"RET Site" Research Experience for Teachers in Alternative Energy and Automotive Engineering (AEAE): Energizing K-12 Teaching and Learning

奥克兰大学（Oakland University）工程和计算机科学领域的教师研究经验（RET）将涉及来自底特律大都会地区的初中和高中科学和数学教师以及职前教师，他们将参与替代能源和汽车工程的多学科和前沿研究。 这项研究的多学科方面将允许STEM教师加强他们的工程知识，并将他们的经验纳入基于项目的课程模块，这将激发学生的兴趣。涵盖的主题范围从生物柴油，锂离子电池和燃料电池到内燃机，汽车摩擦学，光学诊断，自动驾驶汽车和汽车应用的人体工程学。通过该计划，RET参与者不仅将获得使用实验，模拟和制造工具以及分析研究结果的第一手经验，而且还将获得基于探究的教学和学习的教学工具的坚实基础。该计划将影响美国和世界直接感兴趣的两个领域：增加代表性不足的K-12教师及其学生对STEM学科，研究和职业机会的深入了解;并激励教师和学生追求工程职业。 在三年的时间里，这个RET网站将为来自底特律大都会地区的36名初中和高中科学和数学教师以及职前教师提供为期六周的暑期密集研究计划。该计划的主要特点包括：1）由工程与计算机科学（SECS）和教育与人类服务（SEHS）教师导师和研究生的学校的项目和课程材料开发的直接监督; 2）RET教师和他们的学生及时参与，在替代能源和汽车工程领域的前沿研究项目：3）从底特律大都会的高需求学区招聘STEM教师，以及从密歇根州东南部招聘职前教师;四、研究和教育活动以及研讨会，以加强教师的工程知识，并为他们提供有效的教学策略，帮助他们将研究经验转化为课程模块，（5）完善的后续计划，包括教师和研究生导师对可再生能源技术参与者课堂的实地考察、教师培训讲习班和研讨会、行业图尔斯参观以及开发一个项目网站以传播研究成果和教师经验。

This Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site at Oakland University (OU) will involve middle and high school science and mathematics teachers and pre-service teachers from the metro-Detroit area in multidisciplinary and cutting edge research on alternative energy and automotive engineering. The multidisciplinary aspects of this research will allow STEM teachers to strengthen their engineering knowledge and to incorporate their experiences into project based curricular modules that will excite and interest their students. The topics covered range from biodiesel, Lithium-ion batteries, and fuel cells to internal combustion engines, automotive tribology, optical diagnostics, autonomous vehicles and ergonomics for automotive applications. Through this program the RET participants will not only gain first-hand experience in the use of experimental, simulation and fabrications tools, as well as the analysis of research results, but will also receive a strong foundation in the pedagogical tools of inquiry-based teaching and learning. The program will impact two areas that are of direct interest to the United States and the world: increasing access for underrepresented K-12 teachers and their students to a deeper understanding of the STEM disciplines, research and career opportunities; and inspiring teachers and students to pursue engineering careers. Over a three year period this RET Site will offer an intensive six week summer research program for a total of 36 middle and high school science and mathematics teachers and pre-service teachers from the metro-Detroit area. Key features of the program include: 1) Direct supervision of projects and course material development by OU School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS)and School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) faculty mentors and graduate students; 2) Involvement of RET teachers and their students in timely, cutting-edge research projects in the area of alternative energy and automotive engineering: 3) Recruitment of STEM teachers from high needs school districts in metro-Detroit as well as pre-service teachers from southeastern Michigan; 4) Research and education activities and seminars to strengthen teachers' engineering knowledge and provide them with effective pedagogical strategies that will help them translate their research experiences into course modules that will excite their students about STEM fields and align with state and national standards; 5) Thoughtful follow-up plans including site visits by faculty and graduate student mentors to the RET participants' classrooms, teacher training workshops and seminars, industry tours, and development of a program website for dissemination of research and teachers' experiences.