SENSE IT - transitioning from research to retail with an ocean sensing educational program

This paper describes the issues involved in progressing from the research and development stage of a pilot educational program to a finished product and a sustainable mechanism for delivering it to classrooms nationwide and beyond. The original project, a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) project, was designed to enrich science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education using educational modules that teach students to construct, program, and test sensors used to monitor water quality. During the six years of the SENSE IT project, over 90 teachers across the United States implemented the modules in their classrooms with over 3,000 middle and high school students. Project evaluation results indicate that the curriculum is well received by teachers and students, can be integrated into several different subject areas and types of courses, and is effective for a wide range of students, The next stage of refining this program involves developing a sustainable commercial vehicle for producing, updating and disseminating the materials. In contrast, many such educational programs are terminated at the end of their initial R&D grant funding.