Long Beach Application to Present is Available Online

Long Beach 2012 Conference Theme:
Changing the Conversation:
Improving P-16 Technology and Engineering

ITEEA's Long Beach Conference will take place March 15-17, 2012, but the Presenter Deadline is June 15, 2011! Presentations should address one or more of the following strands:


Strand 1 - Changing Philosophical Thought
Why are we teaching technology and engineering? What are the commonalities between technology and engineering? What are the philosophical similarities between industrial arts, technology education, information technology, and engineering education? How does business and industry benefit from a person with a technological education?

Strand 2 - Changing Content and Practices
What content is important and how is it delivered? How has this instruction incorporated science, technology, and mathematics concepts? What is the impact of technology and engineering instruction on mathematics and science? What successes can we identify? Are assessment indicators available that prove the learning outcomes of technology and engineering education?

Strand 3 - Changing Teacher Preparation
How can Colleges of Education include engineering content in their instruction? How can Colleges of Engineering better address issues that come with the education profession? How should teacher preparation institutions that are in neither of these colleges address these issues? How do we strengthen in-service needs? Who has been successful in bridging these colleges, and how has it made a difference? What institutions have a successful model that works and is transferable in preparing technology and engineering teachers?

Strand 4 - Changing Public Perception
What does the public know about technology and engineering? How can we adjust the public perception of technology and engineering to attract the best and the brightest to the profession?  What resources promote the greater good of being an engineer? What resources promote the greater good of being a technology and engineering teacher? What steps should be taken to change traditional perceptions?

Apply to present in Long Beach at: www.iteea.org/Conference/apptopresent.htm. ITEEA membership is required at the time of application.

ITEEA Presents at the United States Department of Education...

...Math and Science Partnership Regional Meetings

The United States Department of Education (USDE) conducted regional meetings for its Math and Science Partnership (MSP) state coordinators and their project staff in Baltimore, MD on February 15-16, 2011 and in San Francisco, CA on March 22-23, 2011. The goal of the MSP program is to improve academic achievements of elementary and secondary students in the United States in mathematics and science by increasing instructional quality. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) were also a topic of discussion at the two meetings.

The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) was invited to be a part of a panel to discuss the The Overlooked STEM Imperatives: Technology and Engineering and how the study of these two subject areas is essential for a comprehensive and integrated STEM program in our schools today and in the future.

The presentation included a discussion of how ITEEA’s Standards for Technological Literacy relates to science, engineering, and mathematics in STEM. Also presented were ITEEA’s connections to the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Science, the other science standards (American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Research Council’s National Science Education Standards). Also the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) Framework for Technological and Engineering Literacy (2014-2022) was explained. Finally, ITEEA’s Engineering byDesign™ was presented as a standards-based curriculum that can be used in STEM applications in schools. The PowerPoint presentation given at the MSP meeting is currently available on ITEEA’s website at www.iteea.org/Resources/PressRoom/pressroom.htm.

Other members of the presentation panel included a representative from the American Association of Engineering Educators (ASEE) and one from the Boston Museum of Science.

The presentations were well received by the MSP participants attending the meetings.              

Claussen/FTEE Memorial Scholarship...

...for ITEEA-TECA Student Professional Development

The Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators (FTEE) has announced the establishment of the Claussen/FTEE Memorial Scholarship. Through the generosity of donors, this scholarship is being created in memory of Larry Claussen, former technology teacher, TECA advisor, mentor, and friend.

Larry’s life passion was working with young people – as evidenced by his 40-plus years in education, teaching junior high to college-level students. He was active in the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) and Technology Education Collegiate Association (TECA), where he served as national advisor and served on the Board of Directors 2001-2003.

This scholarship’s purpose is to encourage professional development of undergraduate junior and senior TECA members through participation at the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Annual Conference. The successful applicant will receive $300 to offset the expenses of attending the conference.

Donations are being accepted at this time for the Claussen/FTEE Memorial Scholarship. Once the funding goal has been met, applications will be made available to TECA student members. The Donation form is located at www.iteea.org/Awards/AwardsForms/ClaussenDonationForm.pdf.

For additional information, visit www.iteea.org/Awards/scholarshipclaussen.htm.

ITEEA Outstanding Writing Award Renamed

For two years, ITEEA has given writing awards to its top-rated Technology and Engineering Teacher authors. Per a Board of Directors motion, the ITEEA writing awards will be renamed the “Gerald F. Day Outstanding Writer Awards.” The awards have been renamed in order to honor the legacy of Gerald F. Day, ITEEA member, long-time editor, and former TET Review Board Chair, who passed away in February. It was primarily through Dr. Day’s initiative that the Outstanding Writing Awards came into being, and he was the first to present them at the 2010 Charlotte conference (left). Jerry will be remembered for, among other things, his mentoring of emerging writers and for being a strong advocate for their recognition.

