Teaching partnership shows science’s real-world usefulness
Tuscaloosa News – June 18
A team of University of Alabama faculty and high school teachers is developing science experiments that will be used as teaching tools in high school classrooms. The group VISTA, Virtual Integration of Science and Technology in Alabama, hopes to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of new scientific concepts. “This is novel science that’s not in the curriculum,” said Sherry Nichols, a science education professor at the University of Alabama. “How do you put novel science into an already overloaded curriculum? The hook is, this is new science that’s exciting.” The idea first started as an experimental workshop at UA. Now it’s a three-week project in which UA science professors and area high school teachers work together on experiments…
UA professor joins elite group
Tuscaloosa News – June 18
John Wheat, a University of Alabama professor in rural medicine, is the only practicing doctor in the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame. Of the 14 medical professionals who have been inducted, Wheat is the only one who is not retired or deceased. Wheat said he was honored to be inducted earlier last month and hopes it is a sign of things to come. “Our program is responsive to the needs of Alabama,” Wheat said. “Hopefully, there will be more of an effort so somebody like me won’t be so special.” Wheat has been a professor at UA for 20 years…Wheat started the Rural Medical Scholars Program, now in its 14th year, for students from rural areas who plan to return after graduating with a medical degree…Wheat also began the Rural Minority Health Scholars program to get minority students from rural areas a greater chance at becoming doctors, and the Rural Health Scholars Program, a five-week summer program, for high school students…Dr. John Brandon, medical director for the Rural Medical Scholars Program, has worked with Wheat for 12 years and is a full-time family physician in Gordo. “He dreamed and made his dream come true, and not many people can say that,” Brandon said of Wheat…
Online videos prepare i-Kitibati students to study abroad
RadioAustralia.net – June 18
Every year, Kiribati sends some of it’s brightest students to overseas universities. It’s a massive change for many of them, who find themselves thousands of kilometers from home surrounding by a different culture and language. A team from the University of Alabama in the United States wanted to help, and put together a series of online videos to prepare students from Kiribati for the transition. One of those behind the project, Kalen Berry earned an Honorable Mention on the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team for his work. Presenter: Geraldine Coutts Speaker: Kalen Berry from the University of Alabama