About My Videos
About Sharon Sivinski
Okay. Admit it. You’re wondering why you should listen to me. I’d be asking that too (if I wasn’t me). Here’s a list of some of my really fun and challenging teaching experiences.
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Designed, implemented, and ran the Water Conservation Education Program for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, which won “Best Public Outreach and Communication Award” from the Water Environment Federation; as well as “Best Public Information and Education Award” from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.
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Taught math and science in classrooms from grades 1 – college.
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Designed, implemented and ran the Camp-In program at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
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BS (I know what you’re thinking, because my friends and family think it too) in Biology, Masters in English – Rhetoric and Writing, specifically Science Writing.
I live in New Mexico with my dashing husband (who edited this text for me), Cog-the-Science-Dog, and my water bear friends that I find everywhere.
About Cog-the-Science-Dog© 2023
The name "Cog" comes from the the word cognition, meaning the process of knowing or acquiring knowledge. My dogs are always curious and love to acquire knowledge, hence, Cog-the-Science-Dog. But Cog's a working dog. His job is to defuse anxiety by making us laugh.
My @STEMwithCog videos took shape in my mind when I was teaching in a private school where half the student body did not trust science and the other half were families of scientists and engineers from the local laboratory. It was tricky to navigate. I sure get it. Science teachers have a big responsibility and not enough resources, especially when it comes to teaching climate change. That is a real can of worms, a scary can of worms. Students need a place to get information in a calm, non-threatening way that doesn't scare the pants off them. Cog the Science Dog can help!
One thing I realized while teaching such different populations is that science makes sense when students see it in action and can make it work themselves. In my climate science videos, I do a demo that isn't difficult and uses (mostly) common objects. These demos or experiments are great "phenomena" you can use to spark interest, as suggested in Next Gen Science Standards.
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Let's Find Out claymation videos grew out of the skits with Cog-the-Science-Dog. In these videos, Cog is joined by a buddy dog, Cosmo. They ask burning questions and find answers that often surprise them and maybe you as well.
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STEAMatWork4Kids.org is another website project of mine. It's a collection of written profiles about diverse STEAM professionals working in diverse STEM fields. Each profile includes a list of books related to that field of study for curious upper elementary students.