Hybrid Training Opportunity at the ITEEA Annual Conference

WaterBotics

As part of this National Science Foundation-sponsored project, Stevens Institute of Technology is launching a hybrid training course for WaterBotics that will be piloted with select ITEEA members during 2012-13. In order to be properly prepared to implement the WaterBotics program, teachers typically require several days to a full week of hands-on, face-to-face training.

At the 2012 ITEEA Conference in Long Beach, CA, Stevens will initiate a pilot hybrid training program for selected ITEEA members that will reduce the time by combining face-to-face training during a one-day workshop with online training to be completed following the conference.

Key details are as follows:

• Stevens will conduct a full-day, preconference workshop on Wednesday before the conference (March 14, 2012) for 20 ITEEA members.
• This session will be followed by four online modules to be completed within 4-6 weeks after the conference. These modules will consist of written materials, videos, screencasts, simulations, and web conferences, with the goal of maximizing flexibility for the participants.
• There is an application process to select participants.
• Preference will be given to 2-member teams of teachers from the same school or district.
• Each participant will receive a $500 stipend and reimbursement for their conference registration. The stipend will be split into two or more installments pending completion of implementation and evaluation requirements.
• Each team will receive a kit of equipment valued at $3,500 to implement the program during the 2012-13 school year.

If you are an ITEEA member and are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you and a partner at your school to apply. Please note that each partner must complete an application form.
The deadline for submitting applications has been extended to February 15, 2012. Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis as applications are received. Full information, including application, is available at http://waterbotics.org/iteea/.

Teaching Technology and Engineering Showcase in Long Beach, CA

TTES Chairperson Bill Van Loo would like to invite ALL to consider presenting at this year's Teaching Technology and Engineering Showcase (TTES) at the ITEEA conference in Long Beach. Here are some photos from last year's TTES to help you get an idea of what the event looks like:

Some facts about presenting at the TTES:
1. It's easy! You don't have to have a prepared talk, just an idea, some materials to show and give out, and a desire to share your idea with colleagues.
2. Sharing material will again be done digitally, so there's very little you have to pack with you if you don't want to.
3. This is a GREAT way to get started sharing ideas with your colleagues, especially for new teachers or preservice teachers. Think of the resume boost this could give you! Those of you in teacher prep programs - please share this opportunity with your students!
4. Applying is fast and easy with our online proposal system – just fill out the form online and click "Submit"!
Click here to sign up today!

EbD™ Teacher Effectiveness Coaches (TECs) Prepare EbDLabs™ for Long Beach

Join the Engineering byDesign™ Teacher Effectiveness Coaches (TECs) in Long Beach as they bring EbDLabs™ to Conference attendees. For a nominal cost, participants will engage in a half-day professional learning opportunity in Technology Starters, Invention, Innovation & Inquiry, Exploring Technology (Grade 6), Invention and Innovation (Grade 7), Technological Systems (Grade 8), Foundations of Technology 3 (Grade 9), Technological Design (HS), Advanced Design Applications (HS), Advanced Technological Applications (HS), Technology and Society (HS) and Engineering Design (HS). See the descriptions here:  www.iteea.org/Conference/EbDProgram.pdf 

The TECs look forward to seeing you in Long Beach!

EbD™ and the NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering

How do we prepare the students of today to help solve the greatest challenges that 21st Century innovators face? EbD™ Teacher Effectiveness Coaches (TECs) met in Herndon, VA on January 13-16, 2012 to align the Engineering byDesign™ (EbD™) model STEM program and the STL content standards with the 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering developed by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). The result is a strategic planning matrix to guide current and pending EbD™ curriculum development. This is yet another way that EbD™ prepares the students of today for the challenges of tomorrow.

The EbD™ Teacher Effective Coaches (TECs) also worked to strategically align the Common Core Standards for Mathematics (CCSM) and English Language Arts (CCSELA) with the Engineering byDesign™ (EbD™) model STEM program. This resulted in two new matrices for EbD™ program development: The CCSM Responsibility Matrix and the CCSELA Responsibility Matrix. These matrices complement the original Standards for Technological Literacy (STL) Matrix, which serves as the overarching curriculum development guide. All three matrices, used together, firmly anchor all EbD™ curriculum in standards for technology, mathematics, and English language arts.

EbD™ continues to incorporate the NSES and the AAAS Science standards and is looking ahead toward the release of the Next Generation Science Standards to ensure complete standards-based development and alignment.

