Math, Science and Technology Studies are BORING is a WebQuest-type lesson featuring sites that show that math, science, and technology are not only interesting, but fun. Sites included offer games, quizzes and activities that students should enjoy.

The lesson should take two or more 50-minute periods.

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• To help young people learn to appreciate math, science, and technology studies.
• To encourage students to look toward careers in math, science and technology.
• To review some of the content covered in Penny's Search.

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Before using this lesson, students should have had the opportunity to complete Penny's Search, for the game features information about how technology is used in different careers.

Teachers/advisors should check the web sites in the WebQuest before the lesson to make sure that all the links are working correctly. Although the pages listed all reside on well-established sites, sometimes information on the sites may be moved to another location on the site.

Students may work individually or in pairs on the WebQuest. If they work in pairs, it's best if you assign the pairs. That way no one will feel left out.

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First Day

1. Review information from Penny's Search related to technology and careers. Ask what other school subjects might be important in the careers addressed in Penny's Search. Your students will probably mention science, but may not mention math. Ask the students what types of courses they think they should take in high school and college if they want to go into technology as a career.
2. Find out how your students feel about math, science, and technology classes. Some will, of course, like the courses, but others may feel like the boy in the WebQuest.
3. Explain that for this lesson they will be sent on a WebQuest ( DOC - 31KB) that's filled with math, science, and tech sites that you know they'll enjoy.
4. Have the students begin the WebQuest ( DOC - 31KB).

Second Day

1. Give the students time to complete the WebQuest.
2. When they are finished with the Web Quest, find out what they thought of the sites. Let them tell you what the sites were all about. Let them talk about how far they got in "Who Wants to Win $1,000,000 and if they know what a quark is. What did they think of "Cells Alive"? Let someone demonstrate how to do Mystery Math. Ask them what they think the purpose of the WebQuest was.
3. Tell your students that it's never too early to be thinking about what they want to do when they grow up and that you hope some of them will consider careers that involve math, science and technology. Find out what types of careers your students have in mind, and tell them it's okay not to know what they want to be now. Explain that you just want them to start thinking about their future and what they need to learn while they are in school. Kids need a good foundation in math, science and technology in middle and high school if they want to pursue careers related to these fields.
4. Tell your students that for their assignment, they are going to apply for a job. They'll need to pick a job that's related in some way to math, science, or technology and then write their own resume for it. Their resume should include information about themselves (in the future) such as: contact information, academic background (courses they took in high school, college major, academic awards, other awards, work experience, quotes about them from references, why they feel qualified for this job, etc. Explain that their resume can be presented in regular essay format or as a presentation.
5. Have them get ideas about the job from the Tech Quiz, Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Information, Engineer Girl, and My Future.

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1. While students are taking on the WebQuest, teachers/advisors can determine if they are participating effectively in the assignment.
2. During the class discussion of the material learned in the Quest, evaluation of students' work on the WebQuest can be made.
3. Resumes may be evaluated using the following criteria:
   • Is the resume nicely presented?
   • Does the resume target a career in math, science, or technology?
   • Does the resume follow the guidelines set up by the teacher?
   • Does the resume include: contact information, educational background, work experience, quotes from references, awards, explanation of why they feel qualified for the job, etc.?
   • Is the resume free of errors?
   • Would you be interested in hiring this person?

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