A Transformative Apprentice Research STEM Program

This paper presents a Transformative Apprentice Research (TAR) STEM program for high school students. The TAR-STEM program consists of a long term research component and a supportive and rigorous STEM curriculum. The curriculum consists of existing science, mathematics, and other core/elective courses such as would be found in a traditional high school program, specialized courses that include an introduction to research method and two Technology and Engineering courses, and a Universityor industry-based research mentorship that starts in the summer of the 10 th grade and culminates in a senior capstone project. The Introduction to Research method class is designed to provide students with a vital, year long, full-emersion experience into the processes and activities involved with scientific and engineering research and practices. The Technology and Engineering courses, in 10 th and 11 th grades, introduce students to the technology tools and their applications in science and engineering practices through modern, hands-on experiments. These courses integrate a wide variety of universityand industry-based research topics as students participate in their research mentorship. The TAR-STEM program aligns itself with the vision of the National Research Center (NRC) Framework and the recommendations of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), especially students’ engagement in science and engineering practices. The TAR-STEM students have demonstrated a greater appreciation for secondary and post-secondary STEM education.