Middle School Science Instructor Kevin Valdez Creates New Light Curriculum through UCSB Lab Research Program

In the summer of 2022, Middle School Science Instructor Kevin Valdez joined UCSB’s Material Research Laboratory as an intern for the Research Experience for Teachers Program. Placed in the Harter Lab to study optical characterization and the arrangement of atoms within certain materials, he helped create a unit focused on bringing reflection holograms into science classrooms. 

 

During that first summer in the lab, he collaborated with a graduate student to test a wide array of variables and helped develop a holography box to control as many of those variables as possible. In the subsequent summer of 2023, Kevin focused on the creation of this new curriculum to integrate into his own Middle School classroom at Laguna.

 

As Kevin hadn’t taught about light previously, he used what he learned during his time at UCSB to update and refine his project-solving unit taught in the Middle School Project Lab. This includes teaching students how to 3D model, create models out of cardboard to show their creations, create custom game board pieces, and present a final project that demonstrates a solution to a real-world problem they have in their lives.

 

“Holograms are a great opportunity to talk about the concepts of light, engineering design, and the scientific process,” Kevin says.

 

Kevin reflected that this internship exemplified how we are all lifelong learners. "This was a fantastic opportunity to gain experience working in a graduate research lab and collaborate with peers on the creation of effective lessons and pedagogy,” remarks Kevin. “Stepping out of my comfort zone of life sciences was difficult, but ultimately rewarding.”

 

Kevin’s favorite part of the experience was unveiling the impressive work of his students during his final presentation last week at UCSB, which received plenty of compliments from the workshop attendees. “This was a great reminder about the ‘why’ we are present in education,” he says. Kevin also acknowledged his Laguna colleagues, Jannine Tuttle and Zack Moore, who had completed the same internship before him.

 

Click here to learn more about this exciting project. We look forward to watching this unit shine in the coming years!