Feedback

Should RET incorporate more of the NSTA Standards?

  • While RET and NSTA should be coherent in their approach, there is a greater good for RET to be able to achieve some wider goals for higher level advancement of science.
    Universities should find ways to share their equipment with more high schools (loaning programs, etc.)
  • Yes – especially concerning teachers making classroom connections between research, science, and classroom learning (#8)
  • The question implies that RET experience did not. That is not what happened where I was … I believe participants had to examine which standards were met while preparing a lesson derived from the summer experience.
  • No to many of the ways a Program Director needs to set up their program. They need the flexilbility. Yes to some significant guidance towards collaborating of teachers, time to address curriculum and establishment of yearly feedback.
  • RET should address the NSTA Standards because this is how we can prove that RET does have a positive impact on student achievement.
  • No. RETs are for the research and experience. I do not want that taken away from in order to hear more about teaching practices, which I hear about at every teacher’s meeting PD.
  • RET by its very nature can not help but meet NSTA Standards (not all, but most). If you try to put RET in a box (i.e., force it to conform to a set of standards) you will lose the diversity which is reflective of the way science truly is conducted.
  • Yes, the NSTA Standards should be incorporated. RET should develop a template that incorporates into the lesson plan aspect how their lesson plan will meet both local and national standards. This should be done because science extends beyond the boundaries of our own school and state. Children should also be able to attend higher education institutions out of their state and have had some exposure to the same concepts.
  • I think RET should include NSTA Standards. NSTA Standards should also be distributed to mentors.


What I liked about the session

  • Hearing what others have done with their research experiences; reimbursement for travel; that it was at NSTA.
  • Having RET-minded people from around the country in one spot.
  • The teacher application to the classroom was rewarding. It was nice to see junior high students actively engaged in science workshop.
  • Being able to hear a plethora of presentation perspectives; being able to talk informally with other RETs; being able to talk directly to Claire Duggan.
  • Exposure to what is being done across the nation; collaboration and networking.
  • Hearing about other programs from teacher participants.
  • I liked seeing the product of a few multi-year exposures and talking with participants from other sites.
  • I liked the opportunity to meet and network with other teachers.
  • Great networking opportunity and learning of other experiences.
  • I liked the ice breaker and teacher presentations.
  • I enjoyed hearing experiences of a very diverse group of teachers.
  • Hearing the many divergent ways teachers have used the RET in their classrooms.
  • Teacher presentations gave me ideas about what talk topics I will touch on in RET meetings. This hit the spot – it was exactly the reason I came to this meeting.


What I would change

  • I would like to have some more time to interact with the other RET participants. Perhaps a better way to do this is to have a mini poster session rather than powerpoints. This way we could walk around and visit each other and hear about the work. Basically, you would have three people presenting posters at a time for a 20-minute session, have the next group present, and so on.
  • Invite RET participants to share posters in a share-a-thon format, with open-mingling for about one hour and then move into a more guided discussion. Having participants share their experience for the length (10 minutes or more) may not be an ideal use of time.
  • I’d like longer breaks for the specific purpose of talking to other RETs.
  • Would like to also hear from the program administrators at universities to get another perspective (from a programming point of view as well).
  • Length of program – four hours is a long time.
  • I would make the session longer, with more participants and more speakers.
  • I felt the wall poster [carousel] activity was not very effective. I had hoped to learn the following about professional development:
    - why teachers like professional development credits
    - what steps organizers of RET programs can take to get RET recognized by states as professional development credits
    - benefits/challenges of arranging these credits.
    - I would have preferred a powerpoint explaining the NSTA jargon into simple terms (sometimes it can be interpreted in many ways).


What I suggest for future sessions

  • I would like to have some more time to interact with the other RET participants. Perhaps a better way to do this is to have a mini poster session rather than powerpoints. This way we could walk around and visit each other and hear about the work. Basically, you would have three people presenting posters at a time for a 20-minute session, have the next group present, and so on.
  • Invite RET participants to share posters in a share-a-thon format, with open-mingling for about one hour and then move into a more guided discussion. Having participants share their experience for the length (10 minutes or more) may not be an ideal use of time.
  • Have a panel discussion style that provides more opportunities for teachers to engage in a dialog.
  • Would like to also hear from the program administrators at universities to get another perspective (from a programming point of view as well).
  • I think we should have such RET workshops at regional meetings, too.
  • There are a number of universities that do RET but do not show up. It would be helpful if they attended.
  • An evening social event.
  • Give a list of RET programs.
  • I would like to see stand-alone meetings separate from NSTA.
  • Perhaps more partnerships between RET programs.
  • Have more participation by RET coordinators and program facilitators as well as participants.
  • More people should say how their experience in RET changed them as teachers, scientists, people, etc.


Other Feedback

  • RETs should work more with districts to develop professional development that districts recognize and promote.
  • I believe that RET should provide more opportunities for its participants to continue their experiences summer to summer. Too many programs do not allow their participants to continue their experience by returning in subsequent summers.