York University's YES I Can! Science Project
Susan Stiff; Dr. Thomas Stiff; Diane Hammond
Faculty of Pure and Applied Science
York University
Toronto, Canada
sstiff@yorku.ca
The United States program to land a man on the moon in the 1960's owes much of its success to the huge wave of public support that penetrated deep into the education system. It was the feeling of being on the threshold of a major historical scientific event that fueled huge investments in both science education and scientific enterprise. We will always recall our excitement, as students, teachers, or parents, as the space program dispelled our doubts, broadened our boundaries, and fired our imaginations into the future. A successful mission to land humans on Mars requires the same national and international "spirit of scientific high adventure".
The objective of the YES I Can! Science Project at York University in Toronto, Canada, is to bring curriculum-based Science resources into the classroom. The intent of these resources is to provide teachers with exciting and scientifically accurate educational tools to inspire their students; and to rekindle and refocus the spirit and excitement of yesterday into the endless possibilities of tomorrow.
In this presentation, YES I Can! Science team members will describe the evolution of this extraordinary national project, share relevant resources, and discuss the direction Science education is taking for students around the world through this exciting project.