Middle and High School STEM Teachers
Inspire the Next Generation
Applications are now open for a global engineering research opportunity focused on human-centered design and appropriate technology for developing countries. Six middle and high school teachers from schools within the Dayton region will engage in engineering research with faculty mentors, pre-service teachers, and global community organizations focused on developing just and sustainable solutions to community-identified challenges. Participants will travel to global sites on a 3-week immersive cultural experience with one of the organizations.
During this year-long program, participants will be mentored by University of Dayton (UD) and Central State University (CSU) faculty as they engage in (1) human-centered design and appropriate technology research, (2) professional development for enhancing intercultural proficiency, (3) immersion in another culture to learn first-hand about global engineering for positive societal outcomes, and (4) a 2-week workshop to develop curriculum to take back to their own classroom and share via the TeachEngineering website.
Many STEM education studies have indicated that engineering educational experiences centered on communities and bettering societal outcomes have significant positive impact on recruiting and retaining underrepresented students in STEM fields. Therefore, the goal of this program is to provide teachers with intercultural training and community engaged experiences to develop a rich and community-based engineering curriculum for their classrooms.
Successful applicants must:
- Make a full commitment to a 3-week immersive experience, including completing all travel prep (vaccinations, passport, visa, etc.);
- Possess an adventurous spirit with an openness to and curiosity about other cultures, especially in low resourced areas;
- Be willing to travel without typical creature comforts; and
- Be open to individual and group reflection activities that promote personal and professional growth during the year.

- National Science Foundation
- University of Dayton
- Central State University
Program Format
This year-long research experience will provide teachers with a transformative research and international experience.
- November: Virtual Kick-Off Meeting
- November 12, 2022, 9am-12pm (on zoom)
- January: Appropriate technology and human-centered design orientation
- January 7, 2023, 9am-4pm (in person)
- February: Introduction to research and laboratory safety, immersion planning, and meeting faculty mentors
- February 4, 2023, 9am-4pm (in person)
- February 25, 2023, 9am-4pm (in person)
- February-May: Individual research projects guided by a faculty mentor
- April 22, 2023, 9am-12pm (on zoom)
- Additional dates TBD
- June-July: International immersion experience
- June 5, 2023, 9am-12pm (in person)
- June 12 – July 3 (immersion experience)
- July: Curriculum development workshop
- July 17-21 & 24-28, 9am-4pm (in person)
- August-December: Lesson piloting and publishing, post immersion engagement with faculty mentor and community partners
- December: Closing symposium and celebration
- Date TBD
Program Objectives
- Transfer applied engineering research activities to classrooms
- Develop and disseminate new curriculum
- Attain new knowledge of engineering disciplines and careers and have a deeper understanding of how engineering can be used to serve the local and global community
- Develop greater intercultural self-awareness and an understanding of how cultural norms affect engineering design and innovation
- Benefit professionally through development activities integrated in RET

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (EEC #1855231/1855239). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.