The Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI) is a week long, in-residence learning opportunity designed for motivated teachers and other school staff who want to learn more about wireless technology and bring that knowledge to their students. A variety of topics are covered during the 4 days of the TI including basic wireless technology literacy, electronics, and the science of radio; bringing space into the classroom; ham radio operation; introduction to micro controllers; and basic robotics.

The Teachers Institute is only the beginning of a participant's exploration with wireless technology. The goal of the TI program is to equip each teacher with necessary foundational knowledge, and through hands-on learning, generate the inspiration for teachers to continue to explore wireless technology and adapt relevant content into their classroom instruction.

Just a few examples of some of the activities teachers who have participated in the Teachers Institute have initiated upon return to their classrooms include:

• Using weather imagery gathered by the students for environmental studies.
• Using TV remotes to control simulated "smart homes."
• Radio Direction Finding (RDF) activities to study how naturalist track wildlife.
• School competitions during the School Club Round-up, a nation wide ham radio contest for schools.
• Geography lessons using QSL card (postcards collected from ham contacts around the world).
• A school wide space exploration curriculum including radio stations to receive signals from space and participation in the NASA Explorer School Program.
• Radio contacts between participating schools.
• Using radio in ESL classrooms to listen to live broadcasts from countries that use the languages as their native tongue.

As much as possible, each Teachers Institute agenda is tailored to meet the needs of the participating teachers. Here is a representative agenda used for a previous TI.

Here are a few comments from Teachers Institute participants:

• "Now I have more tools to use and have refreshed old memories and gained new information in electronics."
• "I believe that I can present the material in a manner that my students will understand."
• "I still need to study electronics, but I feel comfortable at least messing with it."
• "I will be able to introduce more interesting concepts."
• "Now I feel I can explain enough to get the students started with a good foundation."
• "Excellent way to offer a lot of great training in a short period of time."
• "I am going to recommend all our science teachers attend next year -- 4 of them."
• "There is just no way to get this in one day or out of a book."
• "This is one of the most useful workshops/courses that I have had the pleasure of attending in my 30 years of teaching in public education. This type of workshop is just not available to the regular education instructor through normal channels within their school districts."
• "They were much better than any other teaching institute I've attended. They were informative, motivational, and fun."
• "The TI was extraordinary -- I'm so grateful for this opportunity, and I know my students will benefit immeasurably as a result of this week."

Teachers Institute opportunities are virtually free for the participants. The grant to attend a TI covers transportation, hotel, a modest per-diem to cover meals, instructional resources for the electronics, microcontroller, and robotics segments of the course, and a resource library of relevant ARRL publications.

The application to attend a Teachers Institute is very simple. Download and complete the application, indicating the dates you would like to attend, in order of preference. Send a cover letter on school letterhead, signed by you and a school administrator, along with the application, stating that you would like to attend.  Be sure to include contact information that is good during school and summer (phone number, address, e-mail).  Make sure the e-mail address(es) you provide (at school and/or at home) will accept e-mails from the ETP coordinator (mspencer@arrl.org). Mail the letter and application including the pre-workshop survey to:  ARRL Education Services, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494.

The applications are reviewed, and as accepted, applicants are assigned to session preferences on a first-come, first-served basis.  Travel distance considerations may influence some session assignments.  With a class limit of 12 for each session of the Teachers Institute, don’t delay.  A refundable $100 deposit is required. This deposit will be refunded upon your completion of the Institute.

The Teachers Institute is only a part of the ARRL's Education &Technology Program (ETP) and the resources that are made available to teachers. The ETP is based on 5 pillars:

1. development and free access to curriculum materials to help teachers teach wireless technology literacy,
2. grants of ham radio station equipment for establishing ham radio operations in schools,
3. grants of supplemental equipment to support and improve on-going school programs,
4. free activity board kits and resources that teachers can use to assist in teaching wireless technology, and finally,
5. teachers institutes.

The ETP was developed to address the ARRL education vision and mission to advance the art and science of radio through education. The ETP is totally supported by philanthropic donors who share that vision.

Additional information about this year's Teachers Institute opportunities is provided here:

• 2009 Teachers Institute brochure (2.03MB PDF)

More information about the Education & Technology Program can be found on the ETP web page.

If you have questions, please contact:

Mark Spencer, WA8SME
ETP Coordinator
774 Eastside Rd., Coleville, CA 96107
mspencer@arrl.org
or by phone at 530-495-9150 (PST)