RET in Engineering and Computer Science Site: Water Awareness Research and Education

该奖项为南佛罗里达大学(USF)工程和计算机科学现场项目教师研究经验(RET)提供资金，该项目为期三年，名为RET工程和计算机科学站点-水意识研究和教育(RET-Ware)，由Maya Trotz博士指导。这项为期三年的RET的目标是为至少44名来自希尔斯伯勒县公立学校的初中和高中科学和数学教师以及来自美国联邦教育学院的职前教师提供积极主动的、结构良好的研究、教育和专业发展经验。研究主题围绕国家工程院的三个重大挑战(即氮循环管理、清洁水供应和城市基础设施改善)以及正规和非正规科学教育在使边缘化的沿海社区参与者在制定解决这些重大挑战的办法方面发挥作用，同时扩大对STEM领域的参与。RET参与者将通过个人暑期研究项目、研究研讨会、社会和社区活动、专业培训课程以及链接到RET网站的在线媒体，与USF工程学院、文理学院的教师导师和他们的研究小组进行互动。RET计划将与1)USF的两门课程(基于技术的教学和工程参与的发展：超越实验室和绘图板)整合在一起，2)USF工程师正在实施的可持续世界学生分会项目(Ware in East Tampa，环境保护局人类繁荣星球第二阶段2009年度获奖者)，以及3)持续的教员研究和研究生培训，以确保当地学校和社区提供为期一年的教师支持，尤其是那些因高贫困率和英语作为第二语言障碍而被边缘化的学生。目标受众包括STEM学科中历来代表性不足的群体的教师，以及在贫困程度高、少数族裔和英语学习者比例高的学校任教的教师。因此，该项目可能会增加贫困学生对STEM研究的接触和参与。该计划将受益于美国联邦已经实施的强大的K-12教育基础设施和推广计划(例如，工程博览会、坦帕跨学科环境研究REU)。这个拟议的RET网站的一个独特特点是强调社区参与以及与公司、非营利组织和政府机构的合作伙伴关系，这为参与的教师和他们的学生提供了一个机会，了解如何将STEM应用于解决社会、政治和经济背景下的重要问题。

This award provides funding for a three year standard award for a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site Program at the University of South Florida (USF) entitled, RET in Engineering and Computer Science Site-Water Awareness Research and Education (RET-WARE), under the direction of Dr. Maya Trotz. The goal of this three year RET is to provide a proactive and well structured research, education and professional development experience for at least 44 middle and high school science and math teachers from the Hillsborough County Public Schools and pre-service teachers from USF's College of Education. The research theme is framed around three of the National Academy of Engineering's Grand Challenges (i.e. management of the nitrogen cycle, provision of clean water, and urban infrastructure improvement) and the role of formal and informal science education in integrating marginalized, coastal community participants in developing solutions to these grand challenges while broadening participation in STEM fields. RET participants will interact with faculty mentors and their research group in the Colleges of Engineering and Arts and Sciences at USF through individual summer research projects, research seminars, social and community activities, professional training sessions, and online media linked to the RET website. The RET program will be integrated with 1) two USF courses (Development of Technology-Based Instruction and Engineering Engagement: Beyond the lab and the Drawing Board), 2) an ongoing project of the USF Engineers for a Sustainable World student chapter (WARE in East Tampa, an Environmental Protection Agency People Prosperity Planet Phase II award winner in 2009), and 3) ongoing faculty research and graduate training to ensure year long teacher support in local area schools and communities, especially those marginalized by high percentages of poverty and English as a second language barriers. The target audience includes teachers from historically underrepresented groups in the STEM disciplines and those who teach in schools characterized by a high level of poverty and a high percentage of minority and English language learners. Therefore, the project is likely to increase the exposure to and engagement in STEM research by underserved students. The program will benefit from a strong infrastructure of K-12 education and outreach programs already in place at USF (e.g., Engineering EXPO, Tampa Interdisciplinary Environmental Research REU). A unique feature of this proposed RET site is the emphasis on community engagement, as well as partnerships with companies, non-profit organizations and government agencies which provides an opportunity for participating teachers and their students to learn how STEM is applied to solving important problems within societal, political and economic contexts.