What To Expect - Maine Mobile BIOLAB

WHAT TO EXPECT.

Educate Maine opens school visit requests in April each year, and schools will be notified by the end of the school year. Be sure to check back often to request a visit or find out where we’re heading next. Below are some helpful tips for what to expect before, during, and after your mobile laboratory visit. If you have any additional questions, please contact us.

Communications

Educate Maine staff will send an email to the lead contact reminding them of the dates selected for their upcoming school visit. At that time, the Educate Maine team and your school’s designated point of contact will work together to select a date for a pre-visit meeting in which all school administrators and all teachers utilizing the program will discuss visit logistics. Pre-visit meetings will be conducted virtually and typically are scheduled four to six weeks prior to the school’s mobile laboratory visit.

Pre-Visit Expectations

Attendance: All school administrators and all teachers utilizing the program must be in attendance for the pre-visit meeting
What to bring: Designated point of contact must share a draft of the schedule form and a parking form with the Educate Maine team ahead of their pre-visit meeting. These drafts do not have to be final, but these meetings are most productive when utilized as a workshopping session.
- Schedule Form: Use the guidelines provided at the top of the schedule form and the lesson description document to create a schedule for the week
- Parking Form: Submit a parking form with an annotated map to show where in your parking lot the BIOLAB should be parked
- Requirements:
  - A space of about 90′ x 30′ to deliver it by truck (the lab itself is about 52′ x 16′ fully deployed)
  - Space on tar/pavement for stability and weight – it has self-leveling hydraulic system
  - The unit is self-powered so we don’t need any electrical or water hook up

Safeguards

Participant safety is Educate Maine’s number one priority. Educate Maine aims to provide a safe learning environment for students, teachers, and all guests who participate in programs in the classroom and mobile lab. As such, we ask that you help us enforce Educate Maine’s Safety Rules and Regulations.

All staff working with students aboard the mobile lab have undergone criminal background checks in order to be cleared to work as required under Title 20 –A MRSA 13024.

As needed, schools can request a certificate of liability insurance that names your school as additionally insured. Requests must be made no less than 3 weeks in advance of a school visit.

During Your Visit

Standard Operating Hours: Educate Maine staff will work with teachers to create a schedule of classes (up to four per day) that align with the school day.
On-Site Support: Educate Maine staff will be on site to lead activity prep, setup and delivery.
Student Handouts: Teachers are responsible for printing student handouts prior to the day the lesson will be taught. Student handouts are available on this website under the curriculum tab.
On-Lab Student Experience: A representative from the school must be present inside the lab at all times while students are participating in mobile lab sessions.
Evaluation Plan: Students and teachers will be asked to participate in the Educate Maine’s evaluation program to help provide feedback and improve future programs. No personal or identifying data will be collected from participants. Individuals may opt out of participating in the program at any time.

After Your Visit

Parking space area should be cleared of all cars to allow removal of the lab.
Teachers and campus administrators should complete the teacher survey that will be sent out by Educate Maine staff.

School Visits and Cancellations

All schools with unavoidable cancellations (pandemic-related, multi-day snow or storms, and other acts of nature) will be able to reschedule for a later date. Educate Maine will attempt to reschedule the visit during the current school year or offer priority access to the next school year’s schedule.

Request a Visit for your School

All Maine public schools that offer classes for grades 5-8 are eligible to request a visit.

Priority for visits will be given to schools in rural areas and those demonstrating high economic need (based on FRL eligibility – free & reduced lunch). Priority will also be given to schools that have not yet had a Mobile Mobile BIOLAB visit. Visit length is 1 week or as determined by Educate Maine, the amount of time needed to serve all students in the school.