DeKeyser Elementary/Oakland University partnership takes science instruction to a higher level

DeKeyser sixth grader Daria Podgorski couldn’t hide her enthusiasm during the early morning bus ride to Oakland University. She would ride a Segway and wanted everyone to know it.

Many of her friends shared that same sense of excitement. First ridden by students during a campus visit in September, the Segway is a scooter that converts potential energy into kinetic energy. Today it would again be available when DeKeyser sixth graders arrived at Oakland University.

“I’ve been waiting to ride this thing since the last time we were here,” Daria said as the buses pulled up to Shotwell Pavilion at OU’s campus.

DeKeyser students have visited OU three times this school year with a fourth visit scheduled in April. Each visit focuses on science topics currently taught in the classroom. OU will also send instructors to Dekeyser up to four times this year in support of Dekeyser STEM instruction.

The DeKeyser/Oakland University partnership began with a conversation between Dekeyser teacher Charles Nassar and Dr. Chris Kobus, Director of Community Outreach for OU’s Engineering Department.

“Dr. Kobus and I began with a broad idea of simply exposing st’dougplatonas@gmail.com’udents to engineering then narrowed our vision to specific topics supported by our curriculum,” Nassar said. “Our goal is twofold: Engagement and application.”

DeKeyser teachers first introduce students to a topic in the classroom providing a foundation for understanding. Nassar then discusses learning expectations with Dr. Kobus who designs student centered activities allowing students to apply their knowledge.

For example, students recently studied the movement of energy through a food chain by dissecting owl pellets in their classroom. While at OU the students then investigated the calorie content of corn chips and applied this information to their own calorie consumption.

Sixth grade teacher Toni Beauvais recognizes the value of the Dekeyser/OU partnership.

“Having a community partnership with the Oakland University outreach program has been very beneficial for the students,” she said. “The Outreach program has allowed our students to engage with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) resources.”

Overall this year’s experience has proven successful and Nassar hopes to see this partnership continue. Of note is the unique college and career readiness experience received by the students who perform all their work in OU’s engineering labs.

“My intent is to work closely with Dr. Kobus and the College of Engineering in order to strengthen this relationship for future visits,” he said.