RET Site: Research in Optics for K-14 Educators and Teachers (ROKET)

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This award provides funding for a three year standard award to support a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering Site program at the University of Arizona (UA) entitled, "RET Site: Research in Optics for K-14 Educators and Teachers (ROKET)", under the direction of Dr. Supapan Seraphin. This is a continuation of a successful RET Site program conducted during the summers of 2010, 2011, and 2012. The University of Arizona, Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN) is partnering with UA's American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI) to create a program customized for science educators working in Native American communities. CIAN's research addresses photonic materials and devices for optical communication, which will replace current electronic technology. Eight pre-college teachers and community college faculty in STEM disciplines (24 over three years), working in a Native Community will actively particpate in the ROKET program for six weeks in the summer where they will join research teams working on improved fiber optics, waveguide materials, short-pulsed lasers, micro-fabrication, and silicon photonics. Employing CIAN's systems-level approach impresses upon beginning researchers the connection between innovative experimental-based research and practical application to popular communication devices. Consequently, great attention will be paid to collaborating with the teachers on creating a lesson plan that relates to everyday experiences of technology and inspires their students' curiosity to build upon their existing knowledge. The training of science educators, from primarily Native American communities, will promote ambitions to pursue science and engineering education among Native American students and thus create potential for local economic growth. The establishment of a cohesive program, through partnerships with the UA's College of Optical Sciences, CIAN and AILDI, a program dedicated to Native American language preservation, exhibits to the academic community and local Indigenous communities nationwide that many stakeholders are working to address the need for Native American students in higher education.