Today was a great day. We continued to work on our projects of painting the school, maintaining and training in the computer lab, and teaching in the school.
Painting today went great and the crew got a lot done. In the morning Kirk, Morgan, Roxanne, Micah, and Merv painted up a storm. I was
amazed at how much they accomplished. Kirk and Morgan helped teach in the afternoon but as soon as they were done teaching they went back to paint.
In the computer lab Strom, Febus, and David worked on some networking issues and creating some tutorials for students. These tutorials could be used to train upcoming classes of students for things like adding a picture in a word document and
how to use the file server.
Today might be our last day of teaching. We don't yet know what classes we will teach tomorrow nor if the students will be there. Teaching this week has been amazing and quite the challenge. We have learned a lot about teaching in Haiti and added new skills and knowledge.
We were scheduled to see three or four groups of students per day. We were able to teach a few of the grades twice during the week. The first lab we did on Monday with students was identifying a “mystery powder” or “powder X”. This is the first lab I do with my chemistry students and I thought it would be a great place to start with my new Haitian students.
We figured out quickly that this lab was difficult for them in ways we did not expect. While the students here have a very impressive rote memory, application and observations are tougher for them. This was the first data table they had ever made and making observations was confusing for them. The students wanted to write down symbols and not tell us what they were seeing with their senses (even though we asked them not to, one student tasted the mystery powder
). The next day we had to rethink our plan and try the lab with a new approach.
The students had a clear knowledge of chemistry. What was new was doing a lab activity and using that knowledge in a hands on way. What helped is having Morgan translate the instructions into French, and have those instructions posted on the board or on the lab tables. We also took a step back and taught them how to make observations. I did the “elephant’s toothpaste” demo and had the students write down their observations of the demo. They loved this and one student jokingly called it “white people magic” (we quickly corrected him and told him it was science). The lab taught them how to observe, how to organize their observations, and how to identify an unknown based on known information.
They had a lot of fun.
Today we ran another lab with students that we felt was even more successful. We set up eight lab stations with things to measure at each station. We did more difficult measurements with pH probes for the 12th and 13th graders and had simpler measurements like length of shoes and temperature probes for the 7th and 8th graders. This “shotgun” approach to teaching let us hit many different measurement tools in the short time we had with the students.
It was clear that the students had never measured liquid in a graduated container, temperature with a thermometer, or time using a stopwatch before. It was enjoyable to get to introduce these to them. For the larger classes, we split up the class and Jay had time to do some graphing calculator training. The lab today taught how to use a meter stick, triple beam balance, electronic balance, measure using a graduated cylinder, measure pH with a probe or pH paper, measure temperature with a thermometer or a probe, and how to use a stopwatch.
We have only scratched the surface of what skills and knowledge to teach these students. Today
while I watched students measuring and using the calculators, I noticed several of them smiling. They genuinely wanted to learn, and we had the opportunity to be a part of it. Today two classes of students came to class only to do the labs we prepared (the high school students had testing this week, and some days they were not required to be there). The students kept finding things from around the room to measure. The students did not want to leave class when Jay was showing them calculator tricks.
We even had students try to sneak into our class and learn science. There was a need and we helped to fill that need. The students will continue to learn, and the teachers at the school were excited to see the materials we were donating.
Last night the team reflected and we expressed how we were feeling about the week. The thought that keeps coming into my mind is how much support I have. I know that this week would not be possible without all the people that supported us financially. We also have so many people lifting us up in prayer. The Shedd Aquarium donated about 1000 dollars worth of Pasco probes and equipment for the students.
Most of all I have felt God support me in such a big way while I am here. I know that I would not be able to do anything without God’s love and the people he has put in my life.
There is clear hope for Haiti.
Bryan
