QuarkNet
The University of Maryland QuarkNet Science Education Center
is part of a consortium of universities, high schools, and research
facilities known as QuarkNet. This program introduces teachers
and students to modern research in the field of particle physics.
QuarkNet is spearheaded by the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
(FNAL) and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and
the Department of Energy (DOE).
Each year, QuarkNet opens between 8 to 12 new education centers
at universities or research facilities nationwide. Each education
center has 2 lead teachers picked from local high schools. During
the first year of these lead teachers have a paid 8 week summer
appointment working with mentor-physicist(s) at their education
center to gain a better understanding of the concepts and research
involved. The lead teachers take the knowledge and experience
that they gained from the research appointment and incorporate
it into their curriculum.
The teachers and their mentors also work together to plan an
Associate Teacher Institute (ATI) for the following summer.
Up to 10 local teachers are accepted to participate in this
2 or 3 week program. The ATI is comprised of various lectures,
demonstrations, experiments, and tours to educate the teachers
and help them find the resources necessary to transfer what
they have learned into the classroom. During the third and subsequent
years, there are one week workshops, where the teachers and
mentor-physicists can get together and discuss ideas or lessons
that help them in their classrooms.
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