Iron Science Teacher

The Iron Science Teacher is a national competition that celebrates innovation and creativity in science teaching. The competition originated at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.[1] Parodying the cult Japanese TV program, “Iron Chef,” this competition showcases science teachers as they devise classroom activities using a particular ingredient — an everyday item such as a plastic bag, milk carton, or nail.[2] Contestants are currently or formally part of the Exploratorium's Teacher Institute and compete before a live audience for the title of "Iron Science Teacher." Shows are also archived on the Exploratorium's site.

Iron Science Teacher
GenreLive Webcast
Presented byDr. Linda Shore
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running timeapprox. 1 hour
Release
Original networkLIVE@ Webcast Studio - Exploratorium
Original releaseSummer 1998 –
present
External links
Website

Astrophysicist Dr. Linda Shore, Director of the Exploratorium Teacher Institute and host of the competition, says one goal of the Iron Science Teacher is to "provide teachers with ideas about how to teach multimillion dollar state and national science teaching standards using, trash, recyclables, and inexpensive materials" as well as "to allow teachers to receive applause for great teaching."[3]

History

Back in 1997, the Exploratorium's Phyllis C. Wattis Webcast Studio was looking for new shows. During a staff brainstorming session, a fan of the popular Food Network television show, The Iron Chef, suggested naming a secret ingredient for science teachers to use in an experiment to present to the audience. "It was honestly and truly a joke," Shore says. "We thought we'd do one show."[4]

Current Shows

Now 10 to 12 shows are produced annually for the Exploratorium's website. "Secret" ingredients, which are revealed in advance to participants so they can practice, have included everything from ordinary baking soda and food coloring to Marshmallow Peeps and pantyhose.[4]

Spin-offs

The Canadian Iron Science Teacher also parodies the popular TV series Iron Chef and is hosted by Jay Ingram of Daily Planet on Discovery Channel.[1] Unlike the Exploratorium version, where championship comes with no tangible prize, in the Canadian version, five "finalist" teachers, with their support teams, are selected to compete in the Iron Science Teacher finals at the University of Calgary in order to win a variety of cash prizes.

Colorado Springs, CO initiated their own CoOL Iron Science Teacher Competition as part of their What If: A Festival of Creativity & Innovation on September 11, 2010.[5]

List of Previous Secret Ingredients

(plus links to the webcasts)

Date Secret Ingredient Winner
6/22/2018 Balloons Daisy Yeung
9/17/2011 Chalk
7/8/2011 Eggs
7/1/2011 Magnets
6/25/2011 Color
7/16/2010 Triangles
7/9/2010 Leaves
7/2/2010 Lightbulbs

References
  1. "Iron Science Teacher 2011". Retrieved 10-2-11. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. "Iron Science Teacher: At the Explo and Live Webcast". Retrieved 10-2-11. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. "Iron Science Teacher". Exploratorium. Retrieved 10-2-11. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. "Iron Science Teacher". District Administration. Retrieved 10-2-11. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. "Colorado Springs CoOL Iron Science Teacher". Cool Science. Retrieved 10-2-11. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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