CPSP 249T - 0101 - Garageband

CPSP 249T - 0201 - STS SErves!

Sophomores learn Garageband music composition software in the School of Music's state-of-the art computer lab (photo below).  They then meet weekly with students from Fleet Street and Hadley Farms, which are alternative public middle schools in Montgomery County, to teach the younger students how to compose and record their own music.  The reflection paper is an important final step of the course. This course was developed by and is taught by Bill Evans, an accomplished Montgomery County public school teacher and choir director.

CPSP 249T - 0201 - STS SErves!

Students may enroll in Sec. 0201 to earn credit for participating in a service activity. The STS program particularly encourages participation in any of four tutoring programs: Lakeland Stars, America Reads! American Counts!, GEMS (photo below), or Maryland MESA's Saturday Academy run by the Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering. We also encourage students to consider working with the Community Farm or Bike Co-op at Engaged University. Students who are employed as instructors of the freshman colloquium (CPSP 118T) may enroll in this section to earn practicum credit. Email Dr. Mendelsohn to obtain permission for your enrollment. In addition to the reflection paper, students evaluate the tutoring or mentoring program, in our work to provide excellent service learning opportunities.

New in Fall 2009: Claire Robbins, the Scholars STS assistant director, teaches CPSP 249T Sec. 0201. Students met during September prior to starting their service, to learn about their service organization, the benefits of service learning, and PG County. Students practiced classroom skills, and will give illustrated presentations about their service activities to the freshmen assembled in colloquium (CPSP 118T). See most of the students in this first STS Serves! class at the top of this page: Sam, Sajeela, Elissa, Brad, Sarah, Afareen, Claire Robbins; Misagh was unable to attend the class when we took the photo.

STS students may volunteer with GEMS (photo above) to mentor middle school girls in science and math.  Weekly after-school sessions occur at William Wirt and Hyattsville middle schools.  About five college students in each school serve as role models and mentors.  Working with groups of 4 girls, college students perform lab demonstrations and coordinate science projects and activities that require problem solving skills and team effort. College students also help to develop lessons or activities on a topic of special interest to them.  You may read a full description of mentor responsibilities; here is the mentor application.  You also may read a full description of GEMS – funding, allies, activities.

Mentoring for girls has increased markedly since Harvard's president, Larry Summers, commented in 2005 that men may out-compete women in math, engineering and science careers because of genetic differences. Click here for a short article about Summers's comments and the aftermath.

Women In Engineering provides many opportunities for girls to learn about engineering careers. Read a recent article about their summer camps and on campus programs for college women.

Both sections of CPSP 249T embody the service learning goal of the broader College Park Scholars program.