Announcing the Penn State University-National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), & Penn State’s Center for Science and the Schools

Research Experience for Teachers (RET)

RET 2008-09

This program will engage 4 Pennsylvania middle school and high school in-service/pre-service science teachers in an intensive 6-week experience of real-world nanotechnology research and curriculum development at the Pennsylvania University campus. No prior scientific research experience is necessary. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. We welcome both pre-service and in-service teachers. We are eager to support you in your professional development goals.

Objectives of the NNIN RET Program:

• develop a mentorship community between professors, graduate students, NNIN staff, and science teachers that will serve as a resource for future work
• assist a diverse group of science teachers in understanding and communicating the importance of using inquiry-based methods to solve problems by doing research in nanotechnology
• establish a long-term mentorship support group of teachers who will become advocates for nanotechnology education and careers
• build a library of classroom activities—activities that span a short or long duration of time

The NNIN RET program is 8 weeks:

• 6 weeks in summer at the NNIN site
• 1 week follow up during the school year
• 1 week sharing experience at the annual meeting of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)

Eligibility for Application – US Citizens Only

• In-Service applicants:
• Must teach in grades 6-12
• Must teach science or technology
• Must have a minimum of two years teaching experience 
• Groups of 2 teachers from the same school or district are encouraged to apply
• Pre-service Applicants:
• Must have completed the junior year in a science teacher education program or
• Must have an undergraduate degree in science or engineering and is in a master’s degree program which leads to initial certification for grades 6-12

2008-09 RET Timeline – Important Dates:

NNIN RET provides:

• Stipend - $5,500
• Travel support to NSTA – up to $1,500
• Classroom materials support - $150
• Hands-on research experience in nanotechnology
• An introduction to nanotechnology experience
• Faculty research advisors and graduate student mentors

Teachers are required to:

• Complete the summer research experience
• Attend all summer meetings, workshops, and seminars
• Attend school year meetings
• Work with NNIN support personnel in the classroom
• Complete an action plan
• Develop an instructional unit based on the experience
• Attend and participate at the National Science Teachers Association’s National Conference on Science Education

In-service teacher follow-up:

• Teachers will be required to:
• provide one in-service presentation to either their school or district on the RET experience
• refine the lesson developed for the classroom and use it with his or her students
• maintain a journal on how they implemented the lesson
• Each NNIN host site will:
• provide support for continued refinement of the instructional unit, classroom support/coaching for incorporating the teaching module in the classroom, and/or observation on how the teacher has changed classroom practice
• maintain communication with participants through e-mail and internet sharing of materials
• videotape the lesson being taught in the classroom
• host a final day-long follow-up meeting (on a day which will not remove teachers from the classrooms) in which RET participants will:
• view each other’s tapes and provide constructive feedback
• share their in-service experience and classroom lesson experience
• make modifications to their lesson
• suggest modifications to the NNIN RET program
• prepare for the NSTA presentation and the NNIN RET sharing session at the NSTA Annual Convention

Pre-service teacher follow-up:

• all pre-service teachers will:
• present their summer experience to one of their classes or home department
• assist the NNIN site education coordinator by providing some of the in-class support for the in-service teachers, such as:
• helping to implement the developed activity
• assisting in refining the activity

All Teachers will participate in the NSTA National Conference on Science Education:

• March 19-22, 2009, New Orleans, Louisiana. 
• 1 week of sharing your experience at the annual meeting of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
• Participate in NNIN RET Nanotechnology session
• Network with NNIN RET participants from other NNIN sites
• helping with the preparation of the NSTA presentation

How to Apply:

• Please complete the NNIN RET Application – by April 15, 2008
  • Application [MS Word Version] [Adobe PDF Version]

• Submit application to:

Bob Ehrmann
Director - Education & Outreach Services
Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization (CNEU)
Pennsylvania State University
101 Innovation Blvd., Suite 114
University Park, PA    16802
rke2@psu.edu
814-865-7558 (Phone)
814-865-3018 (FAX)

This program is one part of a National Science Foundation grant which offers similar RET experiences at 4 of the other NNIN sites (Georgia Tech, Harvard, Howard, and UCSB).

This program is also funded by Penn State’s Center for Science and the Schools.