Part I: Teacher Training and Teaching Module Development Program
The summer RET program offered by the CTSR is a two-tiered program allowing a two summer (5 weeks per summer) commitment from the teachers. During the first summer, teachers are exposed to the various multi-disciplinary research efforts conducted under the MRSEC through week long thematic short courses and modules. Workshop themes include:

(1) Introduction to Materials Science: Introduction to concepts of materials science and engineering including crystallography, microscopy and fundamental material properties (Young's modulus, electrical properties, etc). Newly developed indentation and mechanics capability will be introduced and demonstrated as to how properties are assessed and why they are important.

(2) Introduction to Thermal Spray Technology: Presentations will be made to both introduce as well as explain the advances being made on materials systems through the use of thermal spray technology.

(3) High Temperature Coating Applications: The use of high temperature coatings play a critical role in many engineering systems including jet and power generation engines. Explanations on the structure (micro/macro) of these coatings and how they influences performance and life time capabilities are presented.

(4) Concepts in Computer Modeling: The goal is show how computers have become a powerful tool in solving complex equations and help understand and visualize various phenomena in materials science and processing.

(5) Materials technology in sensors and electronics: How do sensors affect our day to day lives and the role of materials. Here experiments in resistive, capacitive and inductive sensors based on appropriate materials are shown.

Each course begins with a single day seminar taught on the topical theme and the material advances being made in that area. Lectures are conducted by the faculty member responsible for research in that area and provide a foundation of understanding for the teachers as well as expose them to the latest innovations and advances being made on the materials front. Field trips to other laboratories as well as local industry will be initiated. (SEM/TEM lab, Sulzer Metco, GE and Engelhard are all possible day trips). For the next three days of that week, teachers have the opportunity to work directly with that faculty member and his/her post-docs/graduate students conducting research aimed at reinforcing the themes discussed in the lecture and developing advanced laboratory skills. On the fifth day, the teachers work together as a group developing ideas for lesson plans and demonstration tools that can be used to teach their students the concepts presented during the week. The group is required to present a group seminar on their understanding at the end of each week.

During the optional second year, teachers each have the opportunity of spending the entire five weeks working in the CTSR laboratory of choice, further developing an expertise in that area of materials science. Teachers will work independently, with direct mentoring by faculty providing them with the opportunity to carry out and experience first hand research at the forefront of materials science. The teachers are challenged to develop new projects and learning modules that can be used in their classroom. The learning modules developed by the teachers will be constantly updated and distributed via CDs as well as the Center website. The distributions will be monitored for utilization, feedback and assessments.

Teacher Student Field Trips and Follow-up Visits for Module Training:
As part of a larger outreach effort to introduce materials science to K-12 teachers and students, our current field trip program geared for inner city, low income, under-represented student will be significantly enhanced. The funding sought through this proposal will provide for bus transportation for classes of students and teachers to visit the Center to attend one day seminars and demonstrations. Laboratory experiments will be conducted during the afternoon sessions allowing the students to have hands-on /exposure to laboratory practices. The teachers will play an integral part in this effort. For the first year outreach to at least eight schools will be the goal with an increase of 50% per year thereafter. [Note: the Center will be occupying a new high bay laboratory in summer 2005 and a dedicated outreach section termed the SPLAT (Spraying Learning and Teaching) Center has been planned. Here the students and teachers will be able to 'play and learn' with specially developed thematic work centers].

Management and Staffing:
Ms. Lysa Russo, will lead this outreach support. Ms. Russo has a MS in Materials Science along with over 10 years of industrial experience. She manages both industrial and educational outreach at the Center and will work to bridge these two activities in a novel manner for the RET. CTSR faculty members will present the day long technical discussions and two of the Center's laboratory engineers will assist in the hands-on experiments.

• http://www.crc4mse.org/Index.html:
  Provides general informaion on Materials Science and Engineering

• http://ice.chem.wisc.edu/materials/materialscience.html:
  A resource site for Materials Science and Chemistry in the high school classroom

• http://www.csem.caltech.edu/teaching.html:
  A resource site for Materials Science and Engineering from Cal Tech. Resources for teachers and kids.

• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/educator/act_index.html:
  Provides various teaching activities, handouts and challenges for K-12 educators.

• http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/go/jump2.cgi?ID=2901:
  Provides a series of experiments on electricity and magnetism for grade levels 3-8.

• http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/go/jump2.cgi?ID=2900:
  Provides a series of experiments and modeling exercises in elementary (5th grade) chemistry.

• http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/edu_k-12/teachers/fuelcells.html:
  Lesson plan ideas for students in grades 1-4 revolving around hydrogen powered fuel cells.

• http://www13.brinkster.com/justinmc/glossary:
  A materials science and engineering glossary of terms.

• http://www.iucr.org/iucr-top/comm/cteach/pamphlets.html:
  "Teaching Pamphlets" on crystallography

• http://istl.org/02-spring/internet.html#education:
  Issues in Science and Technology Librarians