AweSTEM 2013!
The WPI Bioengineering Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program recently participated in the 2nd annual STEM Education Center’s networking event. The program was well attended with much enthusiasm present in the room. Attendees were informed by STEM Center director Martha Cyr that the theme this year was to develop dialogue about what STEM means. One focus of the gallery-style set up was a highlight of best practices and exemplary activities in science, technology, engineering and math subjects in place in K-12 settings across the state. Attendees also had an opportunity to learn about STEM professional development opportunities available to them through WPI. Middle-school teacher Tom Oliva and WPI Professor Kris Billiar presented on the program at the Center’s event. Educators and administrators from various school settings across the state stopped by the presentation to learn about the content, structure and benefits of this professional development program.
Since 2007, WPI has had an active program funded by the National Science Foundation, a Research Experiences for Teachers institute entitled “Inquiry-based Bioengineering Research and Design Experiences for Middle-School Teachers”. The WPI RET program was created by Professors Terri Camesano and Kris Billiar, and has been awarded two NSF grants for this work, totaling over $600K. Thirty teacher positions have been funded, and the lesson plans our teachers developed have been presented and taught to over 2000 middle-school students.
More information on the RET program is available.
Tom Oliva presents a poster on the WPI Bioengineering RET program
