[12381] in APO News
5th graders want to visit an MIT class!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Kelly Alioth Drinkwater)
Thu Nov 12 19:08:08 2009
From: Kelly Alioth Drinkwater <kdrinkwa@MIT.EDU>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:07:29 -0500
To: apo-news <apo-news@mit.edu>, Actives <et-actives@mit.edu>,
Floor Pi <floorpi@mit.edu>
Hi everyone,
I have a bunch of 5th graders who are interested in visiting a class
at MIT. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like any of my classes fit the
bill. Would anyone(s) like to take them on? They sound like a really
bright, wonderful bunch.
Their constraints:
* not Wednesday
* ideally 11-12am but flexible between ~10am and ~1pm
They would prefer to see a class where cooperative problem-solving
takes place, rather than a lecture class or one where students just
have all the answers right away. (Perhaps something in ESG would be
suitable?? I don't actually know much about those classes.) If there's
nothing that fits that bill exactly, they would also like to see a
class that exemplifies what it is to be an engineer. See forwarded
message for details.
Yours in Service,
Alioth
PS I'm sure they'd love to hear about how they can attend Splash in a
couple of years.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: K. Byars <klbya@mac.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Subject: Re: Winthrop school - MIT Visit
To: Kelly Alioth Drinkwater <kdrinkwa@mit.edu>
Hello,
Thank you so much for getting back to me. I really appreciate that you
have taken this on. I would love for my students to get a sense of MIT
and to visit a class or classes. We can do this any day but Wednesday.
We would be taking the T, leaving from Dorchester, so I'm guessing we
could be there about 10:00 a.m. We would need to leave by about 12:45
or 1:00, depending on how long the trip is. (I've never taken the T
over.) As for subjects - we use MIT as an exemplar of what it is to be
a mathematician. I tell my students that mathematicians don't by any
means have all the answers but revel in the process of problem
solving. Any classes where anything like that is going on would be
excellent. My students are also interested in engineering and science.
If we had access to just one class, I would choose a class where my
students could see mathematics/problem solving being debated. Students
shut down when they don't automatically have answers - I would love
for them to see brilliant mathematicians who don't have the answers,
but love the process of finding them, of solving problems. If we had
access to more than one, I would then choose a class that exemplified
engineering - I have students who want to be engineers, but who don't
have a complete idea of what that involves. After that, I would choose
some kind of science lab class.
You are wonderful to do this. You can't know what a gift this is to my stud=
ents.
Warm Regards,
Karen Byars
Teacher, Grade 5 Advanced Work Class
Boston Public Schools
John Winthrop School
35 Brookford Street
Dorchester, MA =C2=A002125
617.838.7195
The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined
nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Nov 10, 2009, at 2:48 PM, Kelly Alioth Drinkwater wrote:
> Hi Ms. Byars,
>
> Thanks for your interest in visiting MIT! Sorry for the delay in
> replying. I'm told that you and your students would like to visit a
> class. I have a few possibilities in mind, where either I or another
> APO brother could play host, but I also have a few questions:
>
> * What time frame / what dates are preferable?
> * What time of day would you prefer to come, and how long can you stay?
> * Are there specific subjects that are more or less interesting?
> * Would you like to see something more theoretical or more hands-on?
>
> Thanks,
> Kelly
>
> On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 1:01 PM, =C2=A0<klbya@mac.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello Caroline and Kelly,
>> Thank you so much for helping us with this. MIT is the math and science
>> exemplar for Room 12 here at the Winthrop School. Our student idolize th=
e
>> school as a place where mathematicians and scientists gather to think
>> deeply, debate, argue, problem solve, and generally immerse in the scien=
ces.
>> They are very excited at the opportunity to actually visit. Please let m=
e
>> know what I can do to facilitate a visit to your school/alma mater. We
>> deeply appreciate your efforts on our behalf.
>> Karen Byars
>> Teacher, Advanced Work Class
>> John Winthrop School
>> 35 Brookford Street, Dorchester, MA =C2=A002125
>> 617.635.8379
>>
>> Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
>> Martin Luther King, Jr.
>> On Nov 6, 2009, at 9:31 AM, Caroline Meeks wrote:
>>
>> Hi
>> Karen Byars please meet Kelly Drinkwater!
>> Karen is a 5th grade Advanced Work class teacher at the Winthrop school =
in
>> Dorchester. She would like to bring her class of 9 students to MIT for a
>> visit to see high level math and science learning in action.
>> Kelly Drinkwater is a current MIT student and a member of Alpha Phi Omeg=
a, a
>> service fraternity that I also joined when I was an undergraduate.
>> I think working with an undergrad student or two will be the easiest way=
to
>> arrange the tour you want. They can take you by the MIT high points and =
also
>> informally ask ahead to see if a professor minds if you spend a few minu=
tes
>> in the back of a classroom watching.
>> This is an exciting idea, I'm sure you will both have fun. Take pics for=
me!
>> :)
>> Thanks,
>> Caroline
>>
>> --
>> Caroline Meeks
>> Solution Grove
>> Caroline@SolutionGrove.com
>>
>> 617-500-3488 - Office
>> 505-213-3268 - Fax
>>
>>