William Stanley Scarborough

Mr. William Stanley Scarborough, 94, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

A native of Pitt County, NC, his first job was in Goldsboro. That year he was drafted into the Army and served in the China-Burma Theater. Following his service in the Army, he immediately went to NC State College where he earned his Master’s Degree in Industrial Arts.

Following his graduation from NC State, he taught Industrial Arts in Mooresville before moving to Greensboro, where he renewed the old shop at Central Junior High. Immediately he made friends and became active in organizations for IA teachers. A new junior high school was opened, and Bill was chosen to organize and put the shop into operation. Twenty-three years later he had the showcase shop of the state. Bill valued education and worked to teach young people the value of learning. He was awarded many honors during his teaching career, and his work touched the lives of many. Bill Scarborough's full obituary may be found at www.forbisanddick.com.

CTTE News and Updates

News from the Council of Technology Teacher Education (CTTE)  

• Name Change of the Council: In the Spring of 2011, the executive committee initiated a scholarly discussion to change the name of the Council to reflect changes in the field of technology and engineering education. After much discussion, the executive committee decided that the name that best represents the council today is the Council on Technology and Engineering Teacher Education (CTETE). The call for a name change that will require changing our constitution and bylaws will occur in March at the Annual Business meeting at the 2012 ITEEA conference in Long Beach, CA. All members will be electronically contacted and asked to vote on the proposed name change.

• Cancellation of Specialized Program Area (SPA) within NCATE: The “technology education” Specialized Program Area (SPA) within NCATE will be cancelled. For more than two and one-half years, CTTE has been paying the full dues (approximately $20K a year) to support ITEEA/CTTE/NCATE accreditation. It is not “financially feasible” for the CTTE to continue paying these dues, as we do not have sufficient revenue. We are working with NCATE to finish up those accreditations in the pipeline. A possible option for those needing to accredit their technology and engineering education programs may be through The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE – http://atmae.org). However, this is an option that needs more exploration by CTTE and its membership. 

• Disbanding of the Association for sTEm Teacher Education (ASTE) – formerly known as the National Association of Industrial Teacher Trainers (NAITTE): ASTE has been disbanded, effective 12/31/11. The association was founded in 1937 to “develop closer cooperation among educators engaged in the preparation of teachers in industrial arts, trade and industrial education, and technical education.” For many years, their journal (which is now inactive), the Journal of sTEm Teacher Education (formerly the Journal of Industrial Teacher Education—JITE) helped shape and inform the profession of technology education. 

• CTTE Program at the 2012 ITEEA Annual Conference: We have received a good number of research, poster, and general conference presentations for ITEEA's Long Beach conference. The 2012 CTTE Conference program can be found online at www.ctteonline.org/annual_conference/2012%20CTTE%20Agenda.pdf
  
  The annual CTTE business meeting will be on Friday March 16th at 1:00 pm at ITEEA's Long Beach conference. Information about the conference can be accessed at www.iteea.org/Conference/conferenceguide.htm

• CTTE Website: We have updated and “reverted back” to our old CTTE website address (i.e., www.ctteonline.org). When you “Google” CTTE, you will be taken to this site – please check it out. Maintaining the website has now become the responsibility of the CTTE Secretary, Mike Grubbs, and I would like to publicly thank him for all of his hard work in updating our website. If you would like to add something to this site or make a suggestion, please contact Mike directly at michael.grubbs@clayton.k12.ga.us 

• CTTE Committees: We have worked hard this past fall to update all CTTE committees.  Thanks to all who responded to our requests—we will continue to update this at our annual meeting. The updated 2011-2012 CTTE Committee Membership Directory handbook can be accessed on the CTTE website under “Committees” or at www.ctteonline.org/Committees/2011_2012_Committee_Member_Directory%20-%20Reeve%20edited.pdf 

• CTTE Membership: Total membership is approximately 300 (137 dues-paying members and 159 life members).  

• Journal of Technology Education (JTE): Just a quick reminder that the most recent issue of JTE can be read at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v23n1/. The editor, the editorial board, and all authors who submit to this journal should be commended for their hard work in helping keep this “high quality journal” the premiere journal in the field of technology and engineering education.

Online Article Addresses STEM Misconceptions

Check out this article by Matt Walton, a technology and engineering education teacher at Glen Allen High School in Henrico County, Virginia and an ITEEA member who is now a contributor to CNN's Education blog.

My View: Technology and Engineering, the Forgotten Part of STEM Education...

“You might have noticed a recent TV commercial from Chevron Corp. showing a Chevron professional next to an eighth-grade student with a robot. The student describes the remote control robot, and the young Chevron professional talks about how a high school science teacher made him what he is today (a geologist for Chevron). The next part of the commercial caught my attention, because in bold letters the words “Science Rules” flashed on the screen. While I agree that “science rules,” so does technology and engineering.

