RET Pre Survey 2009

1. Default Section

1. What NNIN site are you an RET at?

	Choose one
Georgia Tech	What NNIN site are you an RET at? Georgia Tech Choose one
Harvard	Harvard Choose one
Penn State	Penn State Choose one
Howard	Howard Choose one
UCSB	UCSB Choose one

2. Please provide information on the courses that you taught during the most recent school year. Including grade level (majority of students), number of students, AP or Honors, and minutes of instruction per week.

Please provide information on the courses that you taught during the most recent school year. Including grade level (majority of students), number of students, AP or Honors, and minutes of instruction per week. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

3. Over all your courses, on average, how much emphasis did you give to each of the following goals or objectives?

	None	Minor	Moderate	Major
Integrating the course curriculum with other subjects or fields of study.	Over all your courses, on average, how much emphasis did you give to each of the following goals or objectives? Integrating the course curriculum with other subjects or fields of study. None	Minor	Moderate	Major
Teaching facts, rules, or vocabulary.	Teaching facts, rules, or vocabulary. None	Minor	Moderate	Major
Encouraging students to explore alternative explanations or methods for problem solving.	Encouraging students to explore alternative explanations or methods for problem solving. None	Minor	Moderate	Major
Preparing students for taking standardized tests in the subject.	Preparing students for taking standardized tests in the subject. None	Minor	Moderate	Major
Fully covering the course curriculum as proscribed.	Fully covering the course curriculum as proscribed. None	Minor	Moderate	Major
Understanding the theoretical concepts and ideas underlying scientific or mathematical applications.	Understanding the theoretical concepts and ideas underlying scientific or mathematical applications. None	Minor	Moderate	Major

4. Approximately how often did you use each of the following teaching methods on average?

	Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Lecture or talk to whole class.	Approximately how often did you use each of the following teaching methods on average? Lecture or talk to whole class. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Teacher-led whole class discussion.	Teacher-led whole class discussion. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Students responding orally to questions on course subject matter.	Students responding orally to questions on course subject matter. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Student-led whole group discussion or presentation.	Student-led whole group discussion or presentation. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Students working together in groups.	Students working together in groups. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Reviewing homework or other assignments.	Reviewing homework or other assignments. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class

5. Approximately how often did you have students engage in the following learning activities on average across all of your courses?

	Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Work on hands-on activities.	Approximately how often did you have students engage in the following learning activities on average across all of your courses? Work on hands-on activities. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Reflect on course material through journal writing.	Reflect on course material through journal writing. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Work individually on written work or assignments in a workshop or textbook.	Work individually on written work or assignments in a workshop or textbook. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Critique/evaluate their own or other students' class-work or homework.	Critique/evaluate their own or other students' class-work or homework. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Consider real world problem relevant to the course and work on ways to address it.	Consider real world problem relevant to the course and work on ways to address it. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Use academic or professional journals to investigate current issues relevant to the field of study.	Use academic or professional journals to investigate current issues relevant to the field of study. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Listen to guest speakers or go on field trips relevant to course material.	Listen to guest speakers or go on field trips relevant to course material. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Investigate possible career opportunities in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology.	Investigate possible career opportunities in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Design or implement their own scientific investigation or mathematical theory or proof.	Design or implement their own scientific investigation or mathematical theory or proof. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class
Use "state of the art" equipment or technology.	Use "state of the art" equipment or technology. Never	1-2 times per month	1-2 times per week	Almost every class	Every class

6. Please identify the proportion (%) of your course content from the following sources:

Please identify the proportion (%) of your course content from the following sources: a. Text book
b. Kits
c. School/districts material
d. Teacher-adapted
e. Teacher-created
f. Other, please specify

7. Please indicate how confident you feel about the following aspects of your teaching.

	Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very
Your knowledge about the application of the subject to everyday life.	Please indicate how confident you feel about the following aspects of your teaching. Your knowledge about the application of the subject to everyday life. Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very
Your ability to advise students about job opportunities in the subject area.	Your ability to advise students about job opportunities in the subject area. Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very
Your ability to advise students about opportunities to receive further training/experience/education in the field.	Your ability to advise students about opportunities to receive further training/experience/education in the field. Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very
Your ability to use inquiry-based instructional practices.	Your ability to use inquiry-based instructional practices. Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very
Your ability to supervise research projects of your students.	Your ability to supervise research projects of your students. Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very
Your ability to make presentations at in-services or professional meetings.	Your ability to make presentations at in-services or professional meetings. Not at all	Slightly	Moderately	Very

8. To what extent do you feel each of the following statements describes the kind of teacher you are.

	Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great
I am motivated to expand on the instructional techniques that I use.	To what extent do you feel each of the following statements describes the kind of teacher you are. I am motivated to expand on the instructional techniques that I use. Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great
I am motivated to change the way I use hands on materials and manipulative's in my teaching.	I am motivated to change the way I use hands on materials and manipulative's in my teaching. Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great
I am motivated to use more technology in my main field of teaching.	I am motivated to use more technology in my main field of teaching. Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great
I consider myself a "subject matter expert" in my main field of teaching.	I consider myself a "subject matter expert" in my main field of teaching. Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great
I consider preparing students for the kinds of expectations they will encounter in a worksetting as an important part of my job.	I consider preparing students for the kinds of expectations they will encounter in a worksetting as an important part of my job. Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great
I believe I can truly make a difference in the lives of my students in terms of their choices for further education and their careers.	I believe I can truly make a difference in the lives of my students in terms of their choices for further education and their careers. Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great

9. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths as a teacher? Please be as specific as you can. Think about both areas of content mastery and instructional strategies when answering this question.

What do you consider to be your greatest strengths as a teacher? Please be as specific as you can. Think about both areas of content mastery and instructional strategies when answering this question.

