Connecting Research and Teaching Through Product Realization: The Pittsburgh Quality of Life RET Site

该奖项为匹兹堡大学工程现场的教师研究经验（RET）项目提供了为期3年的持续资助，该项目名为“通过产品实现连接研究和教学：匹兹堡生活质量RET现场”，由Michael Lovell博士指导。这个项目是对一个成功的RET站点的更新，它保留了现有RET的最佳元素，整合了其他RET项目中观察到的最佳实践的新元素，并包含了一个新的生活质量（QoL）工程研究主题。总共将从匹兹堡地区的高需求城市高中招募33名高中科学教师（每年11名，为期三年）。他们将在暑期花8周的时间在工程实验室进行基础科学研究，然后将研究成果转化为创新产品，涉及与生活质量技术相关的主题。QoL主题的主要研究重点将集中在计算、机器人、机器学习、通信和小型化技术方面的创新，这些技术将改变功能低下者的生活。其他项目活动将包括重新设计基于设计的学习（DBL）单元，该单元将在他们的教室、研讨会和教师导师的课堂访问中实施。该网站将直接影响匹兹堡地区高需求城市高中的33名教师和4500名学生，特别关注几乎全部由少数民族和低社会经济地位学生组成的高中。通过关注生活质量，RET网站将提高人们对越来越多的经常被忽视的人群的认识并开发技术，这些人群是由于衰老或残疾而导致功能下降的人。

This award provides funding for a 3 year continuing award to support a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering Site program at the University of Pittsburgh entitled, "Connecting Research and Teaching Through Product Realization: The Pittsburgh Quality of Life RET Site," under the direction of Dr. Michael Lovell.This program is a renewal of a successful RET Site, which retains the best elements of the existing RET, integrates new elements of best practicces observed in other RET programs, and embraces a new Quality of Life (QoL) engineering research theme. A total of 33 high school science teachers (11 per year for three years) will be recruited from high needs urban high schools in the Pittsburgh area. They will spend 8 weeks in the summer working in engineering labs performing fundamental scientific research and then translate that research into innovative products, involving topics related to Quality of Life Technology. The major research thrust in the QoL theme will focus on innovations in computation, robotics, machine learning, communication, and miniaturization technologies that transform the lives of people with reduced functional capabilities. Other program activities will include redesigning design-based-learning (DBL) units that will be implemented in their classrooms, workshops and classroom visits by faculty mentors.The site will directly impact 33 teachers and 4,500 students from high need urban high schools in the Pittsburgh region, with a particular focus on high schools comprised almost entirely of minority and low socio-economic status students. By focusing on QoL, the RET Site will improve awareness and develop technology for a growing segment of the population that is often overlooked--people with reduced functional capabilities due to aging or disability.