All,
It was very good to hear the details of each activity station for CanU
Grow. Now that those have been designed, we are at the stage to plan the
deployment.
I have attached some ideas for how the Soil Science module will unfold and
ask for your input, especially if you have any concerns.
There is a schedule outlining the overall timeline of events on each
evening. We need to consider the set up and take down of each station on
each day because the space will be needed for other uses in between
sessions. I have tried to build that into the schedule. Mitch, can you
let me know about how much lead time you require to get set up? I will
need to confirm with Tim that we can get into the shed by 3:00 for Mitch's
station to get set up. If more or less time is required, I need to let him
know. Rob, I don't think it will be a problem for students to start
assembling activity stations at 4:00 p.m. on Oct 8, 15 and 22 but I just
want to check with you to be sure about it. Room 346 is booked for all 3
evenings starting at 4:00. I don't think that there is anything scheduled
for Room 318 and 333 at that time.
There is also a list of activity station workers for the three evenings.
This was compiled at Monday's meeting and there are a few gaps. Megan and
Abolfazl, can you confirm your availability at the Soil Ecology station for
the three evenings and for set up and take down? Magda and Gustavo, you
have helped Mitch in the past. I realize that corn harvest may interfere
with your availability for CanU Grow. Should we try to identify some
backup workers to assist Mitch? Amberlee, can you confirm that there will
be 2 student chaperones on each evening? We want to divide the students
into 3 groups, so we will need at least 1 more chaperone, if that is the
case.
I also have a rotation designed to accommodate Mitch's request that the
students first go to the Nutrients in Soil activity before they come to his
station. The rotation will facilitate that flow and allow each activity
station about 20 minutes to "reset" between groups. Note, that all of the
students will start in Room 318, which may help to get everyone started by
having them in one place at the beginning.
Please note, on October 8, we want ALL the grad students to come to Room
318 at 5:00 p.m, not just the workers at the activity stations. That night
is designed to be a practice run, so the the activity station grad students
will have a chance to get set up. Then we need at least a couple of groups
of other grad students to go around the circuit and test out the activities
at each station. Mitch, you have done this many times before, so let me
know if you rather skip the practice and the work to set up on October 8.
Based on the experience from Oct 8, we may want to make some adjustments
prior to the Grade 8 students coming on Oct 15 and 22.
Finally, I would ask each of the activity group coordinators to forward me
the 1-page description of the workstations provided on Monday. I have
Timi's write-up. They will be kept together in an archive for future CanU
academies.
Thanks to all who have spent time and energy to pull the activities
together. It is very impressive and I am excited about seeing it go ahead.
Let me know if you think of anything else.
Paul
--
Dr. Paul Bullock
Professor and Head
Department of Soil Science
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-8666
Fax: (204) 474-7642
Email: Paul.Bullock(a)umanitoba.ca <Paul_Bullock(a)umanitoba.ca>
Webpage: umanitoba.ca/afs/soil_science/