Description

RAISE project has developed a partnership between Polytechnic University and four New York City high schools to enhance student achievement in Active Physics, Marine Science, Regents Living Environment, Regents Physics, and Math-A. Under this project three principal investigators (PIs), over 12 GK­12 Fellows (RAISE Fellows) annually, and 16 teachers have collaborated to integrate modern sensing, instrumentation, and monitoring technologies in two required science courses (Active Physics and Living Environment) and two science electives (Marine Science and Physics). Another course (Math-A) is being impacted indirectly since use of instrumentation must be based on a solid foundation in math. Judicious integration of sensing technology in curriculum and instructional framework is exciting the students and imparting technology literacy to them.

Through a collaborative relationship among the PIs, Principals, teachers, an education expert, an evaluator, and the local engineering community, the RAISE team has planned an array of activities to create an exciting and engaging program that is enriching the educational experience of students. The project plans include:

  1. recruiting, training, and deploying 12 RAISE Fellows in 3 schools;
  2. addressing workforce diversity issues;
  3. imparting technology literacy to teachers;
  4. developing modern sensor-based activities relevant for grades 9-12;
  5. mentoring of RAISE Fellows by the PIs and teachers;
  6. conducting annually a career awareness day, a professional development day, and a weeklong orientation workshop for the RAISE Fellows and teachers;
  7. utilizing local engineering community's resources for outreach activities;
  8. disseminating project activities and outcomes; and
  9. conducting assessment of project impact through an external evaluator.

Synergistic activities in support of the RAISE project have been developed by leveraging institutional outreach centers, viz., the Packard and YES Centers, and a National Science Foundation sponsored Research Experience for Teachers Site in Mechatronics. Finally, the RAISE project team is continuing to develop strategic partnerships with the development office of the university, schools, school districts, local businesses, various funding agencies, and our governmental representatives to ensure longevity of RAISE-type activities.

Recent News (August 18, 2008): : Under the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Site program, Division of Engineering Education and Centers of the National Science Foundation has awarded Polytechnic Institute of NYU a grant titled "RET Site: Science and Mechatronics Aided Research for Teachers (SMART)." This award provides funding in the amount $166,667/year. Under NSF's continuing award instrument, the project duration is expected to be three years. Professor Vikram Kapila, will serve as the PI and director of the SMART project. The following Polytechnic faculty will serve as senior personnel on the SMART project: Professor Nikhil Gupta, Professor Magued G. Iskander, and Professor Maurizio Porfiri.

NSF website: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0807286

Recent News (February 29, 2008): An article on the "New, GK12: Applying Mechatronics to Promote Science (AMPS)" project is available on the Poly website.

Recent News (February 27, 2008): Under the GK-12 Fellows program, Division of Graduate Education of the National Science Foundation has awarded Polytechnic University a grant titled "New, GK12: Applying Mechatronics to Promote Science (AMPS)." This award provides funding in the amount $600,000/year. Under NSF's continuing award instrument, the project duration is expected to be five years. Professor Vikram Kapila, will serve as the PI and director of the AMPS project. The Co-PIs of the AMPS project include Professor Magued G. Iskander and Professor Noel N. Kriftcher. In addition, the following Polytechnic faculty will serve as the senior personnel on the AMPS project: Professor Dariusz Czarkowski, Professor Rastislav Levicky, and Professor Maurizio Porfiri.

Recent News (February 15, 2008): An article on the "Central Brooklyn Robotics Initiative (CBRI)" project is available on the Poly website.

Recent News (February 5 , 2008): An article on the "Central Brooklyn Robotics Initiative (CBRI)" project is available on NY Daily News (pdf version).

Recent News (January 30, 2008): An article on the "Central Brooklyn Robotics Initiative (CBRI)" project is available on Brooklyn Daily Eagle (pdf version).

Recent News (December 16, 2007): An article on the "Central Brooklyn Robotics Initiative (CBRI)" project is available on Our Time Press (pdf version).

Recent News (August 12, 2007): An article on the summer Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors and Engineering (WISE) is available on the Poly website.

Recent News (July 20, 2007): An article on the the Summer Mechatronics Institute for Teachers (SUMMIT) is available on the Poly website.

Recent News (July 2007): The Independence Community Foundation and the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation have awarded Polytechnic University a $226,449 grant titled " Central Brooklyn Robotics Initiative (CBRI) ." The project is led by Professor Vikram Kapila and Professor Noel N. Kriftcher. 

Recent News (April 25, 2007): Under the Engineers of the Future Program, New York State Education Department has awarded Polytechnic University a $240,654 grant titled "Summer Mechatronics Institute for Teachers (SUMMIT)." The project is led by Professor Vikram Kapila (PI) and Professor Noel N. Kriftcher (Co-PI). 

Recent News (April 25, 2007): Under the Engineers of the Future Program, New York State Education Department has awarded Polytechnic University a $297,455 grant titled "Summer Workshop in Instrumentation, Sensors and Engineering (WISE)." The project is led by Professor Magued G. Iskander (PI), Professor Vikram Kapila (Co-PI), and Professor Noel N. Kriftcher (Co-PI).

Recent News: Project RAISE—Career Day 2006 held at Polytechnic University on May 24.

Recent News: RAISE graduate and undergraduate fellowship application is available. Deadline is July 31, 2006.

Recent News: RAISE Teachers Workshop to be held at Polytechnic University from August 29, 2005 to September 2, 2005

Recent News: INAUGURAL NYC NSF GK-12 Grant Holders Meeting to be held at Polytechnic University on May 20, 2005.

Recent News: Project RAISE—Career Day held at Polytechnic University on April 20, 2005.

Recent News: RAISE Program Poster presented at NSF’s 2005 GK-12 Grantee Meeting on March 5, 2005.