The AAR Program is a unique opportunity for students in grades 10-12 to engage in original research in an area of their choosing. Students are paired with mentors who are experts in the field of the student's choosing. It is possible, and encouraged, for students to collaborate with one another on a given project. Mentors support and facilitate the student's work in the mentor's lab, office, or other appropriate environment. A process oriented curriculum, developed by the AAR team, supports students as they research. The AAR program is offered in Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD). This district serves 12,485 students in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley. The program was initiated and implemented during 2015 in the district’s two high schools (Henry M. Gunn High School with 1,939 students and Palo Alto High School with 1,994 students). Students from these two high schools are invited to participate in the effort to connect student learning to real-world problem solving. This program strives to fulfill a mission of nurturing student interest and igniting student passion through real world, hands-on research while enabling students to explore career pathways. The program is aligned with the Career and Technical Education foundation standards in conjunction with Next Generation Science and Engineering Practice Standards. This paves the way for students to explore topics in a wide variety of disciplines including STEM, Humanities, Business, and Social Science fields. While engaged in a project of their choosing, the AAR students bring passion, curiosity, and perseverance to the program. All students in the program are engaged in six milestones throughout the academic year; these milestones run parallel with the scientific research process. This poster presentation will capture the first year outcomes from the development and implementation of the program.

Advanced Authentic Research (AAR) program: A public school district research program

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.