By Jen Horton
posted Jun 16, 2008 - 4:49:28pm
Fossil fuels are going to run out, and your town must decide how it will handle its energy needs. The town must reach a consensus after technical information about alternate energy is presented. You have a say in your community's future.
That's the basis of a lesson plan devised by local science teacher Jennifer Cribbs. Students play the roles of town leaders and the scientists who try to guide them.
Cribbs, who teaches at DeLand High School, was honored for her innovative lesson plan by the Florida Association of Science Teachers, the Florida Association of Science Supervisors and the Volusia County School Board. She was named Florida Science Educator of the Day.
In her honor, teachers all around the state were encouraged to use Cribbs' lesson on Florida Science Day, May 16.
At its June 10 meeting, the School Board praised Cribbs for her creativity and her commitment to her students.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Chris Colwell said Cribbs is one of four teachers statewide to win this award, and the only high-school teacher honored this year.
"We're very proud," Colwell said.
"God was certainly smiling at Mitch Moyer the evening Jennifer Cribbs came to DeLand," DeLand High School Principal Mitch Moyer said. "She's a very high-performing teacher."
"This is quite overwhelming," Cribbs told the School Board. "My job is a blessing and I love it. Ninety-eight percent of the students I have are wonderful. The other 2 percent are wonderful, too, they're just not loved enough."
Cribbs and her family moved to DeLand in 2006 from South Carolina, where she had taught science for 10 years.
"I've taught just about every science class you can name," she said.
DeLand High School had an opening, and Cribbs started Oct. 31.
Science teachers throughout Florida were invited to submit lesson plans for the contest.
"Teachers across the state sent in lesson plans that could be modified for different grade levels," Cribbs explained.
The lesson plans were supposed to teach students about alternate energy sources.
Cribbs had a lesson in mind.
"I try to make the students realize they're the future leaders," Cribbs said.
She created a mock town and — just as in a real town — the mock town had public forums. Students debated different forms of alternate energy, and determined the future energy needs of the mock community.
"I set up a community forum where the students were in groups. Each group was given a different source of alternate energy, and the groups had to take sides. So one group may be for solar power and another against solar power," Cribbs said.
The students couldn't simply argue their opinions, they had to do research.
"They had to write, they had to work on presentations," she said. "And, they had to lay out the rules for the debate. When the students lay out the rules, they're much more likely to follow them."
"Town members" who were not debating asked questions.
"When they asked the questions, they became involved," Cribbs said.
Cribbs said her students concluded there is no one perfect energy source; a combination of alternative sources will be needed.
Cribbs said there was a second lesson in the exercise: A person can speak, and be heard, even if he isn't the mayor or the president. Regular people can make a difference.
Cribbs said she felt like a 12-year-old when she found out her lesson was selected — she was so excited by the prospect that hundreds of teachers could be teach her material.
"It was amazing," she said. "You always want to hope that what you're doing has an impact on a large number of students. This was incredible."
Cribbs said being named Florida Science Educator of the Day was rewarding, but in teaching, rewards are plentiful, if you know where to look.
"A lot of people have such a skewed idea of what teaching is," Cribbs said. "I see it as a blessing."
She continued, "Every time a light bulb goes off over a student's head, every time I see they understand something, that's a reward."
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