Several math and chemistry faculty members from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand visited WSU through an exchange program between the two universities. They were members of the Faculty of Education participating in teacher training programs as well as teachers in the demonstration school (grades 7-12) affiliated with Chulalongkorn University.
During their visit, they participated in classes at WSU involving science and math education and visited many schools in the region. WSU faculty members very graciously provided access to their classes. In addition, collaboration with University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Pipeline Program facilitated access to several public schools in greater Worcester.
The visitors also participated in a laboratory session that brought ninth graders to WSU to perform a green chemistry lab involving the manufacture of solar cells. This lab session combined WSU chemistry and biology majors who taught the students and was supervised by members of Beyond Benign, a nonprofit group involved in developing green chemistry curriculum for K-12 schools.
Expansion of green chemistry labs into the curriculum in Thailand is of interest to Chulalongkorn University and will be started as part of this exchange program.
The math teachers worked with Professor Richard Bisk to learn about Singapore Math and to take knowledge of that back to their school.