RAOP
Participant Support
Apply to RAOP →RAOP is a three-week summer research experience for educators (two weeks virtual + one week on-site at Howard University in Washington, DC). The program serves educators in the Washington, DC metro area across three jurisdictions only: District of Columbia (DC), Maryland (MD), and Virginia (VA). To reduce barriers to participation and accelerate classroom adoption, RAOP provides participant support and a structured pathway to develop classroom-ready robotics and automation learning modules that can be adopted by high-need LEAs.
Recruitment and outreach activities focus on high-need LEAs within the DC/MD/VA service area, including coordination with school districts and educator networks to ensure eligible educators are aware of the opportunity and support available for participation.
Five-Year Virtual Lab Access (Through March, 2030)
As a program benefit, participating educators receive access to RAOP virtual laboratories through Quanser Interactive Labs through the NSF project period (through March, 2030). This enables educators to continue using the digital-twin activities with their students in K–12 classrooms and to support implementation within their schools and districts.
- Use virtual labs to support classroom demonstrations, guided inquiry activities, and robotics/autonomy lesson modules.
- Reinforce student learning with repeatable, safe digital experiments that complement classroom constraints (time, equipment access, and lab availability).
- Sustain implementation beyond the summer program by integrating the virtual resources into district curriculum planning and classroom routines.
What Participants Gain
RAOP is designed to produce classroom-ready outputs—not just training. By the end of the cycle, each educator leaves with practical materials and a clear plan for implementation in high-need school settings.
- Guided experience with robotics, control, and autonomy concepts using a structured simulation-to-hardware workflow.
- Coached practice with inquiry-based facilitation strategies appropriate for STEM labs and demonstrations.
- Use of curated program materials and digital resources aligned to RAOP platforms and workflows.
- Direct technical support for setup and troubleshooting during virtual labs and the on-site week.
- A classroom-ready lesson plan aligned to a RAOP robotics/autonomy activity (with learning objectives and student tasks).
- Student-facing materials (instructions, prompts, and templates) prepared for classroom use.
- An assessment plan (formative checks + summative rubric) aligned to evidence of learning and feasibility constraints.
- An implementation plan supporting adoption in high-need LEAs (pacing, constraints, required resources, and adaptations).
Educator Support Package (Per Year)
The table below summarizes participant support for the annual cohort. Amounts are shown per educator and as annual totals for the eight-person cohort.
Housing and travel support are intended for eligible non-local participants within the DC/MD/VA service area whose primary residence is more than 30 miles or approximately more than 30 minutes one-way from Howard University under typical weekday conditions. Final eligibility determinations are confirmed during onboarding and are subject to university and sponsor policies.
| Category | Per educator | Educators | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online stipend (Weeks 1–2, virtual) Provided after completion of Weeks 1–2 requirements and submission of required administrative forms (per university processing timelines). | $1,000 | 8 | $8,000 |
| On-site stipend (Week 3, Howard University – Washington, DC) Provided after completion of the on-site week and submission of required administrative forms (per university processing timelines). | $2,000 | 8 | $16,000 |
| Housing / accommodation support (Week 3, on-site) Intended for eligible non-local participants (DC/MD/VA) whose primary residence is more than 30 miles or approximately more than 30 minutes one-way from Howard University under typical weekday conditions. Eligibility and procedures are confirmed during onboarding and subject to university and sponsor policies. | $2,400 | 8 | $19,200 |
| Travel support (Week 3, on-site) Available to eligible non-local participants (DC/MD/VA) and processed according to university and sponsor requirements; documentation may be required. | $500 | 8 | $4,000 |
| Total support (maximum) | $5,900 | 8 | $47,200 |
Total educator participant support across five annual cycles (40 educators):$236,000.
Important Notes
- Participant support is contingent on completion of required program activities and completion of required onboarding/logistics steps.
- Disbursement timelines, required forms, and detailed instructions are provided during the onboarding period. University processing timelines may apply.
- Participants should retain receipts and documentation as required for travel and housing processes.
Follow RAOP
Updates, announcements, and participant highlights.
Official RAOP social channels. Additional platforms will be added as they launch.