2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Manufacturing is a foundation of economic growth and job creation across the U.S. and is constantly changing with improvements in technology, materials and design. While this field is a pillar for economic growth within the US, manufacturing companies struggle to recruit a prepared workforce. Therefore, a program for high school teachers was established to increase understanding of the multiple career pathways in manufacturing along with their ability to explain how new manufacturing technologies depend on the advancement of engineering and science. Specifically, this program was focused on the manufacturing in the southeastern US and facilitated by a research-intensive university with a center focused on driving advanced manufacturing. This paper provides an overview of: (1) this research experience for teachers program, (2) changes between initial program vision and adjustments from this vision during initial implementation, (3) insight into how teachers’ self-confidence in discussing manufacturing changed during the program, and (4) reflections of the program team on the benefits and challenges facilitating a research program for teachers versus undergraduates on a research campus.
Eight high school teachers in the summer of 2023 were invited to engage in manufacturing research and learn about the manufacturing field over a six-week intensive program and then bring their newly gained knowledge back to their classrooms the following academic year by incorporating it into a lesson plan. The cohort of high school teachers was diverse with respect to gender (50% self-reporting as female), ethnicity (25% African American/Black), educational level (37.5% held a masters degree) and prior research experience. While this cohort is still mid-program (all have not yet incorporated their teaching modules into their classrooms), all have completed the onsite research, completed professional development activities and toured manufacturing facilities. Using surveys and focus group interviews, the program administration looked at the teachers’ changing self-confidence in talking about and teaching manufacturing in their classrooms. Analysis showed that these teachers already have reported increased confidence and comfort with presenting information on advanced manufacturing to their students.

Changes in how the program is administered will be made for the next cohort. The shifting calendar for schools in the southeastern region to shorter summers in exchange for a higher number of short breaks during the academic year, has made it more difficult for teachers to commit to being onsite for a continuous six-week research experience. To help interested teachers, the RET leadership team allowed teachers the ability to incorporate remote work or a mid-program leave. In addition, the recruiting process will be changed. Recruiting of teachers was a more intensive process than the leadership team anticipated.