| The number of correct answers to a series of questions given before and after the program was used as a measure of the change in student knowledge due to the Mysteries (See Graph). The questions test students' grasp of sophisticated concepts like the atomic weight of elements, mineral structure, meta- morphism, and scale. The results indicate that first- through fourth-grade students provide 18-22% more correct answers after they have solved the mysteries. Many students write thank you letters telling us they would like to become geologists! We believe that the Rock Detective Program engenders this self confidence, because it creates a low-stress context in which children can not fail. And they have fun! |
