Summer 2001 Internships for Teachers

SOCORRO, N.M., December 5, 2000 -- For the second year in a row, New Mexico Tech will enhance its curriculum offerings to state educators this coming summer with the Math and Science Educator Research Program. The program allows New Mexico teachers paid hands-on summer research experiences at several of the university's research centers.

The ten teachers selected to participate in the eight-week-long research and education project -- offered through New Mexico Tech's Master of Science Teaching (MST) Program -- will be paired up with university researchers to develop new research projects or take part in existing scientific investigations.

Vannetta R. Perry, New Mexico Tech's coordinator for Education Outreach Programs, says the research internship program also requires participants to submit written and oral reports at the end of the summer session.

"These reports are meant to help the teacher share the excitement of doing real science in world class facilities with their students and colleagues," Perry says.

By completing the Math and Science Educator Research Internship Program, participants will earn six graduate credit hours in Tech's MST degree-granting program. Teachers also receive a small stipend for their work.

New Mexico Tech faculty members who serve as mentors during the summer research internship will later conduct follow-up visits to each intern's school. The Tech professors also will provide further information and report new advancements in the teacher's research. This will supplement the presentations the teachers will have already made to their students, colleagues, and administrators.
Teacher-participants will also arrange field trips for their students to visit the research sites for more investigation. These field trips are partially underwritten by the program. To further explore the concepts of the teacher's research, research projects for students will be developed, to be supervised via the Internet by the professor who served as the teacher's mentor at New Mexico Tech.

"The research and teaching experience gained by teacher-participants will be invaluable, and disseminating that knowledge throughout New Mexico will enrich the teaching and learning of our state's K-12 students," Perry says.

Applicants who are chosen to participate in this summer's research internship program will be eligible for available scholarship funding (including six hours of graduate tuition) and travel expenses for the mentor's school visits and student field trips to New Mexico Tech research sites. A small amount of funding will also be available to help develop and implement student research projects after the program's completion.

The Math and Science Educator Research Program will run from June 12 - August 4, 2001. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than May 15 for consideration. Teachers interested in applying, or those who wish to receive more information about other MST courses being offered this summer, are asked to contact Vannetta Perry at the New Mexico Tech Office for Educational Outreach at (505) 835-5678, or by e-mail at science@nmt.edu.