Julia Wicke
Middle School
Physical Science

As a participant in the Research Experience for teachers, I enjoyed the opportunity to witness the process of scientific research as well as collaborate with peers to discover a means of applying knowledge of scientific research in middle school and high school classrooms.  Through the program, I was also introduced to the legacy cycle and explored creating a curriculum appropriate module using the legacy cycle.   

During my time with RET, I was assigned to an optics laboratory to conduct research with three additional RET participants.  The first week of time was spent performing optics laboratory experiments developed for undergraduate students at Vanderbilt University enrolled in the biomedical engineering program.  The labs were assigned to help provide a basic understanding of optics principles as well as familiarize us with the fundamental equipment involved in optics experiments.  Since I do not have a background in optics, the labs were useful in providing experimental evidence to support optics principles.  In addition, the information I learned through the experiments can be applied to my middle school curriculum.  Several of the labs could be modified as laboratory exercises or demonstrations for my students.

During the next two weeks in the optics lab, I learned about the current research being conducted at Vanderbilt.  Graduate students shared their research with myself and the three other participants assigned to the lab.  Our interactions with the graduated students included opportunities to witness the experimental components of their research.  For example, a student researching nerve stimulation allowed our group to watch his experiments with lab rats.  The procedure involved comparing toe spread before and after nerve stimulation with a laser.  Comparisons were made between various repetitions and degrees of stimulation.  Also, another student shared his work to develop a laser sensor capable of detecting skin cancer without a biopsy.  The current prototype was available for us to view.  The student explained that the next step in his research involved condensing the apparatus to the size of a pen.  We were also fortunate to be invited to observe the weekly lab meetings that included student presentations of research and collaboration between professors and students.  The overall experience provided a glimpse into the world of scientific research.  As a result, I feel more competent discussing scientific research with my students.  In addition, I believe I am more qualified to discuss biomedical engineering career options with my students.  

During the last week of the RET program, another RET participant and I researched a method of binding a nano particle to a protein.  The research involved reading primary literature to find the most appropriate method.  After we discussed the procedure with our assigned professor and a physician at Vanderbilt, we were able to complete the procedure to bind the nano particle to a protein.  The solution will be used to determine if the protein will bind to receptors on neural tumor cells to detect cancer margins during tumor removal. 

Throughout my time at Vanderbilt, I was able to work with the optics professors and the RET participants to explore module development for my middle school physical science class.  After researching several areas, I decided to develop a module to teach waves, light, and sound.  The module is based on a major challenge question about developing a stealth aircraft.  Several smaller challenge questions are incorporated in the module.  Since I will not teach the topic until the spring of the year, I am still working to develop the details of the module.