[Federal Register: December 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 234)]
[Notices]
[Page 72861-72862]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07de05-125]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13.
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published
in the Federal Register at 70 FR 54584, and two comments were received.
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the
publication of this second notice. Comments regarding (a) whether the
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information
to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology should
be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB,
Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725--17th
Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H.
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail
to splimpto@nsf.gov. Comments regarding these information collections
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days
of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by
calling 703-292-7556.
NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such persons are not required to
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comment: On September 15, 2005, we published in the Federal
Register (70 FR 54584) a 60-day notice of our intent to request renewal
of this information collection authority from OMB. In that notice, we
solicited public comments for 60 days ending November 14, 2005. Two
comments were received from the same person in response to the public
notice (the second in response to NSF's reply). The comments came from
B. Sachau of Florham Park, NJ, via e-mail on September 20, 2005 and
October 12, 2005. Ms. Sachau objected to the information collection but
had no specific suggestions for altering the data collection plans
other than suggesting that teachers could pay for their own courses.
Response: We responded to Ms. Sachau on October 12, 2005 describing
the program and noting that these experiences are valuable for teachers
because they take back to their classrooms knowledge they gained and
experiences they as a result of exposure to the research component of
technology commercialization. On October 12, 2005 we received a follow-
up reply from Ms. Sachau restating that she dislikes the program. NSF
believes that because the comment does not pertain to the collection of
information on the required forms for which NSF is seeking OMB
approval, NSF is preceding with the clearance request.
Title: Evaluation of the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)
Program.
OMB Control Number: 3145-0198.
Abstract: The Directorate for Engineering (ENG) initiated the
Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplements activity in FY 2001
to be add-ons to active awards funded by ENG programs. The intent was
to build on the popular NSF-wide Research Experiences for
Undergraduates (REU) Supplements activity by providing opportunities
for K-12 teachers to conduct hands-on experiences in the laboratories/
facilities of ENG-funded researchers. The assumption was that, like
undergraduates, the teachers could benefit from involvement in research
and direct exposure to the scientific method, and they could transfer
what they learned into classroom activities. Typically the supplements
supported one or two teachers. Beginning in FY 2002, ENG has also
funded RET Site awards, which are similar to REU Sites in that NSF
awards fund groups of teachers to work with faculty members at the same
institution and to engage in group activities related to the research.
In 2003, community college faculty became eligible as participants in
RET
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awards. By design, all RET awards are made to the university in whose
research the teachers participate.
The initial study of the program just concluded focused on
participants in ENG-funded RET Supplement and Site awards in 2001
through 2003. That study resulted in modifications to the RET program
announcement for the FY 2006 competition. The proposed follow-up study
will be very similar to the initial study and focus on teachers who
participated in RET during 2004 and 2005. The follow-on study will
examine how RET experience have affected participating teachers'
subsequent teaching techniques, attitudes about teaching, and
professional development activities. Outcomes and impacts beyond the
teachers' own classrooms, such as knowledge transfer activities, formal
partnerships formed between the RET Principal Investigators (PIs)--the
awardees--and the teachers' school system/district will also be
examined. The first survey found that follow-up interaction between PIs
and teachers were strongly related to reported positive effects.
Accordingly, the follow-up study will explore this aspect of the
experience in somewhat greater detail than was done in the first
survey. The survey data collection will be done on the World Wide Web
as before.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 15-30 minutes per response.
Respondents: Individuals.
Estimated Number of Responses per Form: 456.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 206 hours (456
respondents at 15-30 minutes per response).
Frequency of Response: One time.
Dated: December 2, 2005.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-23708 Filed 12-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M