Stephen Cheng

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10294/9061

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    Engaging Indigenous Youth in Science with the High-Altitude Balloon Experiment
    (Scientific Research Publishing, 2019-02-20) Cheng, Stephen; Gendron, Fidji; Ziffle, Vincent; Gerhard, David
    Our custom high-altitude balloon experiment kit with the complete set of instructions has been successfully used to engage high school and post-secondary students across Canada. This article describes how the high-altitude balloon experiment was adapted to engage Indigenous students from two on-reserve schools in science with the presence of an Elder. Based on the results from our research, while the balloon experiment is an effective tool to engage Indigenous students, the project doesn’t change the participants’ interest in science. We are making several suggestions to bring the experiment to its full potential. It would be more beneficial to make the high-altitude balloon experiment as a multi-day workshop or a major component of a science summer camp. Further, it would be more effective to integrate the balloon experiment into the high school science curriculum rather than run it as an independent event in the on-reserve schools. Finally, we are suggesting how student participation of the survey can be improved for on-reserve schools
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    Incorporation of High-Altitude Balloon Experiment in High School Science Classrooms
    (Scientific Research Publishing, 2019-02-14) Cheng, Stephen; Gerhard, David; Gendron, Fidji; Ziffle, Vincent
    We have been launching high-altitude balloons to engage students in science since 2013. Our custom balloon kit allows high school teachers and students to collect environmental data and capture videos. Through our experience interacting with high school students, we have found that the high-altitude balloon experiment is an effective tool for inquiry-based learning to introduce chemistry topics including gas properties, elements and molecules, heat capacity, thermochemistry, electromagnetic radiation, bond breaking and formation, and atmospheric chemical reactions. Examples are given to demonstrate how to incorporate the experiment in high school science classrooms.