Mentoring BUGS: An Integrated Science and Technology Curriculum

The current study describes an authentic learning experience designed to develop technology and science process skills through a carefully scaffolded curriculum using mealworms as a content focus. An individual mentor assigned to each 4th and 5th grade girl participating in the program delivered the curriculum. Results indicate mastery of science process skills related to research questioning, forming hypotheses, developing procedures, and writing a conclusion, while analysis was an area warranting improvement. Presentations by participants suggest strong knowledge of PowerPoint and Excel and the ability to use this knowledge to report scientific findings. (Contains 2 figures and 2 tables.)