Advancing STEM Research Teaching Program

July 8-12, 2024 at UNC Charlotte

Sponsored by NC Collaborative for Student Led Research, UNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education, NC Science and Engineering Fair, and NC School of Science and Math Extended Learning, North Carolina Science, Math, and Technology Center. Presented by: Advancing STEM Research Teaching Program

Program Overview

Three teachers work at a table to build a tower with straws

Is a week-long, in-person, professional development workshop focused on curriculum, activities, and guides to support high school teachers involved in providing science/STEM research opportunities for their students.

4.5 days of in-person professional development during the summer months, with follow-up support, as needed, via Zoom during the school year.
Customized to help teachers reach their goals and overcome obstacles specific to their school/region. This includes small or medium or large schools and rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Provided by a trainer who has helped teachers/Fair Directors from a wide variety of states across the country.

Additional Details of Program

Three teachers are at a table with 3 graduated cylinders, a plastic tub, and are manipulating a paper towel

Photos of NC teachers in past workshops sponsored by NC Collaborative for Student Led Research at ECSU, WCU, and UNCW.

Learn the science and engineering research process and the opportunities and regulations for students to present in public, including in science fairs and other competitive/non-competitive venues.

Provides the hundreds of activities, tips, guides, and rubrics for all participants. All activities are free to copy, edit, customize to suit the individual needs and goals of the teachers participating in the ASRT workshop.
Offers free, follow-up support, throughout the following year, via phone call, email, or online meetings.
Provides a curriculum filled with hundreds of activities and guides that can be customized by teachers who provide research opportunities within a traditional STEM classroom setting, or those with a small, growing research program/club, or even those with more established Science Research Programs/Clubs.

Program Specific Activities and Outcomes

These activities include not just what to do, but how and why. This includes activities, guides, templates, and rubrics that will help with:

guiding students how to decide on a research area that fits within their available time, resources, and area of interest.
customizing a calendar to help keep all students on task and moving forward with their STEM research projects.
building time management skills with students.
increasing students basic (foundational) and advanced knowledge, understanding and critical thinking especially focused on their chosen area of research.
strengthening students’ networking and communication skills.
guiding students how to prepare to reach out to local, regional, or national STEM professionals in their chosen area of research, to ask them to help as a “mentor”.
instructing students on how to design and write a research proposal/plan in accordance with science fair guidelines.
building students’ design and presentation skills with research papers, PowerPoints/Google Slides, and posters.
reviewing, critiquing, grading student presentations in all formats.
providing information and insight regarding all stages of the student

Three students look at a student presenting a scientific poster in a hallway at a university building.

Four students looking together at four petri dishes at a lab table.

High school students presenting research at NC Academy of Science (top) and students completing a guided STEM inquiry lab in NCSSM's INSPIRE program.

Logistics/Application

An aerial photo of three academic buildings at UNC Charlotte, one building has a copper cupola.

Entrance sign saying The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Photos: UNC Charlotte Media Relations

Details on Logistics of Program

Location - UNC Charlotte campus with housing and meals provided at no-cost.

Stipend - Participants are paid $450 upon completion of the 4.5 days.
Housing/Meals. Provided at no-cost.
Arrival - Sunday afternoon/evening, Jul 7, 2024
Conclusion - Friday, Jul 12, 2024 around noon

Additional details on housing, food, etc. will be posted here when they become available.

Application and Timeline

Application - Apply Here (bit.ly/NC-ASRT-Teacher)

Principal will be emailed the teacher support form. Space is limited. Selected teachers will be notified by March 20, 2024.

Application Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered:

1) Current Teacher of North Carolina students in any grade 9-12

2) Teaches at least one STEM course

3) Teacher Application received by March 1, 2024 Application

4) Principal/Supervisor Recommendation Received by March 5, 2024

Program Sponsors

Training sponsored by Carl Zeiss Microscopy and Regeneron

Organized and funded by the NC Science Fair Foundation, UNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education, the Collaborative for Advancing Student-Led Research, and the NC School of Science and Mathematics

Contact Judy Day at director@ncsciencefair.org for more information.

Sponsored by the North Carolina Collaborative for Student Led Research with financial support from:

Sponsored by UNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education

Sponsored by NC Science and Engineering Fair

Sponsored by NC School of Science and Math Extended Learning

Sponsored by Regeneron and ZEISS via the Advancing STEM Research Teaching Program

Sponsored by North Carolina Science, Math, and Technology Center