Learning Lunch and Seminar Series Programs
As Delaware’s mathematics and science high school, the Charter School of Wilmington (CSW) is committed to providing students with a rigorous and comprehensive education, as well as access to as many opportunities as possible to explore careers in and applications of mathematics, science and technology. CSW has a highly talented student body, with a significant number who will pursue higher education in mathematics and the sciences, and who are likely to enter professional fields in these areas. In 2001, CSW introduced the Learning Lunch program, a series of brief presentations from members of the professional community, over lunch. In the fall of 2004, the program expanded to include the CSW Seminar Series, providing a longer and more leisurely time period to encourage more interactivity and more detail, again during the lunch period.
Learning Lunch topics have been incredibly varied, and there is virtually no restriction for them. Topics have included mathematics in microbiology, research methods in epidemiology, reasons to major in physics (presented by a CSW alumnus), forensics and bioterrorism, chemistry in cardiovascular surgery, data mining, placental stem cell research, miniaturized flying robots, the science of art conservation, and Iran’s nuclear program. Any of these could have easily been expanded into a Seminar. The limited time frame of a Learning Lunch makes it seem that just as the session gets “warmed up” the time is over; nevertheless, student reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, and have ultimately led to the development of the Seminar Series.
These programs are described in detail below. CSW is looking for professionals (including parents, of course) who have worked or are working on a special project that could be of interest to students, who would like to increase students’ awareness and/or interest in the applications of mathematics, science, and technology, or who would like to share recent, current, or future research topics. In addition, topics not necessarily based in science and mathematics are also welcome, especially from current events or world affairs, if they can spark students’ interest in better understanding some aspect of their world. No formal preparation is necessarily needed. Even the germ of an idea or a faint hint of a possible topic can be turned into a dynamic Learning lunch or Seminar. Interested persons, including past presenters, should contact Chuck Biehl at CSW, by phone(651-2727) or email(cbiehl@charterschool.org). He will be perfectly happy and willing to work with the presenter to develop the session.
Learning Lunch: this is a double, back-to-back, very brief session while students eat their lunches. The first session runs from 12:05 to 12:25, the second from 12:50 to 1:10. This is a perfect opportunity to do a quick (10-15 minute) presentation of a topic, with or without audio-visual aids, followed by discussion and questions. Some kind of handout is desirable, in order to provide students with leads for further exploration of the topic, or to better summarize it than can be covered in the short time frame. Learning Lunches are held once or twice a month.
Seminar Series: this is a full one-hour session, from 12:10 to 1:10, offered once each month. Students bring lunch, but stay for the entire session. The presentation can include some type of activity, an interactive discussion with the presenter, and/or a more extended lecture or presentation via PowerPoint or the overhead projector. A Seminar is designed to give students much deeper and detailed exposure to the topic, as well as interact on a more intimate level with the presenter.