NSF Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Summer 2017 Dr. Anant R. Kukreti RET Principal Investigator & Debbie Liberi Program Coordinator Informational Session 1 Old Chem, Room 840 University of Cincinnati Tuesday, February 28, 2017 3:30 – 5:30pm

Agenda for Today’s RET Informational Meeting   Greetings and Refreshments (20-25 minutes) 3:30 - 3:55 PM, Old Chem, 840 Introduction Activity (20 min.) 3:55- 4:15 PM, Informational Power Point Session (15 min.) 4:15 – 4:30 PM Questions and Answers (15 min.) 4:30 – 4:45 PM Group Activity ( 30 minutes) 4:45 – 5:15 PM

Introduction Activity Form two groups: You have 30 seconds to decide which 2 of the following items you will ask of each other. Then interview each other for 30 sec/person: Name, school and grade level. Greatest ongoing challenge you face as a teacher. 3 adjectives that best describe you as an educator. What drew you to apply to RET. What you biggest priority is as an educator. You will take turns introducing each other to the group. (30 secs/person)

Information about RET Summer 2017 1) Objectives 2) Statistics and Successes 3) Benefits 4) Research and Pedagogy 5) Support – summer and school year 6) Typical day in the schedule 7) Questions and Answers

Objectives of RET Encourage teachers to incorporate new pedagogies (CBL and EDP) into their teaching practices. Move science and math classrooms from teacher centered to student centered learning environments. Develop classrooms that include real world applications in the teaching of content. Use engineering applications (A) to convey math and science concepts Encourage students to consider engineering careers (C) Show societal impact (S) Provide opportunity to students to experientially learn the 21st Century Skills

RET Statistics and Successes During Years 2009 – 2010 to 2015-16 and Fall of 2016 There have been 63 teacher participants From Cincinnati Public, suburban and rural districts Including Ohio and Kentucky Participating in 140 research projects Impacting over 3400 students

Benefits of Participation in RET Summer 2017 Professional Benefits: Other: Participate in actual engineering research projects Take an engineering class entitled Engineering Foundations Participate in ongoing professional development Create a unit using Challenge Based Learning and engineering Design Process for your students in your classroom Prepare to present at professional conferences or submit journal articles Earn $6000 Obtain a laptop for personal use $200 for classroom materials to support unit implementation Earn contact hours Form a Cohort with other professionals

Research Projects and Pedagogy Engineering research focuses on problem solving. Opened ended Models iterative process. Challenge Based Learning Students are led from the Big Idea a Essential Question a Challenge Challenge has multiple acceptable solutions Engineering Design Process Has an iterative structure that allows for testing and modifications for improvement

Ongoing Support Personnel Typical Workshops Offerings: Research Faculty Mentor (supervises research) Graduate Research Assistant (assists in conducting research) RET Resource Person (supports development of unit) Challenge Based Learning Engineering Design Process Conducting Research Use of Library Facilities Making posters and videos Writing journal articles

Three Typical Days for Comparison: Summer Schedule Week 1 Week 2 Week 5 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Engineering Foundations Class Research Training 9:00– 10:30 AM PD: Video Workshop Session 2 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM RET PD: Journal Writing Lunch 1:00 – 4:00 PM PD with CEEMS Teachers: Challenge Based Learning 1:00 – 2:30 PM PD with CEEMS Teachers: Templates required by Cohorts 1:00- 1:20 PM Progress Meeting with Faculty Mentor and GRA 4:15 – 5:15 Research Training Prep – Completing the Roadmap 2:45- 3:00 PM Progress Meeting with Faculty Mentor and GRA 1:30 – 6:00 PM Conducting Research   3:15 – 6:00 PM

Questions regarding RET? Components? Key players? Objectives or benefits?

Group Activity Working in two groups, you will do the following activity: Consider the mission to send a manned spacecraft to Mars. What are the physiological stresses on the body caused by lengthy space travel under conditions of microgravity? Research and identify some of them. (Brainstorm or use your phone or laptops to research.) Prioritize the top 3 you have identified. Develop a system, regiment, or design products that will counter the effects of the physiological stresses caused by microgravity and describe how the system, regiment or products are utilized to produce the desired outcomes.