In the Summer of 2021 the RET on Manufacturing and Nano-enabled Devices created a hybrid program that included virtual professional development and in person research for the teachers who were selected to participate in the Research Experience for Teachers. The program run from June 14-July and RETs had an opportunity to work up to 20 hours a week in their research lab, spending the other 20 hours a week participating in professional development and curriculum development activities.
Teachers received extensive support in the development of their RET curriculum. The RET program partnered with Think Global Project Based Learning (PBL) Authentic Design Academy to host a 4 day training for RETs this summer providing them with a tools, strategies and techniques for the development of their RET curriculum. RETs were matched with a mentor teacher (past RET well versed in the program and curriculum development strategies) who met with their mentees in small groups and individually throughout the course of the summer to guide curriculum development. Program staff met regularly with mentor teachers to assess RET progress towards goals and provide support. RETs submitted rough curriculum drafts mid-way through the program to gather feedback more formally and then submitted their final plans the last week of the program. Curriculum plans will be posted on this site after they have been vetted in RET classrooms this year.
RETs had opportunities to present around their scientific and curriculum development achievements via an oral Research Presentation and a Poster Session highlighting their curriculum ideas. Both events were held the final week of the program and RETs were encouraged to invite their teaching colleagues and school/district administrators to attend. The oral research presentations were held via ZOOM and garnered a large internal and external audience. The Poster Session was held via GatherTown, a virtual event software, and more than 70 people attended from UT Austin, local school districts, and local industry.
Click to view the 2021 RET Program Schedule
RET 2021 at UT Austin