Aerospace science and engineering research experience for teachers: The first two years

A special summer program that allows local schoolteachers to conduct aerospace-related, university-level engineering research has completed its second year at the University of Central Florida. Approximately ten teachers were competitively selected each of the two summers to work alongside university researchers for 8-week periods. Teaching specialties of the participants included chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology. Research topics at the university ranged from nanofluids and shape memory alloys to robotics and solid rocket propulsion. Additional activities included weekly seminars, laboratory tours, and a workshop hosted by NASA/KSC. A primary objective of the 3-year program is to provide research experiences for the teacher participants from which they can formulate and apply aspects of what they learned into their own lesson plans. The dissemination of these research experiences into their respective science and mathematics classrooms is intended to ultimately attract future pupils to careers in engineering research. Feedback from the teacher participants has overall been positive, and the program has led to several observable outcomes. The results of the dissemination portion of the program are currently being assessed.

Aerospace science and engineering research experience for teachers: The first two years Conference Paper