Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Microelectronics Research and Related Classroom Learning Experience Development with Rural Maine Teachers

This Noyce Research Experiences in STEM Settiongs (RESS) project aims to serve the national need of developing highly effective STEM teacher leaders. This project supports 18 K-12 STEM teachers to experience research working alongside scientists, as RESS Fellows. Research experiences are in critical need areas of AI, quantum computing, and microelectronics. The project components enable high achieving practicing teachers to integrate their first-hand experiences into their classroom teaching, thereby bringing authenticity, excitement, and rigorous instruction to their regular classrooms. This project at University of Maine includes partnerships between faculty in the Department of Electrical and computer Engineering, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the interdisciplinary research center Frontier Institute for Research in Sensor Technologies, and high needs school districts in rural surrounding areas. The project also engages faculty from the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE) which has a very strong track record in STEM education research and teacher professional learning. Project goals include engaging RESS fellows in ongoing research projects (also in conjunction with an existing REU Site) in semiconductor-based sensors, microelectronic circuits, and the application of AI to sensor data analyses. Fellows work with faculty and staff at RiSE Center to develop learning experiences for the Fellows’ students. Fellows pilot teach their designed units and are observed by their Fellow peers and RiSE Team members role-playing as their students. Feedback on the pilot provides group discussion foci for improving the Fellows’ unit designs. Fellows then teach their unit in their regular classrooms. The RiSE Center team works with the Fellows throughout the school year providing support for Fellows to continue learning, strategize to improve their lessons, and further innovate teaching in their classrooms. The RiSE Center staff conducts formative and summative evaluation of the program, to guide refinements over the three years and to document outcomes. This RESS project is supported through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. The Noyce program supports talented STEM undergraduate majors and professionals to become effective K-12 STEM teachers and experienced, exemplary K-12 teachers to become STEM master teachers in high-need school districts. It also supports research on the effectiveness and retention of K-12 STEM teachers in high-need school districts. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.