INSTRUCTIONAL UNIT GUIDELINES
5
2010 NY STEM SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
AT RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Projected Dates:
July 26 – July 31, 2010
August 1 – August 7, 2010
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The 2010 NY STEM @RPI provides up to 350 (~ 175 per week) talented rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade
students the opportunity to increase their mathematics/science skills, an introduction to college life, and to
stimulate interest in STEM professions as a potential career path. Participants are selected from middle
schools in Yonkers and New York City.
MISSION:
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The mission of the NY STEM @RPI is to (a) establish a foundation for learning STEM
disciplines in middle school and high school, (b) accelerate participating students who have
demonstrated potential to succeed to more actively engage in meeting that potential, and (c)
create a summer experience that serves as a means to improve learning, communication and
college readiness between school, parents, teachers and students in an urban school district.
Participants are grouped into 15 member teams with each team led by two teachers per session. An
instructional unit must be designed for students entering 7th, 8th, and 9th grade, to engage students in
learning and problem solving, to link with one or more learning standards, to complement or supplement
school classroom instruction, and to be cost effective in terms of development, delivery and evaluation.
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Inter- and intra-disciplinary units are a priority for NY STEM @RPI. Teams of teachers and or
counselors are encouraged to apply.
An instructional unit is 40 hours of instruction per week, designed to focus on the fundamentals, concepts
and principles of doing science and mathematics, and selected from one of the following themes: energy
security (e.g., alternative energy, environment, green housing, etc.), national security (e.g., immigration,
health care, cyber-security, etc.), nanotechnology, and biotechnology. Acceptable units should be
designed to facilitate (a) development of critical thinking, problem solving and learning skills through a
series of ‘hands-on’ project based activities, (b) how to acquire, retain, and apply discipline focused
knowledge, and (c) an attitude for academic and personal excellence. Units that include technology, use
of chemistry and biology laboratories, LEGO robotics, and field trips that encourage participants to
actively seek and construct models representing phenomena in a meaningful way will receive the highest
priority.
The templates provided on pages 2 - 9 are intended to serve as a planning and implementation platform
for the instructional unit. Each unit will be offered twice; once per week. You may reproduce the form
using a Microsoft Word format only. Instructional units will be collected and submitted as part of the
project’s final report to NYC Department of Education, Yonkers City School District, and the NYS
Education Department, Office of School Improvement.
The rate of pay is $50.00/hr, 80 hours instruction (2 weeks), and 40 hours preparation, for a maximum of
120 hours for a two-week unit. Housing, meals and parking is provided on the Rensselaer campus at no
additional cost to participating teachers.
Instructional unit proposals must be submitted to Mark Smith, Dean of Students, at smithm@rpi.edu no
later than April 1, 2010 for full consideration.
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 1
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NY STEM Summer Enrichment Program @ Rensselaer
Instructional Rubric
CRITERIA
Presentation
Creativity
Oral
Presentation
Teamwork
Scientific
Concepts
Mathematical
Concepts
Technology
Application
Excellent
 Well planned
presentation
documenting steps
leading to a conclusion
 excellent use of graphics
and written descriptions
 students able to
communicate and
represent their
understanding to the
audience
 Project is original and
unique
 experimental data,
knowledge and ideas are
integrated into the
presentation leading to
new insights, a novel
solution and/or outcome
 Excellent verbal
communication, well
organized and included
coherent sequencing of
the topic
 exhibited confidence and
enthusiasm presenting
the material
 exhibits teamwork and
responsible collaboration
during project and
presentation
 equitable distribution of
workload
 adequate resolution of
member conflicts
 Applies and articulates
scientific concepts
independently
 Applies and articulates
mathematical principles
independently
 Demonstrates and uses
technological tools to
improve understanding
and learning
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
QUALITY
MEASRURE
Good
Fair
 Evidence of planning but
lacked a coherent
pathway to a conclusion
 good use of graphics and
written descriptions
 students able to
moderately communicate
and represent their
understanding
 Some evidence of
planning but does not
present a pathway to a
conclusive end
 fair use of graphics and
written descriptions
 marginal communication
and representation of
their understanding
 Project is original and
unique
 lacks experimental data,
knowledge, and ideas
integrated into the
presentation to lead to
new insights, a novel
solution and/or outcome
 Good verbal
communication, evidence
of some organization and
included some elements
of the topic
 somewhat confident but
lacked enthusiasm
 Project is not very
original or unique
 little or no data used to
support a conclusion or
outcome
 Evidence of collaboration
in the presentation and
project
 Inequitable distribution of
workload and project
responsibility
 some resolution to
conflict but tension is
evident in presentation
 Applies and articulates
scientific concepts but
requires assistance
 Applies and articulates
mathematical principles
but requires assistance
 Able to use technological
tools
 Some collaboration but
clearly not equitable
 Gaps evident in
knowledge and
participation
 average verbal
communication but lacks
a coherent organization
and adequate use of the
scientific method
 lacks confidence and/or
enthusiasm
 Unable to apply or
articulate scientific
principles
 Unable to apply or
articulate mathematical
principles
 Unable to grasp the use
of technology to
enhance understanding
and learning
Page 2
INSTRUCTIONAL UNIT DESCRIPTION
Instructional Unit Title:
Instructor(s):
Home Address:
City, ST & Zip:
Phone:
Email:
School:
Subject(s) Taught:
Proposal Outline
(Please respond to each item and staple or attach your responses to this cover sheet.)

