Caltech Outreach Brings Scientists Into Local Classrooms
Holding a vibrating tuning fork close to the lip of a PVC pipe, high
school junior Kelsey Peterson bends close, suddenly saying, "I
hear it!" She is trying to find the speed of sound indirectly,
using her own measurements and a chain of logic she must forge
for herself. She has learned that, as in a pipe organ, the cavity
of her PVC pipe is an acoustic resonator, and the change in volume
she hears tells her that it has reached the right length to resonate
at the tuning fork's frequency. Read
Now in its fifth year,
the Caltech Classroom Connection (CCC) is a program which pairs Caltech
volunteers with local pre-college educators. The volunteers contribute
their time, knowledge, and energy directly in classrooms to increase
precollege student understanding, appreciation, and interest in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics. The mission of
the CCC is to create sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships
between Caltech volunteers and local educators.
Each teacher is paired with one or more volunteers, each of whom
agrees to assist each week in the teacher’s classroom for a
one to two hour period and to give an additional hour of preparation
time outside of the classroom. Each teacher-volunteer pair determines
for itself the exact role of the volunteer in the classroom such
that each partnership is mutually beneficial. Previous volunteers
have assisted teachers with labs, group work, and class discussions,
as well as developed projects, labs, lectures, and demonstrations.
They have also given presentations on their research, shared their
experiences as scientists and served as local science fair judges.
We are looking for enthusiastic Pasadena-area teachers and members
of the Caltech community who would like to dedicate their time and
energy. If you would like to participate, more information is listed
in the prospective participant section. If you would like to find
out more about the Caltech Classroom Connection, please contact us.