Proposal

Narrative

For Full Proposal Narrative, Please See APPENDIX 1. The purpose of the proposed project is to assemble a Plasma Discharge Apparatus (PDA) for demonstration in plasma science education among preservice teacher education students at FAU, and plasma education outreach to in-service teachers and students in local K-12 schools. Plasma applications range from computer chip processing, to potential applications in clean energy. To address calls for sustainable clean energy, the importance of education in plasma, cannot be overlooked in the science curriculum. Plasma is mentioned as a state of matter in the Florida Science Standards. For example, section SC.912.P.8.1 states, “differentiate among the four states of matter” (CPALMS, n.d.). The Coalition of Plasma Scientists (n.d.) in A Teachers Guide to Plasma Science Resources provided curriculum ideas for engaging students in plasma education. To help students develop a meaningful understanding of plasma, the plasma apparatus is essential to demonstrate plasma and associate phenomena such as the influence of the magnetic field, etc. Appendix 7. It is anticipated that the PDA would strengthen the quality of SCE 4360 Science: Middle & Secondary Schools, a required course in the Secondary Science Teacher Education program at FAU. Outreach to local teachers, especially where our secondary student teachers do their teaching practices, and their students will be explored. This will improve opportunities for supervising classroom teachers to become more effective mentors to our secondary students. The PDA will be open to undergraduate students from science and engineering. Under “Increase Degree Productivity and Program Efficiency” It is anticipated that the Plasma Education Laboratory would increase the opportunity for addressing plasma, particularly in SCE 4360, and strengthen the program. FAU Pillar Focus: Harnessing energy from the environment (Pillar: Ocean Science and Engineering / Environmental Sciences)

Facilities

No renovation or upgrades to facility ED 47 - 313 or STEM Education Lab required.

Hardware Requirements

See APPENDIX 2 FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF PARTS, SHIPPING & HANDLING, AND ONE IN-KIND COST SHARED ITEM Total Parts and Accessories $7,769.13 Shipping and Handling (estimate, approximate @ 30%) $2,330.74 TOTAL FOR THE PROJECT $10,099.87

Software Requirements

No software requirements.

Personnel Costs

No personal costs.

Other Costs

No other costs.

Timeline

TENTATIVE TIMELINE ACADEMIC YEAR ONE: Construction of the Plasma Discharge Apparatus (PDA). If necessary, PPPL has also committed to provide “personnel expertise: in-person or remote. The Plasma Discharge Apparatus (PDA) will be set up in a safe and convenient location (to be determined in consultation with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Chair) in the College of Education. ACADEMIC YEAR TWO: Curriculum and safety guidelines for the use of the PDA will be developed. PDA-based science education lessons will be integrated into the SCE 4360 Science: Middle & Secondary Schools. Also, depending on the availability of the PDA, and face-to-face class schedules, students in other science methods and content classes may be invited to the PDA demonstration. ACADEMIC YEAR THREE: Outreach to local teachers and students will be explored. Inviting a selected number of local school teachers and their students to visit the PDA for introduction, demonstration, and resources for teaching and learning about plasma in the local school curriculum. Depending on the availability, the PDA demonstration will be open to undergraduate students from other colleges (e.g., College of Science, College of Engineering) at FAU.

Sustainability

External funding will be sought after the year three of the project, to sustain it beyond the initial project period. Additional resources will be sought to create multimedia recordings of the PDA demonstrations for wider dissemination online, through the STEM Education Laboratory website at FAU. Efforts will be made to disseminate project information to local school teachers.

Resource Matching

Advanced Energy HV Power Supply BT-GP-AC-2P30 cost @ $2,400. This item is provided as an in-kind contribution by Princeton Plasma Physics Lab ($2,400) NOTE: See APPENDIX 4, Letter of Support (Arturo Dominguez) from Science Education Department, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

Implementing Organization

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction through the STEM Education Laboratory in the College of Education at FAU.