Teachers

Teacher and student processing water sample outside at SMART Institute

You can be part of a unique opportunity to engage students in real research, make a difference in your community, and gain valuable knowledge and skills. This year-long experience will begin with an institute at the University of Maine during the last week of June.

Program Requirements for Teachers

BE A TEACHER LEADER: MENTORING & DEVELOPMENT

  • Recruit at least 5 underrepresented-in-STEM students
  • Participate monthly in online Professional Learning Environment – led by PLE (professional learning environment) facilitator-teacher Cary James (1 hour/month)
  • Deliver artifacts or documentation of achieving  program benchmarks (monthly)

ENGAGE IN ENGINEERING & SCIENCE RESEARCH

  • Develop research projects with students
  • Use equipment/technology to collect data on a local watershed
  • Spend 2-4 hours/week: sampling, reporting, analyzing data, meeting
  • Propose engineering/scientific solutions and recommendations

SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS

  • Enter projects in state or local science fairs or national competitions such as the Stockholm Junior Water Prize
  • Present research results to a local stakeholder group (e.g., town council, community members, and wastewater group)

Strongly recommended

  • Do outreach to local elementary schools
  • Develop plans for local communities that focus on best practices for reducing stormwater pollutants
  • Offer additional presentations to local stakeholders
  • Integration of water concepts into curriculum; alignment with NGSS

Teachers will be given a stipend. There is no fee to take part in this program or attend the Institute.