Advancing Digital Health Technology: A Summer Research Program for High School and Community College Educators

About This Grant

Project Summary The Digital Health Research and AI Training Program at the University of North Texas (UNT) provides a hands-on summer research experience for high school science teachers in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region. This initiative immerses educators in digital health, AI-driven healthcare solutions, and wearable health technologies, equipping them with the skills to integrate real-world digital health applications into STEM curricula. Under the guidance of faculty mentors from engineering, health sciences, and education, participating teachers conduct research in active digital health and AI labs, gaining direct exposure to cutting-edge work in embedded systems, biosensors, medical imaging, and AI-powered diagnostics. The program places ten high school teachers in research laboratories, where they engage in structured study design, bio-signal data collection, and machine learning analysis of physiological signals such as ECG, PPG, and motion data. Educators also participate in targeted workshops designed to provide foundational knowledge in AI, digital health research, and embedded systems, ensuring they have the necessary prerequisites to apply these concepts in their teaching. Through hands-on training, teachers develop wearable health devices, implement real-time bio-signal processing, and explore AI-driven digital health applications, culminating in collaborative research studies with university faculty. Using a Community of Practice model, teachers work alongside faculty and peers to develop STEM lesson plans, curriculum maps, and instructional materials aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). This program directly addresses the lack of hands-on AI and digital health research training opportunities for high school educators in the DFW region, bridging the gap between academic research and STEM education. By integrating biosensors, real-time signal processing, and embedded AI concepts into classroom instruction, educators empower students to engage with real-world biomedical challenges and explore careers in digital health, healthcare AI, and digital health technologies. The program includes a comprehensive evaluation plan assessing curriculum improvement, classroom implementation, and student engagement in biomedical AI topics. Teachers participate in pre- and post-program assessments, classroom observation studies, and long-term tracking of student learning outcomes. The initiative also incorporates structured dissemination opportunities, enabling educators to present their research experiences and curriculum materials at regional STEM education conferences, school district professional development workshops, and AI in healthcare summits. This initiative enhances teacher expertise in digital health and AI, expands the STEM workforce pipeline, and fosters student interest in healthcare innovation by providing a sustainable professional development model. Through collaborations with local research institutions, industry partners, and K-12 networks, the program ensures a lasting impact on high school STEM education in the DFW region.