Marketing Sales Membership:
AAAS Survey, 8/2003

Total responses so far: 377

The American Association for the Advancement of Science, as part of its efforts to improve the teaching of science, is exploring initiatives it might take to expand the use of volunteers. These volunteers may come from companies, government, universities, and the growing pool of retired personnel. To assist with the project, NSTA conducted a survey of science teachers to characterize how they search for and identify volunteers who might help them in the classroom, and the roles volunteers take on, ranging from presenting content to engaging students in inquiry activities. This builds on an earlier survey released by the Bayer Corporation and NSTA that says it is "critical for students to be exposed to scientists and/or engineers," a summary for which may be found at http://www.nsta.org/368/. The results of the latest survey are listed below.

What do you teach? (Check as many as apply.)

Earth Science

Response	Percent	Count
checked	28.9%	109

Biology

Response	Percent	Count
checked	40.8%	154

Chemistry

Response	Percent	Count
checked	30.0%	113

Physics

Response	Percent	Count
checked	14.9%	56

Environmental Science

Response	Percent	Count
checked	23.9%	90

Physical Science

Response	Percent	Count
checked	28.6%	108

General Science

Response	Percent	Count
checked	34.2%	129

Computer Science

Response	Percent	Count
checked	4.0%	15

Pre-K

Response	Percent	Count
checked	2.7%	10

1st grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	5.8%	22

2nd grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	6.4%	24

3rd grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	8.2%	31

4th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	9.0%	34

5th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	12.7%	48

6th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	14.6%	55

7th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	22.0%	83

8th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	22.8%	86

9th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	27.1%	102

10th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	28.4%	107

11th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	32.4%	122

12th grade

Response	Percent	Count
checked	29.7%	112

College

Response	Percent	Count
checked	6.9%	26

Have you used scientists, engineers, or other individuals with a science background in any aspect of your teaching program?

Response	Percent	Count
yes	71.4%	269
no	27.6%	104

If so, from where did these individuals come? (Check as many as apply.)

Company/Industry

Response	Percent	Count
checked	28.1%	106

Government

Response	Percent	Count
checked	18.0%	68

University (ranging from graduate students to professors who conduct research)

Response	Percent	Count
checked	32.1%	121

Community College

Response	Percent	Count
checked	5.8%	22

Professional Society

Response	Percent	Count
checked	7.2%	27

Parental volunteer

Response	Percent	Count
checked	30.0%	113

Other organization; please specify

Response	Percent	Count
checked	10.3%	39

retirees with technical background, engineering school alumni/ae, professional societies, IEEE Life Members ------------------------- retirees with technical background, engineering school alumni/ae, professional societies, IEEE Life Members ------------------------- NASA AESP ------------------------- Military ------------------------- Observatory ------------------------- hospital staff ------------------------- Local Geology Club, Mountaineers etc. ------------------------- My cousin ------------------------- Learn to Earn Grant - Businesses ------------------------- Smithsonian (CRC), local NGOs ------------------------- Scientists on Staff; GLOBE ------------------------- Friend, family ------------------------- Weather man ------------------------- Windows on Our Waters ------------------------- museum ------------------------- friend ------------------------- USI instructor ------------------------- Military ------------------------- US Navy ------------------------- AeroDYN Discovery Centers ------------------------- Environmental Groups ------------------------- Parks Service, Beautification Commission ------------------------- Conservation Office ------------------------- USAF ------------------------- JASON Project/REVEL Program ------------------------- 2 military bases w/ civil engineers ------------------------- meteorologist, from tv and high school teacher ------------------------- health profession/doctors ------------------------- freind of the family ------------------------- ASM International , SPE ------------------------- San Diego Science Alliance, http://www.sdsa.org ------------------------- science musuem ------------------------- local meteorologist ------------------------- science museum ------------------------- Environmental Organizations ------------------------- NASA ------------------------- Medical ------------------------- Club or organization ------------------------- Non profit Conservation Organizations ------------------------- NASA ------------------------- Discover magazine ------------------------- NASA - Johnson Space Center, TX ------------------------- botanical garden ------------------------- Local Zoo ------------------------- environmental non-profit ------------------------- local business ------------------------- National Science Foundation Graduate Fellows ------------------------- NASA ------------------------- Educational nonprofit -------------------------

Did you seek out the opportunity to feature the individual, or did the opportunity come to you?

Sought opportunity

Response	Percent	Count
checked	53.6%	202

Opportunity found me

Response	Percent	Count
checked	31.8%	120

If you sought it out, how did you conduct your search?