What the ad is demonstrating is not science education, but rather the middle two letters of STEM – or science, technology, engineering and math – education. Often technology and engineering education is overlooked when people talk about STEM education or when governments make decisions about education policy…

Read the full article here.

Upcoming Triangle Coalition Events

• Spring Symposium on STEM Education
presented by Triangle Coalition
 
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Washington, DC
 
Please join us for this special symposium on STEM education taking place just before the USA Science and Engineering Festival. Sessions and panel discussions will be held during the morning, focusing on STEM education legislative issues as well as current research. During the afternoon, groups of attendees will have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress and their staff to discuss STEM education and its importance as a national priority. A networking reception will follow in the evening.

• Annual Conference on STEM Education
Fall 2012
Washington, DC
 
More details coming soon! Check www.trianglecoalition.org/conference for updates.
      
Click here for information on event sponsorship and exhibit opportunities.

KOHL'S CARES® Scholarship Program...

...is accepting nominations through March 15 for outstanding young volunteers.

Kohl’s is honoring more than 2,200 youth, ages 6–18, who have made a positive impact on their communities with more than $420,000 in scholarships and prizes; top winners receive $10,000 each

The Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) Kohl’s Cares® Scholarship Program will award more than $420,000 in scholarships and prizes, ranging from $50 Kohl’s gift cards to $10,000 scholarships, to more than 2,200 young volunteers who have made a positive impact on their communities. Nominations for kids ages 6–18 will be accepted through March 15 at kohlskids.com, and nominators must be 21 years or older. Two nominees from each of the more than 1,100 Kohl’s stores nationwide will win a $50 Kohl’s gift card, and more than 200 will win regional scholarships worth $1,000 toward post-secondary education. Ten national winners will be awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships for post-secondary education, and Kohl’s will donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on each national winner’s behalf.  

The STEM Jump Start Grant Program

The STEM Academy (STEM 101) is pleased to announce the establishment of the STEM Jump Start Grant Program.

STEM Kickoff – Practical Innovation 2012 for the Alliance of Education participating Middle or High Schools are automatically qualified for
the STEM JUMP START GRANT PROGRAM.

Terms of eligibility: September 1, 2011–August 31, 2012

Applicants will have the opportunity for (1) of (50) STEM Jump Start Grant Program Awards and receive up to $2,500.00 for the implementation
of STEM 101 curriculum. To learn more, visit www.stem101.org

New Curricula Available to Teachers...

...for Free for the School Year
Techno, Inc. Education Systems is proud to announce it is making its Introduction to CNC Machining and Introduction to CNC Plasma Cutting curricula available to all teachers at no charge for the remainder of the academic year (untill June 30, 2012). The curricula can be accessed online at www.techno-isel.com/Education1/Manuals/Login.htm by registering.

Introduction to CNC Machining provides a comprehensive curriculum that includes a brief history of manufacturing, history of CNC, introduction to GCODES, introduction to Mastercam, fixturing and clamping material on the CNC machine, and running parts on the CNC.

Introduction to CNC Plasma Cutting covers similar topics, but also includes chapters on an introduction to the science of plasmas—what are they, how are they created and used, how do they cut, and so on. There is also an extensive chapter on the safety issues in plasma cutting as well as a detailed chapter on cut quality and consumables when plasma cutting.

Receive additional information on Educational CNC Machines and Curricula at www.techedcnc.com, or speak with an Application Engineer at 1-516-328-3970.

Inspire the Next Generation of Engineers!

There is a new engineering outreach program available to help actively engage elementary-aged children and their families in exploring engineering topics and potential careers. Family Engineering: An Activity & Event Planning Guide is a new publication full of hands-on engineering activities developed for elementary-aged kids and adults to do together. The book also includes extensive resources and tools for planning and hosting successful Family Engineering school and community events.

The Family Engineering program was developed in partnership with the Foundation for Family Science & Engineering, Michigan Tech, and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) with support from the National Science Foundation. Materials were developed with input from engineers and educators as well as extensively field-tested to ensure their effectiveness and ease of implementation. Visit the new Family Engineering website for more information about the program and how you can get involved: www.familyengineering.org.

Project ENGINEER

The Boston Museum of Science is embarking upon Project ENGINEER, a first-of-a-kind initiative, with 25 science museums, schools, universities, and other institutions. Funded by the European Commission, the goal is to introduce engineering in elementary schools and museums in nine European countries and Israel, based on the successful Engineering is Elementary® (EIE®) model.
Learn More

STEM Think Tank and Conference

“Changing the Paradigm: Lessons Up & Down the Pipeline – K12 to University to Corporate” will be held July 18-20, 2012 at The Harpeth Hall School, Nashville, TN.

