Important Dates

Summer Research Experience for Teachers (RET)
June 25 - August 3, 2012

Host Site: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

The RET is a comprehensive six-week summer research experience within the laboratories of the Smart Lighting ERC for K-12 teachers of Science, Math and Technology ( Physic teachers are strongly encouraged to apply).
Summer research internships are a wonderful opportunity for teachers to participate in active research projects in professional laboratory settings.  The primary goals of the program are:

• to provide participants with an extensive summer research experience
• to make real connections between the research experience and the teacher's classroom curriculum aligned with local, state, and national learning standards.

Program Details

• Logistical planning and introductions: Obtain access to labs/working space, finish paperwork related to payroll and travel reimbursement, obtain student IDs,campus tour, etc.
• Orientation: Lab Safety training, library research, group photo
• Introduction to Research team and REU project.
• Friday a.m.– One slide project title presentation with three minute talk.

• Work on research project; attend research team meetings, and weekly Luncheon Lecture Series.
• During week 3 - A midterm oral progress presentation will be scheduled – limited to ten minutes with Q & A. 
• RET Symposium to be scheduled in last week as well as a final written report due (limited to ten pages excluding figures)

Please note the schedule is subject to change.

As part of the research experience, all participants are required to keep a Laboratory Research Notebook, a Reflective Journal, and develop a presentation to be shared with colleagues and affiliates at the end of the summer. Additionally, an outline of the lesson plan/ curriculum connection will be shared at the last meeting of the summer and consequently made available through various open sourcing means.

Participants work a minimum of 35 hours per week, primarily in the laboratory working on the assigned aspect of a major research program. RETs will also participate in project team meetings, seminars, special training sessions, professional development meetings, field trips, etc. The laboratory workday and workweek requires some flexibility in scheduling as the hours may vary. The program is coordinated with the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. RET and REU are funded by the National Science Foundation.

Program Director