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.
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.
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.