to create their own project using the ideas presented by the WSU representative. For example, a student from the College of Arts and Humanities will present methods of producing a short film. The youth involved in the club will then use the ideas presented to create a film. In addition to this example, students will also be presented with instructions as to how a group builds a newspaper from college students working for The Signpost. The WSU After-School Club will then have the opportunity to produce a newspaper: interviewing students, taking photographs, and reporting “the news” of the after-school program.
Because of their lack of suitable equipment, I am writing this grant for the purpose of using funds to purchase digital equipment that the students may use (laptop, digital camcorder, digital camera and software) for the purpose of producing their projects, thereby decreasing the digital divide.
Best Buddies Lagoon Activity
Rob Ortega – Student in the Volunteer Improvement Program
Project Abstract: Best Buddies is an international non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through one-to-one friendships and employment. The Weber State Best Buddies chapter works in partnership with the adult transition special education programs of Weber County and Ogden City School districts. These adult transition programs enroll special education students who have completed their high school enrollment. Through the Weber State Best Buddies chapter, these college-age students are matched with Weber State students for one-to-one friendships. Volunteers contact their “Buddies” each week by telephone, and take their Buddies for a one-on-one monthly activity. Each month our chapter also holds a group activity for all of the volunteers and their Buddies.
On May 9th, 2008, for our final activity, the Weber State chapter will accompany the special education programs at their annual Lagoon day. Each year the special education programs sponsor their students to go to the Lagoon amusement park, and this year we hope to pay for the Weber State volunteers to each accompany their Buddy at the park. By having the college volunteers accompany their Buddies on this activity, the Buddies’ experience will be enhanced, and it will serve as a fun concluding activity for the volunteers. We estimate the extra cost of this special activity will be at least $850.00 for our group.
This will cover the cost of the tickets for each of the volunteers, and the cost to rent a bus to transport the students to and from the park.
In past years, the Weber State Best Buddies chapter has had some difficulty in recruiting volunteers, and keeping the volunteers dedicated through the spring semester. This year, we have been able to find a match for each of the Buddies, and the number of college volunteers exceeded the number of Buddies that requested a match. We currently have more college volunteers than the Weber State chapter has ever had. We hope to continue this success by providing fun, exciting activities.
Creating a Pilot Program for Teen Readers and Writers Groups in Ogden
Vicki Ramirez – Assoc Professor English
Project Abstract: This grant proposal is to obtain a variety of trade books as resource materials for an experimental course in the English Department, Workshop for Creating a Pilot Program for Teen Readers and Writers Groups, offered spring, 2008. The course objective is to enlist the service of upper-level English majors and others interested in reading fiction, and in writing creatively. The WSU students’ service will task them to create literacy activities for young Ogden teenagers. The course’s mission-statement is to research, structure, and design readers groups for Ogden middle schoolers in after-school programs. The other half of the mission-statement focuses on building and operating creative writing groups.
As spring 2008 is the course’s inaugural semester, the immediate task for WSU students will be to learn how to create/run such groups. Since researching will take an entire semester to accomplish, students may not operate the groups they fashion during spring semester, but future workshop students will operate the various literacy-related workshops (Fall 2008 and beyond).
WSU students who enroll in this service-based workshop will read various trade books that explain how to create and operate such groups. Other learning will cover such areas as early adolescent development, articles treating national literacy problems, reading and aggression (especially in boys), and other topics related to teen reading/reading for pleasure/growth. WSU students will learn skills and strategies for text selection, discussing serious ideas in groups, and handling groups of mixed gender. They will design a manual for future workshop students to conduct these groups.
The funds I seek will provide trade books to excerpt or place on reserve for students to read. I have no personal money to spend on these materials, and most are not readily available through interlibrary loan, as they are trade books. They are, however, written by educators who bring to them a wealth of personal experience in conducting teen readers and writers’ literature groups.
Dental Health Education, Dental Screenings and Dental Sealant Project for Inner-city Ogden Elementary School Children
Stephanie Bossenberger – Professor, Department Chair Dental Hygiene
Project Abstract: The objective of this project is to plan and implement a dental health education and dental sealant project for inner-city Ogden elementary school children. The purpose of this proposal is to provide dental health education, dental screenings and dental sealants for elementary school children in inner-city Ogden. Specifically, this proposal requests funding for the bus transportation of the elementary school children to WSU’s Dental Hygiene Clinic on the Ogden campus.
This program was established in 1999, with 756 children treated through Spring 2007. The program includes a plan for university dental hygiene students with program faculty to provide dental health education classes and oral screenings at the new Madison Elementary School, T O Smith, and Dee Elementary Schools. Through the oral screening findings, children are selected to be transported to Weber State's Dental Hygiene Clinic to have their teeth cleaned, x-rayed and dental sealants applied. Further, the screenings provide information for the referral of the children with dental caries (decay) to local dentists and the Health Access Team that operates through Midtown Community Health Center. This project has been very successful in the past as evidenced by the annual reports of services rendered and improvement in the children=s dental health.
In 2000, the Utah Oral Health Program gathered oral health data and offered the Oral Health Program Data Report for Weber-Morgan Health Department. Results revealed that the dental caries rate per child for inner-city Ogden school children was the highest observed rate (38.6%). This information verified the impressions that were long embraced by elementary school officials as well as health care providers as one of the greatest needs of this population. This project impacts Ogden by its direct efforts with the improvement of access to dental care and it also brings university students into the community as volunteers. It is an educational goal to have positive experiences with community dental health projects in an effort to instill a sense of volunteerism in them that will be life-long.
October - November - December: planning with elementary school principals/counselors for school-based education program, dental screenings and elementary student visits/transportation to WSU Dental Hygiene Clinic.
November - December: contact dental product vendors for donation of products, contact Junior League of Ogden for their funding support of this annual project, enlist local dentists and hygienists for their assistance in supervising and helping dental hygiene students during WSU dental sealant clinics.
January - March: implement program.
April: evaluate program, plan for next year’s service project.