This project provides an opportunity for young students, from advanced placement to Tech Prep, to perform science with instruments used in research laboratories today. These experiences increase student and teacher skills and understanding of modern scientific technology. This scientific technology project has created opportunities for both teachers and students to learn the theory and practice of scientific instrumentation. Teachers attend a five week training session over two summers to learn how to use the instruments and to develop experiments appropriate for the high school laboratory. Emphasis on real world applications helps to demystify science for students.
Students are enthusiastic about both the instruments and the experiments.
The 84 teachers currently in the project are very supportive of the of the goals of the project which also include adopting new teaching strategies. School administrators favor the project, realizing it provides opportunities to their students which would otherwise be too costly. The States of Alabama and Delaware have established state-wide projects. There is currently a bill before the legislature in Pennsylvania. Other universities in Indiana are willing to participate in a state-wide project.