Gain hands-on experience developing and implementing neuroscience education
outreach programs in local K-12 schools
http://outreach.colorado.edu/programs/details/id/599
http://outreach.colorado.edu/highlights/view/id/76
The Intermountain Neuroimaging Consortium has developed a series of lessons to teach
local K-12 students about how their brains work. The goal of these lessons is to use cuttingedge, CU-led research findings to teach children and their families how they can improve
brain development and function during childhood. We hope to use current neuroscience
research findings to teach kids how to build a strong and healthy brain.
We are looking for approximately 5 enthusiastic undergraduate students to assist with
lesson delivery in the participating classrooms. As an undergraduate learning facilitator
you will be provided 20-30 hours of training that will focus on how to support young
students in their learning and understanding basic learning processes and the primary
influences on student learning, as well as targeted training on basic topics in neuroscience,
physiology, and psychology. Our goal is to provide enough information and support that
you feel comfortable and confident in facilitating the lessons, even if you do not have
experience with students this age and/or experience in a classroom setting with larger
groups.
Being a learning facilitator is a great opportunity. It requires a serious commitment of your
time and energy, as well as diligence, careful thought, intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a
desire to work with elementary and middle school age children. You will be expected to
conduct your responsibilities on time, fully participate in the training sessions, and
communicate with the project team. This project requires many hands to help ensure our
outreach is performed to the highest caliber. This means no one is “above” doing basic
tasks such as helping to clean up classrooms, making copies, or running errands! The time
commitment is generally no more than 2 hours/week on average when classes are in
session.
Please complete the following application and send it electronically with your CV or
resume to nicole.speer@colorado.edu. For best consideration please apply by June 1, 2016.
Many thanks for your interest in our important and innovative work. If you have any
questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Nicole Speer, Ph.D.
Director of Operations
Intermountain Neuroimaging Consortium
Nicole.Speer@colorado.edu
303-492-2875
Date___________________________________________________________
Available start date__________________________________________
Name__________________________________________________________
Department/Major___________________________________________________
Year at CU____________________________
What personal skills and/or characteristics make you a good fit for this project? If you have
prior experience teaching children and/or have taken courses such as Step One from CU
Teach please note those experiences here.
What do you want to gain from this experience?
Imagine yourself encountering a young child (5-7 years old) in a classroom who is quiet
and reserved and doesn’t seem to be willing to participate in a group activity. Your task is
to engage the child. What would you do? What would you talk about? What would you do in
the same situation with a slightly older child (8-13 years old)?
If you had to explain how a neuron works to a group of 4th and 5th graders using a fun,
interactive group activity, what would you do? (Assume you have access to any materials
you need.)
Many of the elementary and middle schools we are targeting for this program have large
Spanish-speaking populations. If you have any familiarity with Spanish, please detail your
level of fluency and Spanish language experience here.