Bridges to Engineering Science: Teaching Teachers (B.E.S.T.T.)

University Of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga TN

Investigators

Abstract

PROPOSAL NO.: 0230505 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Patty, Thomas INSTITUTION NAME: University of Tennessee Chattanooga TITLE: Bridges to Engineering Science: Teaching Teachers (B.E.S.T.T.) NSF RECEIVED DATE: 06/04/2002 Abstract The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is designing a coordinated, comprehensive program to increase the number of students entering engineering fields in the targeted Tennessee/Georgia area. By including and impacting both pre-service and in-service teachers at grades K-12, this program, Bridges to Engineering Science: Teaching Teachers (B.E.S.T.T.), has the potential to affect the over 115,000 students in grades K- 12 in thirteen school systems in Tennessee and Georgia identified as potential partners. The program will include a partnership between the Colleges of Engineering and Education; interaction among faculty and students of the colleges and the thirteen targeted school systems; development of high quality, self contained, apparatus based engineering science experiments and curriculum units which meet the education system goals and educational standards; development and dissemination of teaching materials on hands-on, age appropriate, engaging engineering science units for grades K-12; special targeted inclusion of groups currently under-represented in engineering; and formative and summative assessment at all stages of the project.