Newark Teacher Awarded $1K in STEM Research Kits from National Program
NEWARK, NJ — A teacher at Abington Avenue School scored $1,000 in specialized tool kits for science, technology, engineering, and math education.
Khalil Gordon, who teaches 7th grade at Abington Avenue, is one of 100 educators selected from more than 400 applicants to the Society for Science & the Public’s STEM Research Grants program. The award will provide 13 kits for project-based science projects in the classroom and at home.
Newark Public Schools, which has been operating remotely since March, is set to allow students back into classrooms in the New Year for hybrid learning. It has postponed its return date twice due to concerns about community spread.
Society for Science is a nonprofit that furthers the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Gordon said his teaching philosophy is to inspire as many students as possible to choose science as a viable career path.
““I am grateful for the opportunity that this Society for Science grant has provided to my home school Abington Avenue in Newark,” he said. “I am eager to expose my students to innovations in technology and I am hoping that from this initiative, students become inspired and motivated to pursue science as a career path for the future.”
The grant funding is provided by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, according to the Society for Science. All grantees are from underfunded school districts who will be able to choose from 13 research kits, including the following:
Foldscope Instruments – Paper microscopes that can be used from home. Made with paper and lenses, the microscopes can reach magnifications of over 140X and 2-micron resolution.
Arduino Starter Kits – An open-source hardware and software platform that allows students to learn about electronics. Available in a variety of languages and simple to use at home, teachers can lead students through projects about voltage, current, coding and also the fundamentals of programming. Students can build innovative prototypes with Arduino boards for their science fair projects with this kit.
PocketLab Weather Sensors – Equipped with a rechargeable battery and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connection, this sensor technology allows students to easily measure data like temperature, humidity, pressure, and light. The data can be collected, visualized, and analyzed in a cloud platform, enabling students to access the data in real-time on their iPads or mobile devices.
Neuron SpikerBox Bundles – A take-home kit from Backyard Brains was fashioned to encourage teens to study the brain and develop future therapies to treat neurobiological disease.