The STEM Think Tank and Conference will bring together national leaders in K12 education for girls and young women (independent, public, charter, and parochial), university K12 outreach coordinators and researchers, leaders of successful university STEM programs, girls' informal educators, and members of industry. Please plan to attend if you teach or work with girls and young women in a STEM field. Our conference theme will allow us to discuss and learn more from each of these groups, translating lessons learned across the lives of females.

CLICK HERE for information about the Think Tank and Conference or to register.

Call For Proposals
The conference organizers are seeking concurrent session presentation proposals. You are invited to submit your proposal no later than February 17, 2012. Abstracts must be 200 words or less. Notifications will be made by March 15, 2012. Presenters will receive a $50 discount on their registration fee.

ITEEA Members May Be Able to Find Savings on Auto Insurance

If you renew your auto insurance as a matter of routine, you may want to take a few minutes to scrutinize your coverage. Many people find ways to reduce their rates through overlooked discounts. Here are a few to investigate:

Consider a higher deductible. If you have a healthy savings account, consider raising your annual deductible. Boosting it from $250 to $1,000 could save you 25% to 40% on your premium, experts say.

Ask about safety and low-mileage discounts. Many insurers offer discounts if your vehicle has certain safety features, and insuring more than one vehicle with a carrier can also yield savings. If you commute to work or pool with someone on a regular basis, your rates could be lower as a result.

Membership may have privileges. Finally, association membership can provide discounts on car insurance not available to the general public. Your Member Insurance Program has partnered with GEICO to provide affordable auto and motorcycle insurance. To learn more, visit www.ftj.com/ITEEA

STEMtech Conference Call for Proposals

The League for Innovation is pleased to announce its Call for Proposals for the 2012 STEMtech conference, an international convening focused on increasing student success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The STEM-related tracks focus on improving STEM education and better aligning educational systems with each other and local workforce needs. The tech-related tracks focus on technology systems and applications and technology's role in the teaching and learning processes.

Faculty members, administrators, government officials, community and business/industry representatives, and others involved in STEM education and information technology at all levels are invited to share their research, best practices, and other ideas with their colleagues from around the world.

Proposals to present at the 2012 STEMtech conference are being accepted now through April 13, 2012. The STEMtech conference will be held October 28-31 in Kansas City, MO. Complete information is available at: www.league.org/2012stemtech/.

New Book by Classroom Challenge Author, Harry T. Roman

Students in Middle and High School Grades (ISBN 0-910609-60-8) discusses planning and implementing STEM education programs for gifted students. This is an essential book for teachers, educators, and parents, containing many specific suggestions for presenting an integrated STEM program in the gifted and technology education classrooms. The book covers numerous topics such as the roots of STEM, the study of engineering, importance of math and math activities for the gifted, employee skills, creativity and imagination in the lab, STEM challenge problems, technology education, and applications to the business world. The cost is $22, and the book is available via Amazon.com.

Other recent STEM-related books by Harry Roman are:

• Exploring Energy & Alternate Energy Technologies and Issues: Resource Guide for the Gifted Middle and High School Classroom: Gifted Education Press, 2010, [ISBN 0-910609-37-3]. ($22.00)
• Energizing Your Gifted Students’ Creative Thinking & Imagination: Using Design Principles, Team Activities, and Invention Strategies – A Complete Lesson Guide for Upper Elementary and Middle School Levels: Gifted Education Press, 2009, [ISBN: 0-910609-57-8]. ($22.00)
• Solar Power, Fuel Cells, Wind Power and Other Important Environmental Studies for Middle School Gifted Students and Their Teachers: A Technology, Problem-Solving and Invention Guide: Gifted Education Press, 2008, [ISBN: 0-910609-54-3]. ($22.00)
  

Bringing STEM Into Focus

What do we intend when using the acronym STEM? It literally stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but what does it mean? Arguably, attempts to provide a meaningful response to these questions have not stuck. It is not for lack of trying, however. State education agencies, national membership organizations, advocacy groups, and state policymakers have been seeking definitions for STEM for quite some time, and with good reason. Today, not only do we have numerous definitions of STEM, but we also have branded numerous entities to be STEM councils, STEM schools, STEM networks, and STEM curricular outcomes. Despite the well-intended branding, understanding of the brand itself remains elusive. It is a conundrum.

Read more.

