Teacher Success Stories

Many of our RET Site attendees have brought their students to the mechatronics laboratory on field trips. Moreover, many have borrowed projects developed under this effort to conduct demos in their classrooms. Our RET Site alumni also visit the new RET attendees during the summer program to present their research projects and to share their approaches to raising funds, integrating project activities in lessons and laboratories, and creating new programs.

2003 RET Site Attendees:

Mr. Richard Balsamel of Science High School, Newark, NJ, raised over $4,000 from his school district for mechatronics kits and supplies, and began a mechatronics research club. In addition, he is introducing mechatronics in his physics classes by integrating four sample activities for students.

Mr. David Deutsch of Manhattan Center for Science and Math High School, New York, NY, has raised over $3,000 from his school and the Children’s Aid Society for mechatronics and robotics kits. He is training students in an after-school mechatronics club. Dave's students have visited the mechatronics laboratory @ Poly and he has borrowed various mechatronics-enabled science experiments from the laboratory.

Mr. Paul Friedman of Seward Park High School, New York, NY, has raised over $1,500 from his school’s alumni association for robotics kits. He has partnered with a colleague to train students in an after-school program. Paul's students have visited the mechatronics laboratory @ Poly and he has borrowed various mechatronics-enabled science experiments from the laboratory.

Mr. Robert Gandolfo of Plainedge High School, North Massapequa, NY, reported on his SMART experience in his school district newspaper. In fall 2004, through his school’s support, Robert obtained 6 Robotics, 6 Board of Education, and 6 Basic Analog and Digital kits from Parallax Inc. In spring 2005, in his Introduction to Engineering class, he began using this material to introduce mechatronics to 20 students over a period of 10 weeks. He has borrowed various mechatronics-enabled science experiments from the laboratory.

Mr. William Leacock of W. C. Mepham High School, Bellmore, NY, received a $1,500 mini-grant from his school district for mechatronics kits. Every other day, during a single class period of AP Physics, he teaches a short lesson introducing his students to a hands-on activity planned for a double class period the following day. Mr. Leacock wrote the following to us: “The students are enjoying it so much that, even though I allow them a break in between the double periods, almost all of them stay and work right through the break. It is wonderful to see them learn and enjoy themselves so much.” He has borrowed various mechatronics-enabled science experiments from the laboratory.

Mr. Michael McDonnell of Midwood High School, Brooklyn, NY, used over $5,000 funding from his school to obtain robotics kits and taught robotics to over 200 students in fall 2003 and spring 2004 through Robotics and Advanced Robotics courses. Furthermore, with colleagues, he applied for and received a 3 year $300,000 grant from his school district under the Vocational and Technical Education Act (VATEA). The VATEA grant is enabling him to develop and implement a four year robotics curriculum in his school.

Ms. Marlene McGarrity of the Christa McAuliffe School, Brooklyn, NY, raised over $1,500 for a project titled, “Young Engineers are Made in Brooklyn through Robotics and Mechatronics,” through an online grant agency. From this grant, she obtained wheeled robots and Mars rover kits, and is using these in her seventh grade classroom. She also wrote an article on her SMART experience.

2004 RET Site Attendees:

Mr. Ed Gruber of Eastchester High School, Eastchester, NY, teaches Science Research and Physics. SMART gave Ed the electrical and mechanical engineering experience he never gained as a physics major in college. The Parallax Boebot has become a regular classroom mascot, appearing in class when teaching vectors and kinematics as a constant velocity vehicle, when teaching waves and optics because of its IR sensing ability, and when teaching electricity when circuitry is being taught. He borrowed several SMART projects, including a cleverly designed Newton's third law experiment and a fascinating Bohr model energy calculator. He is also attempting to push more of his advanced students into doing robotic design projects.

Ms. Amanda Gunning of North Rockland High School has mentored students in her school’s science club to conduct exercises in “What’s a Microcontroller?” In addition, she has brought her students on a field trip to the Mechatronics laboratory @ Poly. Finally, in fall 2004 and spring 2005, she borrowed various mechatronics-enabled science experiments from the laboratory.

Mr. Michael Koumoullos of the Aviation High School, NY, submitted the following to us.

