Impacts of an engineering research experience for teachers on classroom integration of stem concepts in grade 6-12 science

Abstract

The main objective of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Site: "Inspiring Educators in Rural America through Research" is to provide an authentic research experience to practicing middle and high school science, math, and technology teachers. It is our goal that from this research experience the teachers can take back to their respective classrooms knowledge, and content which they will readily share with their students. After completing three summer sessions and subsequent workshops of our RET program, we feel very confident in endorsing this model of professional development as effective and noteworthy. This study looks at the evaluation data from the 2007 cohort of teachers in the SDSM&T RET program and at one teacher in depth. This paper will answer the research question: In what ways does the experience in the SDSM&T RET program effect teacher perception of change in teaching practices? To answer this question: a longitudinal case study was conducted specifically looking at one teacher who participated during the 2007 RET program. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2008.