Congratulations to ITEEA's President!

Millersville Commencement Speaker Announced

Dr. Thomas P. Bell, DTE, president of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) and a faculty member in the Department of Industry and Technology at Millersville, will be the keynote speaker for the May 6, 2011 graduate commencement (to be held in Pucillo Gymnasium).

Bell graduated from Millersville University in 1983 with his bachelor's degree in industrial arts education. He taught graphic arts at a high school in Cranford, NJ before returning to Millersville to start his master's, which he earned in 1985. He earned his Ph.D. in technology education at the University of Maryland-College Park in 1992.

Bell currently serves on the board of directors for Epsilon Pi Tau, the international honor society for professionals in technology. He is also a trustee for the local Beta Phi chapter at Millersville. Bell has held academic positions at the University of Maryland-College Park and Ball State University in Muncie, IN, before accepting a position at his alma mater in 1995. For more information, visit www.millersville.edu/commencement or email commencement@millersville.edu.

Source: Millersville University News

TECA News

Congratulations to the winners of the
2011 TECA National Contests!

Communication Contest  
1st Place               Brigham Young University
2nd Place              The College of New Jersey
3rd Place               California University of Pennsylvania

Manufacturing Contest      
1st Place               Pittsburg State University
2nd Place              Fort Hays State University
3rd Place               California University of Pennsylvania

Problem Solving Contest  
1st Place               St. Petersburg College
2nd Place              Pittsburg State University
3rd Place               Brigham Young University

Robotics Contest                               
1st Place               California University of Pennsylvania
2nd Place              Brigham Young University

Teaching Lesson Contest
1st Place               Brigham Young University
2nd Place              Fort Hays State University
3rd Place               Saint Petersburg College

Technology Challenge      
1st Place               Ball State University
2nd Place              Brigham Young University
3rd Place               California University of Pennsylvania

Transportation Contest     
1st Place               California University of Pennsylvania
2nd Place              St. Petersburg College
3rd Place               Fort Hays State University

TECA Awards
TECA Advisor of the Year: Dr. Joe Busby, NC State University
TECA Award of Distinction: Wade Thatcher, Ball State University
TECA Membership Award: Pittsburg State University
TECA Outstanding Chapter Award: University of Wyoming – Casper

2011-2012 TECA National Officer Team
President: Catherine Edwards, Millersville University
President Elect: Dustin Roten, Appalachian State University
Vice President: Zach Pixler, Fort Hays State University
Secretary: Julianna Ryan, The College of New Jersey
Reporter: Andrew Marra, California University of Pennsylvania
TECA Advisor: Dr. Jerianne Taylor, Appalachian State University

CTTE News and Updates

Congratulations: To Dr. Marie Hoepfl (Appalachian State University) who was selected as 2011 CTTE Teacher Educator of the Year. 

Welcome and Thank You: Welcome to our new CTTE Officers: Ryan Brown (Illinois State University), Petros Katsioloudis (Old Dominion University), and Michael Grubbs (Adamson Middle School, Rex, GA). A big "thank you" to our outgoing officers, Chris Merrill and John Wells as well as our Past President, Richard Seymour! Also a big thanks to all who participated in CTTE activities at the 2011 ITEEA Conference.

2011 CTTE Yearbook: The 2011 CTTE Yearbook (60th), Creativity and Design in Technology Education, is progressing smoothly and will be completed this summer. Note: The 59th Yearbook (2010) will be the last hard copy. We are currently working on the details to electronically publish future workbooks and make past copies electronically available.

CTTE Name Change: A scholarly discussion on changing the name of CTTE is currently happening on the CTTE listserv. There are several different points of view. Some have suggested keeping the name the same, and others have argued in favor of changing the name of the council. Thoughtful suggested name changes have included changing to the ”Council of Technology and Engineering Teacher Educators (CTETE)" or to the “Teacher Education Council (TEC) of the ITEEA.”

As the name-change discussions continue, please remember the purposes of CTTE: 

1. To support and further the professional ideals of technology education.
2. To define and strive to achieve the purposes and professional goals of technology teacher education, and to enlist the greatest possible number of people in this endeavor.
3. To stimulate research and the dissemination of information of professional interest.

Thanks again for your support and professionalism to CTTE.

