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Integrating research and advanced microscopy in the high school curriculum

Integrating research and advanced microscopy in the high school curriculum. Craig Queenan, C.E.M.T. & David Becker Bergen County Academies, Nano-Structural Imaging Lab SPIE Defense, Security, & Sensing 2012 Conference 8378: Special Session on Microscopy for STEM Educators April 26, 2012.

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Integrating research and advanced microscopy in the high school curriculum

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  1. Integrating research and advanced microscopy in the high school curriculum Craig Queenan, C.E.M.T. & David Becker Bergen County Academies, Nano-Structural Imaging Lab SPIE Defense, Security, & Sensing 2012 Conference 8378: Special Session on Microscopy for STEM Educators April 26, 2012

  2. Voices for Change “Every country on earth at the moment is reforming public education… People are trying to work out, ‘How do we educate our children to take their place in the economies of the 21st century’.”1 -Sir Ken Robinson International leader in education development “The battle for America's future will be won or lost in the next century in America's institutions of public education…because they are the crucible in which the young people who will comprise the largest part of our population a quarter century from now will be formed.”2 -Lawrence H. Summers Former Director of the White House US National Economic Council President Emeritus of Harvard University

  3. Today’s Goals • STEM education in the U.S. • National STEM initiatives • BCA’s position within the STEM community • Program perspectives • Integrating research and microscopy

  4. STEM in the U.S. “There is evidence that top U.S. students, who have disproportionate potential to become future innovators, are eschewing careers in S&E.”4 “Today in the U.S., just 16 percent of graduates receive degrees in STEM fields, compared to China, where 52 percent of graduates earn degrees in these critical fields”5 3

  5. Global Trends - Education 4 4 U.S. – little change in number of STEM bachelor degrees China – large increase in number of STEM bachelor degrees U.S. and China both showing increases in number of doctoral degrees, with China’s trend surpassing U.S. U.S. degrees increasingly from foreign born students rather than citizens I

  6. National STEM Initiatives There are a number of groups that are actively promoting changes to STEM education: The National Science Board (part of NSF) -May 2010 report “Preparing the Next Generation of STEM Innovators”6 Called for an elevation of the ceiling of achievement for future innovators through the expansion of: • inquiry-based learning • peer collaboration • open-ended real-world problem solving • hands-on training • interactions with practicing scientists, engineers and other experts

  7. National STEM Initiatives President Obama’s 2009 “Educate to Innovate” initiative7 • The program seeks to “apply new and creative methods of generating and maintaining student interest and enthusiasm in science and math, reinvigorating the pipeline of ingenuity and innovation essential to America’s success that has long been at the core of American economic leadership.” • ARPA-ED The STEM Education Coalition’s 2009 “Letter to POTUS”8 • Signed by over 200 companies, universities, institutes and organizations representing over 6.2 million STEM professionals and educators • i.e.: INTEL, 3M, ACS, SPIE, Carnegie Mellon University • Pledge to engage members to form partnerships with educators, inspire students to participate in STEM, improve hands-on lab environments for students, raise public awareness. • 10,000 communities of support • National STEM Week • National Lab Day

  8. National STEM Initiatives The National Research Council (of the National Academies)9 • Framework for science education • Contains eight practices which they distinguish from skills in that the practices, “stress that engaging in scientific inquiry requires coordination both of knowledge and skill simultaneously.” 9

  9. STEM in the U.S. The initiatives and programs set forth by these groups do an excellent job in improving STEM outreach and education to key underrepresented demographics in our society: • Women • Minorities • Children of low-income families The Bergen County Academies • Fostering and Cultivating STEM Leadership 10

  10. Research & Microscopy at BCA Research supplemental to the STEM education students receive and reinforces traditional classroom teaching A Journey to the Frontiers of Science • Students emphasis on: • Understanding what tools, efforts, accomplishments and failures have led researchers to current boundaries of research • Developing a novel research project (with faculty guidance) • Gathering a working understanding of the tools, techniques and skills they will need to master through hands-on training and practice • Collecting data and analyzing results independently and amongst peers • Presenting findings to an audience • Science competition or fair; Poster presentation; Publication

