Two-Summer (2001 & 2002) RET Supplement for the Polymer REU Program
Department of Polymer Science at the University of Southern Mississippi
Lon J. Mathias, Director
Summary of Proposed Work
Two high school science/chemistry teachers from the area near the University of
Southern Mississippi will participate full-time for two summer months each of one
of the two years in the on-going REU program for college students. Four types of activities
will be pursued by these four teachers:
- Learning polymer science and the methods of doing research along with
the undergraduate REU students
- Learning methods of multimedia educational materials development
- Carrying out a very focused research project, the results of which
will become part of the classroom module to be developed by the teacher
- Work with other K-12 teachers in our Dreyfus project during the summer to
learn methods for organizing and disseminating the modules developed
This unique combination of experiences will be further enhanced by the Polymer Science
Learning Center infrastructure for continued pursuit of the educational component.
For example, the assessment and evaluation of student impact will include monthly
meetings in the PSLC to organize feedback, revise and extend the content as needed, and
correlate student response and performance. Each summer's budget totals $27,500 with
a two-year total of $55,000.
submitted April 2001