Robotics Take Flight: The effect of the SMART program on Aviation High School

Aviation High School students and staff have embraced robotics. Robotics has flourished inside and outside the classroom. Last year, student participated in two robotics competitions: The FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition and a regional Lego competition. Also, twenty sophomores enrolled in a pre-engineering class taught by Michael Koumoullos, a 2004 RET Site program participant at Polytechnic University.

Led by Laurie Nearon, Assistant Principal of Science, and teachers Samantha Gian and Michael Koumoullos, Aviation High School students participated in the FIRST Robotics Long Island Regional Competition and won two awards: Highest Seeded Rookie and Rookie Inspiration Award. Michael Koumoullos, the technical mentor, learned much of what he knew because he was a participant of the RET Site program at Polytechnic University. The team will compete again this year.

This past spring marked the inception of a pre-engineering course targeting sophomores. Developed by LaGuardia Community College’s College Now staff and Aviation High School teacher Michael Koumoullos the class explored mechanical and electrical engineering and culminated in a robotics design project. The class was taught by Michael Koumoullos.

Aviation High School also entered the world of Lego Robotics by hosting and participating in a regional Lego competition. In early May 2005, Aviation High School hosted a Lego competition run by New York City Department of Education Region 4 Lead Technology Specialist Teresa Bader and her assistants Stephen Shapinsky and Norm Scott. Aviation High School participated in the competition by entering a team mentored by Michael Koumoullos.

Principal Eileen Taylor, Assistant Principal Mario Cotumaccio and Career and Technical Education Liaison for Region 4 Marilyn Scher provided continued support of the school’s robotics endeavors. Mark Peress of DeVry University was a key liaison for the FIRST robotics team. A donation of $6,000 was provided by DeVry University.

Ms. Denise McNamara of High School for Health Professions and Human Services, New York, NY, obtained approx. $1,800 from her school to purchase one Lego Robotics Educator Startup Kit and 5 “What’s a Microcontroller?” kits. She worked with 15 of the brightest students in a “research club” environment.

Dr. Ron Occhiogrosso of HAFTR High and Middle School, New York, presented a poster on his RET work at the 2004 INSPIRE Conference. He has used the Newton’s Third Law experiment and the SMART Weather Balloon, among others, to conduct show-n-tell sessions for his students.

Dr. Vincent Pereira of New Explorations into Science, Technology and Mathematics, a science magnet school in Manhattan, NY gave a talk at the Second Annual RET Pre-Conference at the NSTA National Convention, Dallas, TX, 2005. In fall 2005, he began teaching a class “Introduction to Robotics and Engineering.” It has 15 students and meets for 45 minutes, 3 times a week, for the full year. In this class he is doing experiments on “What’s a Microcontroller” and “Robotics.” Through his school’s support, he obtained 5 kits each of “What’s a Microcontroller” and “Robotics” (approx. $1,100). Finally, Dr. Pereira and his students have participated in the JWOD/JETS National Engineering Design Challenge Competition in which they designed a device to fold sleeping bags into compact bundles.

2005 RET Site Attendees:

Mr. Tom Byrne of New Rochelle High School, New Rochelle, NY, has used robots in his Physics classes and as an introduction to Physics in general. He has also demonstrated robots to the parents at “Meet the Teacher Night” when explaining his summer activities.

Mr. Michael Francesco of Tappan Zee High School, Orangeburg, NY, received a $3,800 grant from the South Orangetown Central School District to acquire robotics kits. He is using these kits in his Active Physics (grade 9), Regents Physics (grades 11 and 12) and AP Physics B classes.

Ms. Joy Hinds of Abraham Lincoln High School, Brooklyn, NY, has written an article in Lincoln Log.

Mr. Robert Morris of Clarkstown North High School, New City, NY, has designed a robotics course which has been approved by his school board for an offering in 2006.

Mr. Joseph Rodichok of Smithtown High School, Smithtown, NY, is using robots in his Physics classes to demonstrate different mechanics related concepts. He has disseminated his project activities to his colleagues during department meetings where he also presented a video demonstration of his experimental apparatus in action.

Mr. Rodolfo Vera of IS 125 Woodside, Woodside, NY, has established an after school robotics club that meets every Wednesday and has 10 student members. In addition, he has conducted several professional development sessions for teachers to expose them to mechatronics and the SMART-type activities.