Ed Reeve
CTTE President

Walter L. Griggs

ITEEA Life Member, Walter L. Griggs, 94, passed away on March 19, 2011. From 1940 to 1942, he taught Industrial Arts at Pulaski County High School. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served until 1946. He resumed teaching at Pulaski County High School from 1946 to 1948. In September of 1948, Walt became a Professor of Vocational and Technical Education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He retired in 1980 with 32 years of service. Walt is survived by his wife, Jeanne Griggs; son and daughter-in-law, Gil and Pat Griggs of Bristol, Virginia; his daughter and son-in-law, Patti and David Nelson of Galax, Virginia; three grandchildren, Lindsey and Matt Nelson of Galax, Virginia and Ashlee Griggs of Bristol, Virginia.

Excerpted from the Roanoke Times of March 21, 2011

ICTE2011-Japan

Theme:
International Conference on Technology Education in the Pacific-Rim Countries - For the International Cooperation

ICTE2011-Japan will be held on November 3 to 5, 2011 at JICA Chubu International Center in Nagoya-City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. We hope this conference will contribute to the development and establishment of Technology Education toward higher level industrial Technology Society and make effort to solve issues with international cooperation. 

Important Dates:

Complete information on the conference can be found at www.auetech.aichi-edu.ac.jp/icte2011/.

Design Squad Nation Wants YOU to Build it Big...

...By Entering the 2011 Build Big Contest!

We’re challenging kids across the country to show their creativity by creating a giant version of a Design Squad Nation activity. Form a team (that includes at least one adult), choose an activity, build it big, and upload a video of your design to YouTube.  A flip camera will be awarded to the winning team along with an opportunity to Skype with hosts Judy and Adam and pick their brains! Submissions may also be posted on the Design Squad Nation website. No purchase is necessary, and entries must be received on or before August 1, 2011 at 12:00 PM. For more details and complete official rules go to http://pbskids.org/designsquad/contest/index.html.

Engineering and Technology Education Day in Delaware

The Delaware Technology Education Association is proud to announce that the Delaware State Legislation has proclaimed that April 20 will be Engineering and Technology Education Day in Delaware. Sponsored by Delaware Senators Cathy Cloutier and Dori Connor, the official announcement will be made at the Delaware State Technology Student Association Conference by Mike Fitzgerald, DTE, E & TE Associate with the Delaware Department of Education. John Singer, DTE, DTEA/ITEEA Affiliate Representative, has been working closely with the state legislators for a number of years advising them on curriculum and funding issues dealing with technology education and most recently was appointed to the Governor's STEM Education Council as the lone representative for Engineering and Technology Education.

For more information, contact John Singer at John.Singer@bsd.k12.de.us

EPICS High: High Schools Improving Lives With Engineering Projects

EPICS High is a project-based, service learning program that partners teams of students with nonprofit organizations in their local community. Students work with these organizations to understand what needs the agencies have and then design, build, and deliver projects to help fill those needs. Through the EPICS experience, students gain valuable professional skills to help them in any career, including communication, teamwork, customer service, and problem solving. This hands-on learning is reinforcing traditional learning as students are made to put their knowledge into action, helping them to understand how it relates to everyday life. EPICS High is working hard to address the decline of students interested in engineering, technology, and computing fields by teaching design while serving local community not-for-profit agencies.

Reports from EPICS High schools in the spring of 2010 indicate EPICS is impacting underrepresented populations of students. Of the 1875 students participating, 37% are underrepresented minority populations (national engineering programs average is 15%), far surpassing current numbers of minority groups in collegiate engineering and computing programs. In relation to gender, 42% of the participants are female (national engineering programs average is 19%). EPICS High now has various models of successful schools for new schools from which to draw implementation strategies.

Our 2011 summer training for teachers and administrators is designed to help schools interested in learning more about EPICS to plan for implementation of a program within their schools. We will be asking some of our current group of teachers to help lead sessions this year. To attend a training and find out more about EPICS High, please visit the EPICS High website at http://epics-high.ecn.purdue.edu

We will hold training on the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, IN. Space is limited, and we do expect to fill all training spots! Please contact Tom Robertson if you have questions or issues with the registration process at roberttl@purdue.edu or 765-494-7220.

2011 Training Dates: July 11-14, 2011
Workshop Registration Link: www.conf.purdue.edu/EPICS

Women Manufacturing in a Man's World

On March 30, 2011, Forest City Gear in Roscoe, Illinois opened its doors to an atypical visitor. Thirteen-year-old Alexi Cluff, accompanied by her grandfather Brian Cluff, vice president of Star-SU, a leading supplier of gearmaking machinery and tools, visited Forest City Gear to learn about manufacturing and especially to explore the options for women in manufacturing, an environment traditionally thought to be “a man’s world.” 

Alexi is not your typical 13-year-old. She is currently enrolled in a program sponsored by a grant from the Motorola Foundation and conducted at the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Northern Illinois University. The program is a workshop in partnership with NIU-Enhanced Engineering Pathways, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois. The stated objective of the program is to challenge and sharpen the skills of accelerated learning for 12- and 13-year-old girls selected by their local middle school science and math teachers. 

