Bringing Research into the Classroom (BRIC) builds upon eight years of collaborative efforts between the Montana Tech Phage Discovery Program and Cfwep.Org. The project directors have designed this new program to include intensive teacher professional development, classroom bacteriophage discovery, and summer science and pedagogy academy. As part of a recently funded National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership Award (NIH-SEPA), Montana Tech Biology and Cfwep.Org are partnering with Montana middle and high school science teachers on this 5-year, $1.25 million project. The project goal is to equip Montana’s K-12 teachers with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to provide high-quality, health science research opportunities for students.
We are in the process of recruiting science teachers to join the project, for which classroom visits begin early in 2015, and extend throughout the next four calendar years. Two cohorts of teachers will participate, both of which receive classroom phage discovery visits for four years. The first cohort of teachers will have summer academy in June 2015 and 2016, the second cohort in 2017 and 2018. Participating teachers and their students will be included in twice yearly assessment measures to determine the effectiveness of our programs. Teachers will be compensated for their participation. Costs associated with the summer academy and online course are covered by the project. For more information please download the files below.Please click the line below for an application.
How do I register for the BRIC program?
Download the application here: BRICGeneralInfo.FAQs.Application
Please submit completed application to Dr. Arlene Alvarado, Cfwep.Org, Montana Tech, 1300 West Park, Butte, MT 59701 (aalvarado@mtech.edu). You may send the application via regular post or email. Selected applicants will be notified of their selection status soon after receipt of the application.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – BRIC Program
What do I have to do?
- Attend 6-10 day summer academy for 2 consecutive years: 2015 & 2016 or 2017 & 2018
- Complete the online graduate course hosted by Montana Tech; teacher agrees to enter the course for credit
- Complete a research project on your area of interest or on your teaching
- Complete evaluation assessments
- Host scientists/BRIC leadership for classroom visits
- Attend planning meetings as needed (no more than two per calendar year)
Will I be paid?
You will be paid a total of $3,500. Compensation for the two PD years is $1,250 per year; compensation for the two classroom-visits-only years is $500 per year. Expenses for the summer academy are covered by the project.
When do I start?
Visits start as soon as everyone is selected and assigned to their cohort group, starting in January 2015.
How many credits do I earn for completing the course?
Three (3) graduate credits are earned for each professional development year, for a total of six (6) graduate credits over the project timeline.
How long does the course run and what is the meeting place and time?
The course runs during the Fall semester of each year. It is an online course with no specific meeting place or time.
What content is covered in the online course?
The course covers basic microbiology, disease studies, and research methods. The course content and associated science skills can be applied across multiple scientific disciplines.
How do I register for the online course?
Registration for the fall course will be done during the summer academy.
This project and its benefits for Montana‘s teachers and students are made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This project is supported by the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health under Award #1R25OD016533-01.
Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Arlene Alvarado, Cfwep.Org, Montana Tech, 1300 West Park, Butte, MT 59701 (aalvarado@mtech.edu) for more information.