News Room    

2007 Highlights

Georgia Intern-Fellowships for Teachers (GIFT) is a collaborative effort of corporations and universities designed to enhance mathematics and science experiences of Georgia teachers and their students.  GIFT believes a significant way to impact our students is through its teachers.  By offering business, industry  and research fellowships to teachers, GIFT provides educators first-hand exposure to the skills and knowledge necessary for the preparation of our future workforce: the students currently in Georgia’s classrooms.  Since 1991, GIFT has placed middle and high school math, science and technology teachers from 72 school districts in over 1200 positions throughout the state.  In these fellowships, teachers are involved in cutting edge scientific research, data analysis, curriculum  development and real-world inquiry and problem solving.

Highlights from the summer of 2007……

·         100 Teachers placed throughout Georgia

·         33 School districts from 29 counties represented

·         40 High School students worked alongside their teachers in laboratories at Georgia Tech.  High schools include:  Chamblee Magnet, Cedar Grove and Mays, Miller Grove, Tri-Cities, Stone Mountain and Westlake.  Student research positions were funded by the Intel and Siemen’s Foundation

2007 Corporate Sponsors:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CIBA Vision, EMS Technologies, Georgia Power, Gwinnett Health System, RFS Pharma, Optima Chemicals, PPC Airfoils, Scientific Atlanta, Street Smarts, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Stiefel Laboratories and United Parcel Service

 2007 University Partners:  Albany State, Emory University, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, and University of Georgia’s Tifton, Griffin and Athens campuses

 Summer Experience Summary

Teachers worked in corporations on various projects including performing analytical test on water quality samples, lake temperature samples while gaining an understanding of the importance of maintaining appropriate emission levels for chemicals released into the environments during power generation; gaining an understanding of the applications of science and mathematics involved in customer care; developing a standard timesheet for employees using Excel and an Access database for tracking Family and Medical leave; devising a system to track the country of origin for materials purchased; various projects within the biomedical industry through member companies of the Georgia Biomedical Partnership

At the University of Georgia on Athens, Griffin and Tifton campuses, GIFT teachers were involved in projects making biodiesel that meets ASTM specifications; gaining an understand of the principle of using "good" insects to kill "bad" insects as a means of biological control to reduce pesticide/insecticide costs, and the impact of pesticides on the environment; research on comparative genetics and bioinformatics comparing known genomic codes in order to compare the origin of human tissues with implications in understanding their evolutionary history and the potential of developing blood tests to test for the presence of cancer or genetic predisposition of disease; developing materials and providing input on a project connecting K-12 classroom teachers a wealth of information and data available through the www.georgiaweather.net  UGA automated weather Internet site; working with an enzyme from a thermophillic bacterium with plans to discuss the chemical structure of isomers and the impact of an isomer in Thalidomide that caused severe birth defects

Teachers at Emory University developed curriculum units and websites integrating the new Georgia Performance Standards.  The guides included problem and inquiry-based approaches to Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Health

At Georgia Tech teachers worked on projects utilizing podcasts to develop real-world science applications, classroom management tools, and science curriculum activities; working with the Food Process and Technology division at GTRI on projects to solve industry problems by enhancing methodologies, devising new systems, as well as introducing automated (robotics) elements to the processing system; facilitating a series of highly educational and hands on computer camps, to engage students in computer programs and NXT programmable robots; developing demonstrations and building a Material Science Resource Kit; working on a project comparing etch rates and profiles of Silicon wafers while developing an educational unit on nanotechnology in the cosmetic industry; gaining an understanding of  practical applications of nanotechnology relating to physics that include refraction, reflection, angular kinematics, and atomic physics; utilizing traffic engineering software

High school students and their GIFT teachers were involved in applying civil engineering concepts to earthquakes, working to develop a procedure to streamline and maximize the production of a diester used in biomedical engineering scaffolds to maximize the production of the scaffold, conducting a study on the impact of cellular phone use at traffic intersections in Industrial Systems Engineering

 Quotes from GIFT Fellows:

• “GIFT could also stand for great information for teachers--to carry back into their classrooms. For the past two years, GIFT has given me the opportunity to learn about real-world science research and applications so that I can share that information with my students. GIFT gives me the opportunity to learn and explore topics of interest--something I hope all my students will do.”  Laura Rowe, Gwinnett County Schools - UGA Athens

• “The GIFT experience has provided me with enthusiasm and new knowledge. This, in turn, is my "gift" to my students.”  Cathy Raymer, Griffin-Spalding Schools - UGA Griffin

• “GIFT has given me the opportunity to see firsthand how a corporation selects a candidate to be hired and the hiring process. This is valuable to my students because a lot of students enter the workforce right after graduating high school. I also gained real world experience with the programs that I teach. I will be able to share how corporations use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.”  Stephanie Pendley, Douglas County Schools - Georgia Power Plant Wansley
• The GIFT program has been a great experience for me.  I've expanded my knowledge base in Science, especially in the field of Nanotechnology, which has allowed me to share with my students cutting edge research and development that will one day impact their lives if it hasn't already.  Silas Brown, Fayette County Schools – GT GTRI

• GIFT has given me the opportunity to bring current science issues and techniques to my students!  Rochelle Hamby, Fulton County Schools – GT NNIN

• GIFT has been an amazing experience!  You truly appreciate the research that goes into scientific discoveries, and you have relevant first hand experience to relate to your students.  John Schellenberg, Gwinnett County Schools – UGA Athens

• “Answering the age old question, "What am I gonna use this for", since 1991.... GIFT.”  Berkil Alexander, Cobb County Schools – GT GTRI