Contacted public outreach office for an organization (Company/Industry, Government, University, Community College, or Professional Society)

Response	Percent	Count
checked	16.4%	62

Searched an organization’s Web site

Response	Percent	Count
checked	5.6%	21

Contacted local Chamber of Commerce

Response	Percent	Count
checked	1.9%	7

Contacted individual directly

Response	Percent	Count
checked	39.8%	150

Other means; please specify

Response	Percent	Count
checked	13.8%	52

Voter registration lists showing age and occupations ------------------------- Voter registration lists showing age and occupations ------------------------- Through a field trip to the Medical College of WI ------------------------- someone whom knew someone whom know someone, etc. ------------------------- personal friends ------------------------- student recommended the individual and then I ssought him out to see if he would ralk and the subject was appropriate ------------------------- applied to participate in a 2 year project ------------------------- Parent of student ------------------------- These resource people were met at classes, workshops and summer experiences. ------------------------- Friends ------------------------- With help of an intermediate contact ------------------------- attended workshop and met people ------------------------- Asked parents for contacts ------------------------- yellow pages, called individual organizations ------------------------- Family member ------------------------- watched him at another school and then contacted him directly ------------------------- Edumentor, organized by local science institute ------------------------- friend ------------------------- Helped a retired person next to our school and he turned out to be a retired scientist from Southwest Research Institute for Biomedical Research ------------------------- Asked people who should "know" ------------------------- my physician ------------------------- Met the folks through trainings or as parents of students I teach ------------------------- County Career Connections Office ------------------------- Summer Internship for Teachers to meet industry personnel ------------------------- Friend of a friend... ------------------------- Asked family and friend ------------------------- asked for contacts on parent night ------------------------- Parent newsletter that describes what we are studying and asks for volunteers ------------------------- Student contacted indivdual ------------------------- Easedropping on conversation, discovered he worked for the DOH but had experience as environmental engineer and was a dynamic speaker. ------------------------- Begged ------------------------- students are encouraged to bring in speakers for their career project during the third nine week period. ------------------------- school district employee newspaper ------------------------- contacts referred by other contacts ------------------------- personally went to the university and talked with professors during their office hours ------------------------- my husband works for a chemical company ------------------------- networking ------------------------- workshops and conferences ------------------------- AF Commanders ------------------------- contacted school parent volunteer coordinator ------------------------- see below question ------------------------- contacted industry ------------------------- my school district has a department that solicits mentors ------------------------- I belong to ASM and SPE ------------------------- through the Science Alliance Resource Catalog on the web site ------------------------- While attending Conferences ------------------------- district volunteer coordinator ------------------------- UA SELO program ------------------------- astro-nova application ------------------------- Asked graduate students ------------------------- alumni of the school ------------------------- Person was taking a class with me ------------------------- Asked other teacher, parents, admin. ------------------------- sending home a newsletter asking parents ------------------------- Used yellow pages to make calls to find scientists; asked people at workshops I attended or acquaintance I made who had scientific professions ------------------------- Signed up for an activity with a club ------------------------- networking ------------------------- Parents' Night information session ------------------------- called parents ------------------------- use parental contacts ------------------------- friends knew of someone ------------------------- student input -------------------------

How did you learn about the opportunity? (Check as many as apply.)

Newspaper/magazine article

Response	Percent	Count
checked	4.5%	17

Advertising

Response	Percent	Count
checked	1.3%	5

Web search

Response	Percent	Count
checked	4.2%	16

E-mail message from a listserv or an individual

Response	Percent	Count
checked	9.0%	34

Direct Mail (brochure, postcard, letter, etc.)

