Virtual On line
June 22, 2020
June 22, 2020
June 26, 2021
Student
Diversity
13
10.18260/1-2--35030
https://peer.asee.org/35030
342
Alyssa Travitz is a fourth year PhD student at the University of Michigan in the Macromolecular Science and Engineering Program
Ayse Muniz is a fourth year PhD student at the University of Michigan in the Macromolecular Science and Engineering Program.
Joanne Kay Beckwith is a fifth year PhD student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Rose K. Cersonsky earned her PhD at the University of Michigan, and is currently working as a Postdoctoral researcher at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland.
This “Innovation in Engineering Teaching Practices” paper will describe the student led co-curricular REACT (Research Education and Activities for Classroom Teachers) program at the University X. REACT was formed in 2017 to bring K-12 math and science teachers from the midwest together for a one-day, interactive learning experience to help incorporate research into their classrooms. Teachers listen to graduate student talks, go on research lab tours and are provided novel lesson plans and materials for two hands-on activities that can be used in their K-12 classrooms. Graduate students from eleven engineering and science departments collaborate to develop these materials and ensure they meet the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Teachers earn continuing education credits for attending. REACT is an opportunity not only for teachers to learn about the cutting-edge research happening at University X, but also serves as a professional development tool for graduate students, giving them the opportunity to work on science communication skills as well as participate in curricula development. The program has also developed a unique funding model, where university professors and departments sponsor individual teachers, so attendance and all materials are free for educators. Since 2017, REACT has hosted ninety K-12 teachers from seventy different school districts. Similar workshops are being developed at other universities based on REACT’s model. At times, the distance between graduate school and K-12 education can seem very large, but as one REACT participant stated: “REACT has been an effective way to bridge the gap between the research community at University X and the education sphere.”
Travitz, A., & Muniz, A., & Beckwith, J. K., & Cersonsky, R. K. (2020, June), Paper: Bringing Science Education and Research together to REACT Paper presented at 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual On line . 10.18260/1-2--35030
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