The 20 community college and high school teachers, who will receive a travel stipend and free lodging on campus, were selected from more than 50 applicants, Douglas said. Teachers in the program spend the week discussing different aspects of materials science with a focus on hands-on activities. On the last day, teachers divide into teams and present lesson plans that revolve around what they have learned. Lectures dominate the morning sessions, with guest speakers often explaining how each material is used in industry or other applications, Douglas said. For example, an engineer at Lucent Technologies will explain how semiconductors and chips are made.
Afternoons are devoted to laboratories.
During the polymers day, for example, teachers freeze rubber balls in liquid nitrogen, then discuss their behavior, Douglas said. As the week progresses, teams of teachers develop lesson plans that are presented to materials science and engineering faculty members Friday afternoon. The idea is to hone the presentations for later use in the classroom, Douglas said. Others include the Teacher Research Update Experience, an intensive seven-week program focussed on helping teachers bring scientific and technology research activities into the classroom. The summer program is coordinated by UF's Center for Precollegiate Education and Training.