Instructional Unit Description:

Describe the Instructional unit. Include why you believe it is needed, what learning
standards might be addressed through this unit, and how it would be disseminated
into classroom instruction.

List the goal(s), objective(s) and expected outcome(s) of this instructional unit:

List and briefly describe instructional unit activities, projects and/or laboratory
experiences. Include a topical, weekly outline of activities for the unit.

Briefly describe what, if any, classroom, laboratory, equipment and/or computing
access you need to fully implement the instructional unit.

Outline an assessment plan linked to learning standards, goals and objectives, and
expected outcomes for the instructional unit.

Provide a ONE-paragraph summary of your proposed project. If your project is
selected for funding, this summary will be used to report and publicize the
instructional unit.
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 3
Proposed BUDGET for Instructional Unit
(Final Payment upon Receipt of Instructional Unit)
Budget Category
Estimated Cost
Instructor’s Stipend (includes preparation time [40 hours],
Instructional time [80 hours], Final Report narrative)
@$50.00/hour
 Teacher 1 (
)
Discipline Type
 Teacher 2 (
)
Discipline Type
Subtotal, Instructor’s Stipend
$
Requested Instructional Supplies & Materials (Specify):
(unit cost x # units)
(unit cost x # units)
(unit cost x # units)
(unit cost x # units)
Subtotal, Instructional Supplies & Materials
$
Requested Equipment (Specify):
(unit cost x # units)
(unit cost x # units)
(unit cost x # units)
Subtotal, Equipment
Projected TOTAL COST
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
$
$
Page 4
R ENSSELAER P OLYTECHNIC I NSTITUTE
D EAN OF S TUDENTS O FFICE
T ROY , N EW Y ORK
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NY STEM SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
PROPOSED Instructional Unit Template
Standard:
Instructional Unit Title:
Faculty Name(s):
Desired Results
Goals/Objectives:
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 5
Essential Questions (Application &
Above):
Linkage (other subjects & field trips):
Students Will Know (Content) …………
Students Will Be Able To ………………..
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 6
Evidence of Understanding
Performance Tasks (Projects, Design Your Own, Models, Reports, etc.):
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 7
Key Criteria (Rubric, Self-Assessment):
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 8
Other Assessments (Pre-/Post-Test, etc):
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 9
Teaching Plan
(Learning Activities – include all activities, time frame safety note, resources, etc;
Attach copy of activities)
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 10
D EAN O F S TUDENTS O FFICE
P IPELINE I NITIATIVES & P ARTNERSHIPS
NY5STEM SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
(YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT & NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION)
FINAL Instructional Unit Technical Report
Instructional Unit Title:
Faculty Name(s):
CHECKLIST OF REPORT CONTENTS

Course Description

Course Objectives

Instructional Format




Lab
Lecture/Discussion
Interactive Teaching
Project

Final Detailed Format Description

Final Roster and Attendance

Faculty Assessment
DUE DATE: August 30, 2010
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 11
NYS STEM SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
(YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT & NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION)
Instructional Unit Technical Report
Instructional Unit Title:
Faculty Name(s):
I.
Instructional Unit Description:
Briefly describe the instructional unit, rationale, and learning standards addressed by this unit
II.
Instructional Unit Objectives and/or Goals:
Include a brief description of intended learning outcomes and assessment.
III.
Instructional Unit Format:
Briefly describe the format of the unit (i.e., lab, lecture/discussion, interactive teaching, project,
or combination of above) and rationale for selecting the format used in this unit.
IV.
Final Detailed Laboratory/Interactive Teaching / Project Descriptions
(Instructional Unit Lesson Plans):
For each session, attach a detailed description of the session including goals and objective of
that session, materials used, and a copy of worksheets, laboratories, demonstrations, projects,
and any other information useful for replication of the session.
V.
Final Roster and Attendance:
Attach a copy of the participant roster.
VI.
Faculty Assessment:
Write a brief summary, from your perspective as developer / instructor, of the NYS STEM
Summer Program instructional unit. Include comments as to appropriateness of the
instruction, what went well, what did not go well, which topics were of most and least interest
to participants, changes in format and instruction you would make if you had it to do over
again, and recommendations for future instructional units.
VII.
Evaluation Materials and Results:
Briefly describe evaluation and/or assessment measures of student performance. Attach a
copy of each evaluation or assessment instrument used to measure performance and a
summary of participant performance in the unit with individual scores (if applicable).
Instructional Unit Request for Proposals
Page 12