RET Site: Water ECubeG (Engineering, Ecology, Environment, Geosciences)

RET 站点：Water ECubeG（工程、生态、环境、地球科学）

• 批准号: 1609089
• 负责人: Kang Xia
• 金额: $ 60万
• 依托单位: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-06-15 至 2021-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1609089&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RET; Site; Water; ECubeG; Engineering

To "Provide Access to Clean Water" is one of the 14 Grand Challenges identified by the National Academy of Engineering. A recent United Nations report projects that virtually every nation will face a water supply problem within the next 20 years. A key component to any solution to address water-related challenges is to educate our youth about the interdisciplinary aspects of water research to make them aware of water-related issues; and to train them as future professionals who will develop appropriate solutions to meet these challenges. This Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site, entitled Water ECubeG (Engineering, Ecology, Environment, Geosciences) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) is targeted at developing a model 6-week professional development program to engage grades 9-12 STEM teachers and community college faculty in Southwest Virginia in interdisciplinary water research. Successful implementation of this RET Site will result in the development of innovative learning modules that will motivate students in grades 9-12 and community colleges to pursue the breadth of water related STEM careers. The proposed region for teacher recruitment will enable many teachers to educate a diverse group of students throughout Southwest Virginia serving high-need rural and urban student populations. The Site's focus on interdisciplinary water research will enable early exposure of future scientists and engineers to critical issues for solving complex water problems such as pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. The goal of this Site is consistent with the priorities identified by the Virginia Governor's office and upon successful completion this Site will serve as an excellent model for teacher and student training in interdisciplinary water research elsewhere. Over a three-year period this RET Site will offer an intensive summer interdisciplinary water research experience to a total of 30 STEM precollege teachers and community college faculty. The specific objectives are to: (1) Develop and implement a 6-week research experience program for RET Site participants involving hands-on learning experiences in engineering, ecology, environment, and geosciences, (2) Develop and implement a professional development program for teachers, (3) Guide RET Site participants in developing and implementing STEM-based interdisciplinary water research learning modules for their curricula, and (4) Establish a community of teachers mentored in interdisciplinary water research for support, collaboration, and dissemination of Site activities to a larger group of teachers. Annual workshops will be held by RET alumni to educate and motivate additional 9-12 STEM teachers and community college faculty. RET participants will present their work at K-12 and Community College conferences. The project outcomes will be published through the TeachEngineering digital library.

“提供清洁水”是美国国家工程院确定的 14 项重大挑战之一。联合国最近的一份报告预测，未来 20 年内几乎每个国家都将面临供水问题。解决与水有关的挑战的任何解决方案的一个关键组成部分是教育我们的年轻人有关水研究的跨学科方面，使他们意识到与水有关的问题；并将他们培训为未来的专业人员，他们将开发适当的解决方案来应对这些挑战。弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学 (VT) 的工程和计算机科学教师研究经验 (RET) 网站题为 Water ECubeG（工程、生态、环境、地球科学），旨在开发一个为期 6 周的专业发展计划模型，吸引弗吉尼亚州西南部 9-12 年级的 STEM 教师和社区学院教师参与跨学科水研究。该 RET 网站的成功实施将导致创新学习模块的开发，从而激励 9-12 年级和社区大学的学生追求与水相关的 STEM 职业。拟议的教师招聘区域将使许多教师能够在弗吉尼亚州西南部教育不同的学生群体，为高需求的农村和城市学生群体提供服务。该站点专注于跨学科水研究，将使未来的科学家和工程师能够尽早接触到解决切萨皮克湾污染等复杂水问题的关键问题。该站点的目标与弗吉尼亚州州长办公室确定的优先事项一致，成功完成后，该站点将成为其他地方跨学科水研究教师和学生培训的优秀模型。在三年的时间内，该 RET 站点将为总共 30 名 STEM 大学预科教师和社区学院教师提供密集的夏季跨学科水研究体验。具体目标是：(1) 为 RET Site 参与者制定和实施为期 6 周的研究体验计划，涉及工程、生态、环境和地球科学方面的实践学习经验，(2) 制定和实施教师专业发展计划，(3) 指导 RET Site 参与者为其课程制定和实施基于 STEM 的跨学科水研究学习模块，以及 (4) 建立一个受跨学科水研究指导的教师社区以提供支持， 协作，并将站点活动传播给更多的教师。 RET 校友将举办年度研讨会，以教育和激励其他 9-12 名 STEM 教师和社区学院教师。 RET 参与者将在 K-12 和社区大学会议上展示他们的作品。项目成果将通过 TeachEngineering 数字图书馆发布。