UCSD Courses & TAs Practicum Course
One of the best ways to gain experience in ScienceBridge is to enroll in our course, CAT124 or TMC198, the ScienceBridge Practicum Course: Science Mentoring in Community Settings.
If you are in 6th college, it is your capstone “Practicum Course,” and requires an application - turn it in to Melody, the Practicum Course coordinator. For all other colleges, you need to sign up for a special studies course, TMC198 (open to all colleges), which requires a form that you can pick up at the ScienceBridge office and turn in to the Marshall College office. Either way, the class is scheduled for MW 9-11, held in PSB (Pharmaceutical Science Bldg), Education Room 2 (downstairs).
The course is made of three major components:
Class/discussion happens in class and in WebCT; service typically occurs on campus and you need 20 hours during the quarter; the project often (not always) occurs off-campus - also requiring 20 hours during the quarter. Don't worry, if you don't have a car we have lots of ways to find a good project for you!
The goal for the course is to get first-hand experience in the science community as a mentor to younger students. We prepare you through the class/discussion, and you gain the experience through service hours and the project.
The service hours are usually at the ScienceBridge Labs "professional development trainings," where high school teachers and high school students visit UCSD to learn about cutting-edge science topics. You, the practicum students (alongside volunteer mentors), help teach the students how to be leaders in the classroom and in their school community. You do this by helping them learn the lab protocols and also through leadership activities. There are a lot of opportunities to achieve your service credits on Fridays 7-4 (any portion or all day), so we advise keeping some part of Fridays open for that - it will make it easier.
The "project" portion is also service based, but you focus on improving your own skills as a mentor and leader. The final project is usually a slideshow "documentary" showing what you experienced and learned as a mentor. You present this to your colleagues in the class during the last week and/or during the assigned final exam period.
Sixth College Students: we'd love for you to address your preferred project or type of project from this list when you write your proposal. You can also address the service portion—the participation in ScienceBridge labs and curricula—typically mentoring high school students in science labs and leadership skills when they attend science leadership trainings.
All Other Students: Feel free to peruse projects from this list to get an idea of what opportunities we offer. No proposal is required to enroll through TMC198, just a simple form. Contact Alegra to make appointment to pick up the form.
Please let us know if you have further questions by contacting Alegra@ucsd.edu. We look forward to working with you!