10. What areas of your teaching do you think need improvement? Think about content mastery and instructional strategies when answering this question.

What areas of your teaching do you think need improvement? Think about content mastery and instructional strategies when answering this question.

11. Including this school year, how many years have you been employed as a teacher?

Including this school year, how many years have you been employed as a teacher? In total
As a math teacher
As a science teacher
In a high school
In a middle school
In an elementary school
Other, please specify

12. Do you have a teaching certificate in the state/city in which you are currently teaching?

Do you have a teaching certificate in the state/city in which you are currently teaching? Yes

13. During the last twelve months have you participated in professional development activities that focused on the following topics?

	Yes	No
In depth study of your main subject area	During the last twelve months have you participated in professional development activities that focused on the following topics? In depth study of your main subject area Yes	No
Methods of teaching your main subject area	Methods of teaching your main subject area Yes	No
Applications of technology to education	Applications of technology to education Yes	No
Other related areas, specify:	Other related areas, specify: Yes	No

14. During the past 12 months have you been involved in the following activities related to your teaching?

	Yes	No
Served as department chair	During the past 12 months have you been involved in the following activities related to your teaching? Served as department chair Yes	No
Developed or piloted new curricula	Developed or piloted new curricula Yes	No
Held a leadership position in a state or national professional organization	Held a leadership position in a state or national professional organization Yes	No
Formally mentored a new or beginning teacher	Formally mentored a new or beginning teacher Yes	No
Supervised student teachers	Supervised student teachers Yes	No
Conducted in services or workshops for teachers	Conducted in services or workshops for teachers Yes	No
Made observational visits to other schools	Made observational visits to other schools Yes	No
Made presentation(s) to non-teaching groups (school boards, parents, community groups)	Made presentation(s) to non-teaching groups (school boards, parents, community groups) Yes	No
Conducted individual or collaborative research on a topic of interest to you	Conducted individual or collaborative research on a topic of interest to you Yes	No
Other	Other Yes	No

Other (please specify)

15. Not counting this summer program, have you participated in any professional development activities either in a laboratory, research, or industrial setting in the last five years? Please provide name of program and sponsoring agency, type of setting (government, university), dates and duration of program, type of work involved.

Not counting this summer program, have you participated in any professional development activities either in a laboratory, research, or industrial setting in the last five years? Please provide name of program and sponsoring agency, type of setting (government, university), dates and duration of program, type of work involved. a.
b.
c.
d.

16. During the past five years, have you been employed in a laboratory, research, or industrial setting that was relevant to your work as a science or mathematics teacher?

During the past five years, have you been employed in a laboratory, research, or industrial setting that was relevant to your work as a science or mathematics teacher? Yes

17. Please describe your post-secondary education by providing the year graduated, institution, major, and minor.

Please describe your post-secondary education by providing the year graduated, institution, major, and minor. Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate
Other, specify:

18. Are you currently working towards an advanced degree?

Are you currently working towards an advanced degree? Yes

19. If yes,

If yes, Degree:
Institution:
Area:

20. Do you currently have National Board Certification?

Do you currently have National Board Certification? Yes

21. If No, are you working towards National Board Certification?

If No, are you working towards National Board Certification? Yes

22. What is your gender?

What is your gender? Male

Female

23. What best describes you?

What best describes you? American Indian or Native Alaskan

Asian or Pacific Islander

Black, non Hispanic

Hispanic

White, non-Hispanic

24. What do you consider your knowledge level about nanotechnology?

What do you consider your knowledge level about nanotechnology? Nothing

A little (heard of it but did not really know what it meant_

Know something and can explain to others

A lot, I really understand nanotechnology

25. Where have you heard about nanotechnology?
All that apply

Where have you heard about nanotechnology? All that apply news media

professional publication(s)

colleagues

web site

workshop

students

other

Other (please specify)

26. Why did you decide to participate in the NNIN RET program? Check and rank all that apply, with 1 as least important.

Why did you decide to participate in the NNIN RET program? Check and rank all that apply, with 1 as least important. I wanted to learn about nano-education
I wanted to learn about materials and resources for use in my classroom
I wanted to learn about professional development opportunities
I wanted to learn how to include nanotechnology in my classes
I wanted to do nanotechnology research
Other

27. If other, please specify:

If other, please specify:

28. Do you think it is important to include nanotechnology in the science curriculum?

Do you think it is important to include nanotechnology in the science curriculum? Yes

29. Do you plan on adding "something" about nanotechnology in your teaching in the next academic year?

Do you plan on adding "something" about nanotechnology in your teaching in the next academic year? Yes

30. What type of educational materials would help you include nanotechnology in your classroom?

What type of educational materials would help you include nanotechnology in your classroom? add-on unit as a special topic, ie. enrichment

short activity tied to the teaching of a required scientific concept and also related to nanotechnolgy (one class period)

2-3 week unit as a special topic that is linked to nanotechnology

2-3 week unit that is based on a required scientific concept and also related to nanotechnology

Other

31. If other please explain:

If other please explain:

32. What type of support would help you include nanotechnology in you classroom?

What type of support would help you include nanotechnology in you classroom? textbook materials

online units for downloading (activity and supporting materials)

videos for professional development

district level workshops

national or regional conferences

telecast/webcast

college or university

online assistance

Other, please specify

33. Please specify if other

Please specify if other

34. Would you be interested in remote access to nanotechnology tools or viewing cleanrooms via the Web from your classrooms?

Would you be interested in remote access to nanotechnology tools or viewing cleanrooms via the Web from your classrooms? Yes

35. Please feel free to add additional comments concerning your interest or needs related to nanotechnology and education.

Please feel free to add additional comments concerning your interest or needs related to nanotechnology and education.