NOTE TO EDITORS: 98-149

GODDARD HOSTS KIDS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATIVE FORUM

The Kids In Science and Technology (KIST) Collaborative Forum will be held at Goddard on Aug. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Media interested in attending the Collaborative Forum should contact Nancy Neal before close of business today.

The KIST program began nearly two years ago at Goddard. KIST is a Goddard sponsored and funded program designed to create partnerships between both public and private organizations with the goal of inspiring children in science and math. The program is dedicated to K-8th grade students.

The Collaborative Forum is designed to bring service providers and school officials within the Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Md. together to give teachers access to educational resources they presently do not have. It will create a regional alliance between children, educators, NASA, high-tech industry, and other federal agencies. The Collaborative will also identify existing math and science educational resources available to schools. A short and long range action plan will be developed to enhance existing resources or create new ones so as to ensure access to all kids.

This Collaborative will be a permanent group which will provide to teachers; a list of mentors, a guide to available resources, assistance in writing grants, connections to the donors of equipment. It will also provide a vehicle for resource providers to donate their resources. Hands on working groups will be the focus of the Forum. Some of the working groups will focus on the leadership and infrastructure of the Collaborative; resource guides; mentor and teacher services; assessment tools; technology support, outreach; and future products and services.

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