Science and Mechatronics-Aided Research for Teachers

TY - JOUR

T1 - Science and Mechatronics-Aided Research for Teachers

AU - Kapila, Vikram

AU - Lee, Sang Hoon

N1 - Funding Information: The authors are thankful to the anonymous reviewer for many valuable comments and suggestions. This work is supported by the NSF under grant 0227479. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following students to the SMART program: Imran Ahmed, Saul Harari, Funding Information: quality STEM education from adequately trained teachers. See, for example, [2], which mandates technological litera- cy for all Americans. In the spirit of [3], [4], the Science and Mechatronics Aided Research for Teachers (SMART) program [5] offers one remedy to these prob- lems. The SMART program is funded by the National Sci- ence Foundation’s (NSF’s) Division of Engineering Edu- cation and Centers under its Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program. It aims to enrich precollege education by providing teachers from the New York metropolitan region with enhanced STEM educational con-tent through training and research workshops. The program focuses on mechatronics as a vehicle for engaging teachers with hands-on activities to hone their research skills and exposes them to prototype product development. These experiences give teachers the ability to enhance their schools’ science curriculum and laboratories. In 2003, the first year Funding Information: Innovations in mathematics, science, engineering, and tech-An RET supplement funding request can be made under an nology are moving at an unprecedented rate and transform-existing NSF award or within a proposal for a new or renewal ing the global society. The fast pace of knowledge creation NSF award. The description of the RET supplement activity and its benefit to society can be enhanced by collaboration should articulate the form and nature of the teacher’s involve-between researchers and educators at all levels of teaching ment in the Principal Investigator’s ongoing or proposed and learning. The National Science Foundation (NSF) provides research. For example, the teacher may participate in the financial support in the form of supplemental funding for par-design of new experiments, modeling and analysis of experi-ticipation by K–12 teachers of science and mathematics in mental data, algorithm and software development, or other NSF-funded research and education projects. The intent of this activities that will result in intellectual contributions to the pro-endeavor is to facilitate the professional development of K–12 ject. Since it is expected that the RET supplement experience teachers through strengthened partnerships between institu-will also lead to the transfer of new knowledge to classroom tions of higher education and local school districts. NSF activities, the RET supplement description should also indicate strongly encourages all of its grantees, including grantees from sustained follow-up activities that can translate the teacher’s the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and the Small research experience into classroom practice. Additional infor-Business Technology Research (STTR) programs, to identify mation on RET is available in publication NSF 03-554. talented teachers for participation in the Research Experience The control engineering research community has played for Teachers (RET) supplement opportunity. a leadership role in organizing a series of successful educa-Encouraging the active participation of teachers in on-tional workshops for high school teachers and students. The going NSF projects is an excellent way to reach broadly into collective effort over the years has contributed to the devel-the teacher talent pool. The goal of RET supplements is to opment and success of RET program at NSF. The time has help build long-term collaborative relationships between come to introduce the concept of feedback and dynamical K–12 teachers of science and mathematics and the NSF systems into high school courses by the innovative and cre-research community. NSF is particularly interested in ative use of recent technological developments. encouraging its researchers to build mutually rewarding partnerships with teachers employed by inner city schools and less well endowed school districts.

PY - 2004/10

Y1 - 2004/10

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=5044223303&partnerID=8YFLogxK

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U2 - 10.1109/MCS.2004.1337851

DO - 10.1109/MCS.2004.1337851

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:5044223303

SN - 1066-033X

VL - 24

SP - 24

EP - 30

JO - IEEE Control Systems

JF - IEEE Control Systems

IS - 5

ER -