Response	Percent	Count
checked	6.1%	23

District memorandum

Response	Percent	Count
checked	3.7%	14

Phone call

Response	Percent	Count
checked	11.1%	42

Word of mouth

Response	Percent	Count
checked	27.1%	102

Parents

Response	Percent	Count
checked	21.0%	79

Fellow teachers

Response	Percent	Count
checked	19.9%	75

Other; please specify

Response	Percent	Count
checked	17.2%	65

I sought the opportunity - it was not already there. I had to seek it out and ask for it. ------------------------- personal friend ------------------------- other teachers and students ------------------------- hospital part of school to work initiative ------------------------- from student ------------------------- Space Grant Newsletter is the best! ! ------------------------- workshop ------------------------- principal arranged ------------------------- yellow pages ------------------------- Family member ------------------------- Had a project I wanted to do and asked the appropriate people ------------------------- Conference or seminar ------------------------- Science Institute mailing ------------------------- I just called and asked what was available. ------------------------- I asked the scientist to come in ------------------------- Professional organizations ------------------------- approached by the individula and then they were recommended by another teacher/ approached speaker at in-service to give demo in class ------------------------- asked doctor directly ------------------------- Workshops, meetings ------------------------- Active, working relationship; GLOBE program ------------------------- I just called and begged. ------------------------- Knew chemist and asked him, husband Chem. Eng. ------------------------- I asked them ------------------------- Magnet Assistance Program Grant ------------------------- asked for interested parents ------------------------- I belong to American Chemical Society and have participated in summer programs for teacher internships in industry. ------------------------- My daughter is a brain research scientist. Sh brought some of her work to my biology class for a week. ------------------------- conference contacts ------------------------- friend ------------------------- thought ideas up ------------------------- i just decided to ask ------------------------- Mayors Summitt on the River ------------------------- Attended lecture: through an outside school enrichment activity ------------------------- I met the person and just asked ------------------------- created mt own program ------------------------- Students ------------------------- architect of our school; principal ------------------------- teachers science club ------------------------- newspaper above ------------------------- www.math2go.org ------------------------- Called the USGS ------------------------- Involvment with professional organizations and talking about having role models for students with other teachers. ------------------------- during a course I was taking ------------------------- my husband ------------------------- My college experience ------------------------- courses, meetings ------------------------- workshops and conferences ------------------------- I had a specific unit we were studying and knew someone with a background in the area: phoned person, who in turn put me in touch with others in the environmental science field ------------------------- Took a class from the person & asked personally. ------------------------- Thought it might be a good idea and researched it myself ------------------------- had an idea - so I asked them ------------------------- Great American Teach-In/Volunteer Coordinator ------------------------- friend ------------------------- personal friend ------------------------- Knew them personally ------------------------- working with local water, gas & electric companies ------------------------- arranged by school district ------------------------- Alumni of University ------------------------- belonging to organization ------------------------- San Diego Science Alliance offers this opportunity ------------------------- inservice ------------------------- District Science Dept. offered opportunity ------------------------- professional trade ------------------------- Listen to Lectures presented by these researchers ------------------------- state conferences ------------------------- was my own idea ------------------------- Personal contacts ------------------------- Science teacher meetings ------------------------- person used is my yoga teacher in her other life ------------------------- asked NASA for assistance ------------------------- Just asked if they could come. No one volunteered prior to my asking. ------------------------- I did research in a lab this past summer, and graduate professors from my master's degree ------------------------- Spouse volunteered ------------------------- Employees of former employer ------------------------- personal knowledge/relationship ------------------------- thought of idea and contacted them ------------------------- result of a course ------------------------- Was coming to town and wanted to visit ------------------------- heard him present at a mtg outside school ------------------------- knew the person ------------------------- Science conference ------------------------- literature, scientific meetings, etc. -------------------------

How did you use the volunteers? (Check as many as apply.)

Working directly with students

Response	Percent	Count
checked	31.3%	118

Making class presentations or demonstrations

Response	Percent	Count
checked	64.5%	243

Assisting students with projects

Response	Percent	Count
checked	21.0%	79

Involving students in external research projects

Response	Percent	Count
checked	10.3%	39

Answering questions on content

Response	Percent	Count
checked	26.3%	99

Other; please specify

Response	Percent	Count
checked	5.8%	22

Leading hands-on demos and experiments ------------------------- Leading hands-on demos and experiments ------------------------- grade visited hospital for several experiences ------------------------- Helping to plan field trips and assisting. ------------------------- Helping to take samples of water and analyze them ------------------------- Summer research for me ------------------------- Use as mentors for science fair. ------------------------- hosting field trips/tours. ------------------------- video conferencing ------------------------- Presentation about Moths ------------------------- Person never completed the opportunity ------------------------- assisting me with the curriculum ------------------------- judge/evaluate final projects ------------------------- environmental survey teams ------------------------- off-campus visit ------------------------- showing how industry works ------------------------- job shadow opportunities ------------------------- Ideas for class demonstrations/activities ------------------------- field trip ------------------------- geological hike ------------------------- setting up a "star party" after school ------------------------- Webcast - live chat ------------------------- Assembly ------------------------- using email ------------------------- expert panels ------------------------- career prep ------------------------- Workshop with teachers ------------------------- Demonstrations and conducting lab experiments ------------------------- Doing a conference -------------------------

Did the volunteer participate for

Response	Percent	Count
one day	44.6%	168
multiple days	13.8%	52
ongoing projects	7.2%	27
other	5.3%	20

Usually one-two days per week per classroom ------------------------- Usually one-two days per week per classroom ------------------------- I did a IISME fellowship--dot org if you want to see more about it. The person I spent the summer with in the lab helped me do a power point presentation ------------------------- Varied according to the scientists ------------------------- All of the above ------------------------- only it was contractual. We paid him ------------------------- Go on fieldtrips with students ------------------------- all of the above ------------------------- one for an hour (speaker), one for an afternoon ------------------------- varied ------------------------- An hour ------------------------- Person never came in ------------------------- depends on the activity ------------------------- Some one day, others multiple days ------------------------- a couple of hours ------------------------- sometimes two ------------------------- Varied, I did all of the above, based on what was currently going on in the class, and the expertise of the guest. ------------------------- some were one day, some were ongoing projects (up to 3 months) ------------------------- we have over 200 volunteers as Career Guide speakers, giving aircraft tours and launching rockets each school year ------------------------- an hour ------------------------- He's a friend, I talk to/e-mail him quite frequently ------------------------- 20 hours a week ------------------------- Some came for one day and others came multiple times ------------------------- Career Day at School ------------------------- one day in class, then one after school session ------------------------- lecture/presentation ------------------------- 45 minute presentation ------------------------- one day per week for an entire year -------------------------