BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – Four students who were in Lois Pflomm’s sixth grade class at the Freehold Intermediate School during the 2005-06 school year took a problem they believed was affecting their community, analyzed it, came up with a workable solution and parlayed that solution into big bucks -$8,000 to be exact.
Freehold Intermediate School students once again participated in a Web-based science, math and technology competition called eCybermission, sponsored by the U.S. Army. This year’s winning team, the Chaotics, as well as the school’s winning teams from 2004 and 2005 were honored at the Sept. 5 Board of Education meeting.
Principal Nelson Ribon said Ian Kelsey, Karlie Korz, Anthony Santoriello and Nicole Tompkins won the 2006 Application of Science, Math and Technology award. They each received a $2,000 U.S. Savings Bond.
In total, according to Ribon, Freehold Intermediate School students have been awarded more than $45,000 in the last three years by winning contests in the program. Ribon called that an “amazing” amount.
According to Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth O’Connell, “eCybermission is a Web-based competition that promotes self-discovery for all students and allows them to recognize the real-life applications of science, math and technology.”
Ian, Karlie, Anthony and Nicole wanted to educate other children about on-line chat rooms and the danger in revealing personal information to strangers.
The students hypothesized that if they educated children about the hazards of on-line predators, the youngsters would be aware of the dangers and would be able to protect themselves. The team distributed pre-tests about on-line safety to fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders in their school. Then they provided an informational presentation and retested the children.
Since all of the respondents improved their score on the post-tests, the team members concluded that their presentation was successful and that their hypothesis was correct.
Michael Doyle, program director of eCybermission, said the U.S. Army is dedicated to improving educational opportunities for its soldiers and the nation.
“Five years ago in response to national statistics showing a decline in interest in scientific engineering disciplines, we developed a premier and inclusive science, math and technology forum for America’s youth,” he said.
According to Doyle, the army wanted a program that supports the president’s commitment to education; increases youth interest in science, math and technology; generates a pool of future scientists, mathematicians and engineers; encourages students to embrace technology and to enjoy it by employing it in everyday use; and promotes unity and collaboration.
Doyle brought a tape of a speech made by Bill Gates, the chairman and CEO of Microsoft. Gates was a guest speaker at this year’s eCybermission national judging and educational event in Washington, D.C.
Gates called the winning students “the best and brightest” and said the United States has always been the center of science and technology. Keeping that status will depend on the next generation of students to carry that banner.
“You are the nation’s future. You will serve as leaders. You will prepare other students for the world of tomorrow,” Gates said.
Gates asked the students to encourage their peers to participate in the program and to “think out of the box.” He said opportunities in the technology, math and science fields are limitless.
Pflomm said the goal of the program is to increase students’ interest in math, science and technology, which coincides with goals established by Freehold Borough administrators.
“In choosing a problem in their community and then trying to find a solution for that problem, students are learning science by doing science,” Pflomm said.
“No matter how many experiments I may have a class do, until they really come up with a problem of their choice, one that they have noticed in their community – and then come up with a hypothesis, and then figure out a way to test if that solution could work, they really don’t understand the process of science, or the scientific method. Once they understand the process, their interest soars. And they love the fact that they can record their work on-line.
“They also learn to communicate with each other, with adults, in writing or in person, and they learn the very important skill of being organized,” Pflomm said. “They are committed to their team and its mission. Learning to work together and to keep up with your own part of the team’s job are skills they will use forever. Their awareness is raised by asking more questions about the world. They gain even more of a sense of community. They are, after all, looking for a solution to a problem in their community.”
Pflomm said she could not think of an experience that could better prepare the students for growing up than this one where they practice work habits and interpersonal skills they will need as adults.