The Wonders of our World Program (wow.osu.edu) is this year's recipient of the Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for the Central Regional Meeting, CERMACS 2008.
The Wonders of our World Program is being honored for nurturing curiosity and inquiry based learning in elementary-grade minority students, creating a resource network for their teachers, and fostering volunteer contributions to science education by chemistry scientists.
The ACS Committee on Minority Affairs (CMA) is honored to select the Wonders of our World, W.O.W. program as the recipient of the Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for advancing diversity in the chemical Sciences.
The CMA awards committee recognizes the unique program that plants the seeds of curiosity, discovery, and learning by inquiry on young children, especially those from underprivileged communities and minority populations and for providing their teachers with long-lasting tools and methods for confident, continued teaching and learning in the sciences. We applaud the foresight in involving scientists as volunteer mentors and leveraging their professional contributions for the benefit of science education. The WOW program is a model for those that care about effective education in the sciences and a challenge to all, especially ACS members to extend this program to other communities.
The recipient of The ACS Division of Chemical Education Central Region Award for Excellence in High School Teaching (2008) is Mr. Jeffrey D. Bracken.
Mr. Bracken is a nationally recognized educator who infuses unmatched enthusiasm for chemistry everywhere, in the classroom, at summer workshops, as well as at chemical demonstration events for the communities of Central Ohio.
Jeff serves as Coordinator of the Teachers Affiliate Group and the Committee for the Chemistry Teacher of the Year Award of the Columbus Section. Jeff conducts Chemistry Teacher Workshops in the summer that serve as a professional development offering and networking opportunity.
A strong proponent and practitioner of inquiry-based learning and teaching in the science fields, the class plans of Mr. Bracken encourage students to use the scientific method and to present results in articulate statements of fact, supported by data, graphics and models that reflect both comprehension of the problem at hand and the scientific principle that applies to its solution.
His professionalism and, creativity are well described by the impressive and ever-growing resume that includes development of classroom materials, publications, conferences, and involvement with professional organizations.
Jeff is a role model, not only for science teachers and chemistry enthusiasts, but also for college students seeking science degrees and who aspire or are moved to become science educators upon meeting him. The ACS is very fortunate to count Jeff amongst our best and brightest.
Don't forget to sign up for the awards banquet - seating is limited!