  11. Student Skill Attainment NRC’s framework is still in its early stages and not adopted • BCA’s STEM education rests upon 6 pillars, or transferable skill sets that can be carried into college, graduate school, and careers. • Context and Perspective • Tools and Techniques • Collaboration • Analysis and Justification • Quality and Failure • Defense and Presentation The confidence in these skills that a student is able to craft gives them an advantage in future endeavors, and puts them on course to become part of the next generation or STEM Leaders!

  12. Success & Accolades • College enrollment • Academy for the Advancement of Science 2012 • 72 students • 39% (28 of 72) enrolled in an Ivy League schools or in a U.S. News top 10 Engineering School in the U.S. 11 for next fall12: • Carnegie Mellon University – 2 • Columbia University – 5 • Cornell University – 5 • Harvard University – 1 • Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 1 • Princeton University – 6 • University of California, Berkeley – 6 • Yale University - 2

  13. Success & Accolades • Intel Science Talent Search • 7 semi-finalists and 2 finalists since 2009 • Publications • 16 abstracts published by 18 students in the Proceedings of Microscopy and Microanalysis since 2008 • 4 of those students attended the national conference and presented their posters

  14. The Bergen County Academies • Bergen County Academies (BCA), Hackensack, NJ • 1952 - Opened as Bergen County Vocational-Technical High School • 1980’s - Began to emphasize computers, physics, electronics • 1992 - Became BCA with the Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology • Currently 6 additional Academies : • Engineering & Design Technology • Medical Science Technology • Telecommunications & Computer Science • Business & Finance • Culinary Arts & Hotel Administration • Visual & Performing Arts

  15. BCA Info • Serves residents of Bergen County New Jersey • 72 towns; nearly one million residents • Magnet high school • Draws from the best prepared and most academically invested rising ninth graders • Tuition free for students and families • Free of economic barriers that impede STEM education • Student body • ~1,100 students in seven career focused academies • Extended day (8:00AM-4:10PM) • Students generally carry 12-15 courses each trimester • More opportunity to take specialized courses and electives

  16. Core STEM education at BCA Required courses for all students in the Science Academy at BCA

  17. Research at BCA “Learn Science By Doing Science” • Dedicated faculty (many coming from industry) • Provided the tools needed for high-quality research • September 2004 – Cell Biology Lab (Biotech/Cell Biology) • September 2006 - Stem Cell Lab (Molecular Biology/Genetics) • May 2008 - Nano-Structural Imaging Lab (Microscopy) • September 2009 - Nanotechnology Lab (Chemistry) • Funding Sources: • NJ DOE Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Grant to support the initial facility development of the research labs • County Bond funding from the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders • BCTS District Technology Department budget

  18. Research at BCA • Independent research • Open to students from any of the seven academies • Not only science and engineering students • Students treated more like graduate students than high school students • Taught to: • Search the primary literature for a topic and develop a novel project • Find the materials that are needed and order those that are not already available at the school • Be responsible for maintenance of project (i.e. cell culture) as well as time management • Determine statistical significance in their data • Write, present and defend their work • All skills that will benefit the students in college and careers

  19. Nano-Structural Imaging Lab • Core imaging facility featuring SEM, TEM, LSCM and support/sample preparation equipment • Self-sufficient facility • Staffed and operated independently of academic departments • Research using microscopy: • Independent research projects from other labs • Independent research projects from NSIL • Collaborative projects • Internships • Summer research program • Group exercises

  20. NSIL - How It’s Used 33 5 12 260 172 38 *Student figures from July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011

  21. Microscopy Integration into Curriculum • Introduction to Microscopy Elective • Open to all students – pre-requisite for microscopy research • Subject matter has foundations in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering and History • Students learn: • Microscopy Theory • History, principles and discoveries, structure and design of LM, SEM, and TEM, image formation • SEM and TEM • Sample preparation, safety, proper use and maintenance, quality data • All lecture supplemented with hands-on exercises and lessons.

