Case created a research poster based on experience which made him receive the first place prize from the National Science Foundation. Moreover, using the said research, Case has developed an educational module designed for high school teachers which is set to be published on the website of the National Science Foundation.
"He pushes himself to be a better teacher by always being a student of science," said Debbra Kraszeski, Principal at the Southern Guilford High School after the success of the research made by its very own Mark Case.
According to Kraszeski, she believes the reason why the 52-year-old science teacher is such an efficient and successful science teacher is because of his eagerness to keep on learning each passing day of his life.
"By that, I mean he spends his summers in professional development; he is highly involved in being better as a science teacher," she added.
Letting educators translate new knowledge and experience drawn from research into classroom activities is the purpose of the Research Experience for Teachers in Engineering and Computer Science.
Case together with his other teammates accomplish the biodegradable microbeads and nanofibers' mechanical testing which enabled said researchers to work on the strengthening of the microbeads in order to expand its applications for medical use.
Case said, "A team of experts came by to ask questions about the research that has been displayed and what you're trying to convey."
As part of the said research experience, the participants were mandated to create a poster.
The team had to split the poster into three parts. Case did the first one which is to focus in the educational component while the undergraduate students had worked on the research. Afterwards, the poster was then presented for a defense.
"They told me the reason I won first place is because I scored a perfect score in the rubric," he added.
Case, who eventually achieved to be a science teacher inspired by his homeroom teacher in high school, was the first in his family to finish a college degree.
"I love science, and he encouraged me to pursue it," Case furthered. "My lifelong dream is to get a PhD and teach at the collegiate level."
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