Virtual Math and Science Camps Excite Students, Promote Learning

    LANSING, Mich., July 16 /EMWNews/ -- When's the last time

your middle school student was working on a math or science assignment

until late in the evening -- in the summer? Or said "I learned and learned

so when I took the post-test I knew everything," as one student said last

summer?



    That level of involvement and skill acquisition are becoming the norm

for students involved in the Michigan Virtual School(TM) (MVS(TM)) Math &

Science Virtual Camps. Session One kicked off on Monday. These online camps

employ innovative, state-of-the art math and science simulations called

Gizmos(R) to help middle school students develop a rich repertoire of

skills and content knowledge necessary for success in the coming school

year. Session Two of the online camps begin July 21 and end Aug. 1. There

are still a limited number of seats available.



    "What is really exciting about these camps is that they provide great

opportunities for both struggling and advanced learners to leap ahead in

math and science," Robin Dickson, Director of Innovation and Research for

Michigan Virtual University(R) (MVU(R)), said. "The camps use Flash(R)

animations to hook kids into challenging topics providing real-life

examples of how particular concepts are employed in real jobs. Because the

Gizmos are interactive and fun, students become quickly engaged and master

content critical to success in the coming school year."



    The Math & Science Virtual Camps are each intensive two-week, online

programs that engage students in the thrill of discovery while using math

or science to figure out how things work. Students strengthen study habits

and deepen understandings that will help prepare them for the challenges of

Michigan's new high school graduation requirements.



    "We have a facilitated camp going on in our conference room each

morning, and none of my colleagues can believe there are 20-some sixth,

seventh and eighth graders here because they are so quiet because they are

so engaged," says Michelle Ribant, the director of the Eastern Upper

Peninsula Math and Science Center.



    For those who excel in math and science, the camps provide challenging,

interactive activities that will fuel their passion for discovery. Students

are expected to spend a minimum of two hours a day on course work during

the two- week camp period, or about 20 hours total.



    Campers are guided by an online camp leader as they traverse the course

content. Both camps use the online Gizmos to answer questions like "How

much would you weigh on the moon?" and "Can you analyze a mysterious

powder?" Gizmos bring research-proven instructional strategies to life and

correlate to state and national standards. This innovative tool for

teaching math and science was developed by ExploreLearning(R) and are

licensed by MVU for the camp courses.



    The enrollment fee for either the math or science camp is $75, and a

limited number of scholarships are available for Michigan students.



    Financial support for the virtual camps is provided through a federal

E-Learning and Virtual School Initiatives Grant and state funding awarded

by the Michigan Department of Education.



    For more information on the Math & Science Virtual Camps, visit

http://www.mivhs.org/camps, email [email protected] or phone 888.532.5806.



    You Can Learn Virtually Anything(R)