  22. Microscopy Integration into Curriculum • Enhanced Classroom Experiences • Ex. Biology classes learning about the parts of a cell • Students use the TEM to identify and image organelles • Reinforces classroom learning; excites students • “Spark” Events • Non-science classes • Visual arts and graphic design class – Art in science • Students learn about the SEM and some of the principles behind imaging • Image samples that they collected and brought to the lab • Use images in a lesson on introducing them to Adobe Photoshop colorization

  23. Successes of Research at BCA • Early exposure to technology and techniques • Confidence in research skills built upon the 6 “pillars” • Outreach to students outside of the sciences • Science fair and competition success • Collaboration with industry and academic professionals • College admissions and program enrollment • Publication and conference presentation

  24. Future • Tracking of students post college and into careers • Increased focus on the three areas deemed necessary in the development of future leaders: • Research, entrepreneurship, and global studies

  25. References • Robinson, K., “RSA Lecture - Changing Paradigms,” Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, 14 October 2010. <http://www.thersa.org/events/video/archive/sir-ken-robinson> (16 April 2012). • Summers, L., “Remarks of President Lawrence H. Summers, ‘Learning With Excitement' Conference,” Harvard Graduate School of Education, 03 October 2003. <http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/lsummer/speeches/2003/afterschool.html> (16 April 2012). • Lowell, B., et al., “Steady as she goes? Three generations of students through the science and engineering pipeline,” Rutgers University, October 2009. <http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/salzman/steadyasshegoes.pdf> (16 April 2012). • “Science and Engineering Indicators 2010,” National Science Board of the National Science Foundation, January 2010. <http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind10/start.htm> (16 April 2012). • Hook, L., “U.S. falling behind in supplying science, technology, engineering and math degrees,” The Washington Times, LLC, 23 March 2012. <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/23/help-wanted-855590724/> (16 April 2012). • “Preparing the Next Generation of STEM Innovators:  Identifying and Developing Our Nation’s Human Capital,” National Science Board Committee on Education and Human Resources, 5 May 2010. <www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2010/nsb1033.pdf> (16 April 2012). • “President Obama Launches ‘Educate to Innovate’ Campaign for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Education,” White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 23 November 2009. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-launches-educate-innovate-campaign-excellence-science-technology-en> (16 April 2012). • “Letter to the President of the United States,” STEM Education Coalition, 20 November 2009. <http://www.nationallabnetwork.org/pdfs/letter_to_POTUS_Nov20.pdf> (16 April 2012). • National Research Council of the National Academies [A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts and Core Ideas] National Academies Press, Washington, DC, foreward, 8, 10, 41-42 (2012). • Popejoy, A., “American Women in Science,” New Voices for Research, 09 March 2011. <http://newvoicesforresearch.blogspot.com/2011/03/american-women-in-science.html> (16 April 2012). • “U.S. News 2012 Best Engineering Schools Rankings and Reviews,” U.S. News, 2012. <http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings> (16 April 2012). • “Bergen County Academies: Academy for The Advancement of Science & Technology Class of 2012 College Profile,” Bergen County Academies, March 2012. <http://bcts.bergen.org/images/stories/BCTS/pdf/AAST_profile%202012%20updated.pdf> (16 April 2012).

  26. Acknowledgements • Alyssa Calabro, C.E.M.T • Dr. Howard Lerner, Superintendent of the Bergen County Technical School District • Edmund Hayward, Director of Technology for the Bergen County Technical School District • Russell Davis, Principal of the Bergen County Academies • The Administration of the Bergen County Technical School District • The Administration of the Bergen County Academies • The Bergen County Technical School District Board of Education • The Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders • The research faculty members: Dr. Robert Pergolizzi, Donna Leonardi, and Dr. Deok-Yang Kim • Our collaborating research partners • For more information, visit our website: www.bergen.org/nsil

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