RET in Engineering and Computer Science Site: RET in Functional Materials at University of South Florida

该奖项为一个为期三年的标准奖项提供资金，以支持南佛罗里达大学工程和计算机科学网站项目的教师研究经验（RET），题为“工程和计算机科学网站的RET：南佛罗里达大学功能材料的RET”，由Venkat R. Bhethanabotla和Sylvia W. Thomas博士指导。南佛罗里达大学（USF）工程学院（COE）将与希尔斯伯勒和皮内拉斯县的学区以及圣彼得堡学院合作，每年为15名教师开展为期8周的暑期功能材料培训，为期3年（总共45名）；9名当地高中教师，2名当地社区大学教师和4名职前教师。材料科学之所以被选为重点，是因为其高度跨学科的性质（使其与大量学科领域相关）。日常生活中无处不在的材料可以提供多种教学环境，南佛罗里达大学的研究重点是一个完美的渠道。在过去的10年里，南佛罗里达大学在材料科学方面进行了大量投资，雇佣了20多名材料研究人员，建立了一个共享的计量和无尘室设施，一个跨学科的材料科学和工程硕士项目，以及大型研究计算设施。项目团队进一步提出，通过创建一个由参与者自己设计和实施的教育资源——材料学院，来维持参与者之间的合作氛围。这个基于网络的资源将在一个连贯的结构中容纳参与者的基于探究的课程计划，包含额外的内容，提供材料科学的概述及其与当前技术的相关性，描述了该领域从业者所需的基础知识，并强调了高中和社区大学教授的核心科目在该领域的应用。材料学院活动将为教师之间的持续参与和合作提供一个框架，并为与其他学区、社区学院和教育学院建立额外的伙伴关系奠定基础。教案在网上以集中的方式传播，将促进国外教师的专业发展。参与者的多样性将导致代表性不足的群体和女性更多地参与STEM学科。项目团队预计，通过他们的努力，将会有更多的数学和科学教师获得认证，并拥有美国/永久居民的AA和学士学位。

This award provides funding for a three year standard award to support a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site program at the University of South Florida entitled, "RET in Engineering and Computer Science Site: RET in Functional Materials at the University of South Florida", under the direction of Venkat R. Bhethanabotla and Dr. Sylvia W. Thomas. The University of South Florida (USF) College of Engineering (COE), in partnership with the school districts of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties and St. Petersburg College will conduct an eight week summer RET in Functional Materials for 15 teachers per year for 3 years (45 total); 9 local high school teachers, 2 local community college instructors and 4 pre-service teachers. Materials Science is chosen as the focus because of its highly interdisciplinary nature (making it relevant to a large number of subject areas). The pervasive presence of materials in everyday life can provide multiple teaching contexts, and its research emphasis at the University of South Florida is the perfect conduit. USF has made substantial investments in the past 10 years in materials science through the hiring of 20+ materials research faculty, establishment of a shared metrology and clean room facility, an interdisciplinary master's program in materials science and engineering and large scale research computing facilities. The project team further proposes to sustain this collaborative atmosphere among participants through the creation of an educational resource, the Materials College, to be designed and implemented by the participants themselves. This web-based resource will house the participants' inquiry-based lesson plans within a coherent structure, containing additional content that provides an overview of Materials Science and its relevance to current technologies, describes the fundamental knowledge required by practitioners in the field and highlights applications to the field of core subjects taught in high schools and community colleges. The Materials College activity will provide a framework for the sustained engagement of, and collaboration among, teachers and provide a foundation for building additional partnerships with other school districts, community colleges and Colleges of Education. Web-based dissemination of lesson plans in a focused structure will enhance the professional development of abroad range of teachers. The diversity of participants will result in expanded participation of underrepresented groups and women in STEM disciplines. The project team expects that its efforts will result in an increased number of math and science certified teachers and U.S./permanent resident AA and BS degree holders.