Source: Education Week, Vol. 31, Issue 19, Pages 24,32
Published Online: January 30, 2012
Published in Print: February 1, 2012, as Bringing STEM Into Focus

Center for Sustainable Engineering Workshops

Application Website is Open!

Held since 2006, CSE workshops for faculty members teaching engineering courses will again be offered by the Center for Sustainable Engineering, a partnership of Syracuse University, Carnegie Mellon University, Arizona State University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. Two workshops (June 4-5 and June 7-8, 2012) will be held in Syracuse, NY. Each workshop will start at 9:00 am on the first day and will adjourn by 3:30 pm on the second day.

Each workshop will accommodate 30 participants. Faculty members from accredited engineering departments at four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. who have not participated in a previous 2-day CSE workshop are eligible to apply. Participants will be chosen based on a competitive application process. All participants are expected to pay their own travel costs to Syracuse. NSF will cover the expenses of the workshop, including ground transportation, food, lodging, and workshop materials.

Additional information on both workshops and access to the online application are available at 
www.csengin.org by going to the workshop tab and then visiting the Syracuse 2012 link. The deadline for applications is March 1. For further information about workshop logistics, please contact Carol Stokes-Cawley at cestokes@syr.edu. For further information about the technical content of the workshops, contact Cliff Davidson at davidson@syr.edu.

Note that a slightly shorter version of the CSE workshop will be presented on May 15-16, 2012, just before the IEEE International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology in Boston.  Information on this IEEE symposium is available at www.ieee-issst.org/.

NASA News

• Summer Fellowship Opportunity From NASA
NASA John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH, is accepting applications from full-time, qualified STEM faculty in accredited U.S. colleges and universities, for the summer 2012 NASA Glenn Faculty Fellowship Program (NGFFP). The ten-week Fellowship starts on Monday, June 4, and ends on Friday, August 10. The opportunity is open to U.S. citizens; however, U.S. permanent resident faculty members who are interested in analytical/fundamental research will also be considered. Under-represented faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are encouraged to apply. The application closes at 5:00 PM on Friday, February 24, 2012.

The application form and instructions are readily available at:
https://rt.grc.nasa.gov/university-affairs/ngffp/

The updated Word.doc application is accessible from: https://rt.grc.nasa.gov/files/NGFFP-2012-Application.doc

• 2011-2012 NASA Aeronautics High School Contest
The Environmentally Responsible Aviation project invites students in Grades 9-12 to submit a well-documented research paper up to 12 pages to demonstrate understanding of the environmental impact of aircraft noise and emissions. Specific topics are listed on the contest website. The deadline to enter is March 19, 2012. For more information about the contest, visit http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/competitions_high_era.htm. Questions should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth Ward at Elizabeth.B.Ward@nasa.gov.

NASA Education Express Message – January 19, 2012

• 2011-2012 Green Aviation University Engineering Contest
The Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project invites undergraduate and graduate students to submit a well-documented design paper for a large cargo aircraft that produces less noise, fewer emissions, and is more fuel efficient than current models.

Participants, either teams or individuals, must be enrolled full time in an accredited college or university. International students may participate but are not eligible for cash prizes or student internships. Entries are due May 7, 2012. For more information about the contest, visit http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/era_univ/competitions_univ_era.htm. Questions about the contest should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth Ward at Elizabeth.B.Ward@nasa.gov.

NASA Education Express Message – January 19, 2012

• African American History Month: Flying Through African-American History With the Tuskegee Airmen
In honor of National African American History Month, NASA's Digital Learning Network is hosting a webcast series titled Flying Through African-American History With the Tuskegee Airmen. The webcast series will focus on this elite group of African-American pilots who fought war and racism in World War II and the challenges faced by early African-American aviators.

• Engineering a Proud Heritage – February 14, 2012, 1-2 p.m. EST
  Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama became the historic site that launched proof that African-Americans could fly and maintain sophisticated combat aircraft. Engineering schools such as the Tuskegee Institute provided the edge needed for African-Americans to make a significant impact during World War II.
• Mathematics Fuels the Tuskegee Airmen – February 14, 2012, 1-2 p.m. EST
  Over 900 men graduated as pilots from the Tuskegee Institute pilot training program. The elite class of airmen was granted the opportunity to fuel flight success with calculated risks.

Teachers interested in having theisr classes participate in the live audience should visit the DLN website for details to register. Requests will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes not chosen to participate in the live audience may still join the webcast via live streaming on the DLN website. Click here for more information. Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Karen.Ricks@nasa.gov.

NASA Education Express Message – January 26, 2012