By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Education Reporter
OAK RIDGE (WATE) - Teachers from across Tennessee are preparing to return to the classroom by attending a unique summer science camp at Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The two-day camp allows them to spend time with some of the nation's top engineers and inventors and try out innovations. It's all about sparking an interest they can pass on to students.
Nearly three dozen teachers signed up to participate in hands on science labs.
Thursday at Y12, we found Soddy Daisy High School Teacher David Wehunt on a bicycle, pedaling to power light bulbs. "The harder you pedal, the more electrons you put out," he explained. "It shows how much energy is needed to light up different bulbs."
They're getting hands-on science lessons to take back to their classrooms this fall. Wehunt says it's tough to get and keep today's student engaged.
"You're competing with the cell phone. That cell phone has become what they live with, and that's the biggest problem and it's more fun just to play games," said Wehunt. "So you've got to figure out how to get the games with the class."
The K-12 teachers witnessed some basic but exciting experiments they can work into their curriculum and also learned about the vast array of science and engineering careers available in Oak Ridge.
"Our work force here is growing older," explained senior Y-12 electrical engineer Jeff Parrott. "I've been here 25 years. We need those young people to take our places in the future."
Parrott welcomed the opportunity to share with teachers why he loves his job. "It allows me to do a lot of things besides electrical engineering," he said. "I give a little bit of design time, and I do a lot of supportive things for the plant and for the nation."
The teachers spent all day soaking up knowledge at Y-12, with plans to visit ORNL on Friday.
"Part of my curriculum is with nuclear fusion and fission," explained Amy Lyttle, a science teacher at Knox County's West Middle School. "So I'm really looking forward to getting to work with the Geiger counter to do some work with detecting radioactive substances. That's what I hope to take back and share."
Friday at ORNL, the teachers will learn about the nuclear fuel cycle, how reactors work and tour the lab's supercomputer facilities.
Nearly three dozen teachers signed up to participate in hands on science labs.
