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

该奖项为匹兹堡大学的一项名为“通过产品实现连接研究和教学：在Michael Lovell博士的指导下，匹兹堡生活质量RET网站。该计划是对一个成功的RET网站的更新，保留了现有RET的最佳元素，整合了在其他RET项目中观察到的最佳实践的新元素，并拥抱了一个新的生活质量（QoL）工程研究主题。共有33名高中科学教师（三年内每年11名）将从匹兹堡地区的高需求城市高中招聘。 他们将在夏季在工程实验室工作8周，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。 生活质量主题的主要研究重点将集中在计算，机器人，机器学习，通信和微型化技术的创新上，这些技术改变了功能能力降低的人的生活。 其他项目活动将包括重新设计基于设计的学习（DBL）单元，这些单元将在教室、研讨会和教师导师的课堂参观中实施。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4,500名学生，特别关注几乎完全由少数民族和社会经济地位低的学生组成的高中。 通过关注生活质量，RET网站将提高人们的认识，并为越来越多的经常被忽视的人群开发技术-由于衰老或残疾而功能下降的人。

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.