Currently, 48 girls work in small groups, assisted and taught by NIU women engineering professors and women engineers from various industries. These instructors mentor the girls on various engineering projects, from the building of simple electrical circuits to create sound, motion, and light, to bridge building, chemical engineering, and lean manufacturing simulation. Often the groups or individual students have tours arranged for them at local area manufacturing locations such as electronics and communications giant Motorola, where they can absorb “real world” experiences and especially meet women of all ages who have succeeded in the various disciplines required in a manufacturing environment.

Forest City Gear CEO, Fred Young, and President, Wendy Young, gave Alexi a complete tour of their factory and quality lab and arranged a roundtable discussion with a number of the women at the company who perform all categories of activity for Forest City Gear, a world leader in precision gear manufacturing. Women from all departments of the company, including application engineering, human resources, gear grinding, gear deburring, gear hobbing, order processing, estimating, expediting, procurement, materials inspection, quality validation, machine setup, and company management were at the table. Alexi’s eyes and ears were wide open as she listened attentively to every word. 

Alexi was very enthusiastic about her visit, is journaling her experience, and is impressed to note that what she saw at Forest City Gear—especially the way the routing sheets, bar codes, and processing were set up—indicated clearly that that Forest City Gear has implemented lean manufacturing practices!

Read the full story at www.pddnet.com/article.aspx?id=120211.
For more information, visit www.forestcitygear.com. 

Source: Product Design & Development website, April 6, 2011
Author: Tim Daro, Bernard & Company, for Forest City Gear

Boy Scouts Can Now Earn Robotics Merit Badge

The Robotics badge is part of the Boy Scouts of America's new STEM curriculum. One of 31 STEM-related merit badges, it's a nod to robots' increasingly wide-reaching impact and part of the BSA's ongoing attempt to teach its ranks relevant skills. Earning the bot badge will mean a scout not only has a handle on actuators, sensors, and programming, but on the myriad ways robots are tightening their metallic grip.

It took the Boy Scouts of America about 14 months to develop the badge with input from organizations including iRobot, Vex Robotics, and Boston's Museum of Science, some of which could one day end up hiring the budding roboticists. Other participants were Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy and NASA, which says it will bring 100 badges into space on the Endeavour shuttle mission.

Scouts will be expected to spend about 14 hours meeting the requirements for the robotics badge, and the Boy Scouts of America projects that more than 10,000 of the nation's 2.7 million Boy Scouts will earn one in the badge's inaugural year. Which means Boy Scouts may very well become the driving force behind the robot apocalypse.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20052625-1.html#ixzz1JKe0T1F7 or
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20052625-1.html#ixzz1JKeB5XKR

Source: cnet News, April 10, 2011: Boy Scouts can now earn robotics merit badge by Leslie Katz
The merit badge features NASA's Mars Rover. (Photo Credit: Boy Scouts of America)

Partnership Helps Increase Interest in STEM Careers

NASCAR Partners With Ten80 Education To Help Attract Youth to STEM Education

NASCAR and Ten80 Education's Student Racing Challenge recently announced a partnership focusing on attracting youth into STEM education.

Increased national focus on student scores in math/science testing prompted NASCAR to seek a high-performance educational initiative. The program had to be research-based, compelling for youth participation, and reach a widely underserved audience, making the Ten80 Student Racing Challenge the right fit for NASCAR.

The Ten80 Student Racing Challenge uses a NASCAR-themed curriculum for students in Grades 6-12, paralleling student activity to the arduous preparation of real NASCAR teams. Students will be challenged to optimize performance of a 1:10-scale race car, just like the NASCAR professionals in track garages all across the country.

Mini-race teams composed of students will earn points between October and May, and points leaders will then compete in the National Finals held at a NASCAR track each May. Teams can earn points in various categories including sanctioned races, aerodynamic design, creative engineering and alternative energies, and sustainable design. Marketing and graphic design are rewarded as teams seek sponsorship and media presence.

Ten80 Education is a team of engineers, scientists, teachers, professors, and parents all dedicated to a single mission of educating students on STEM subjects, STEM careers, and how they affect the world around us.

For additional information, contact:
Scott Warfield, NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications at 704-348-9748 or swarfield@nascar.com or Ten80 Education, 1-855-Ten80Ed, info@ten80education.com

From the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO)

• Teaching Design Thinking
"To change the world, we need a generation of new minds equipped with new ways of thinking" writes Trung Le on fastcodesign.com. In discussing the value of design education, he describes Christian Long's Prototype Design Camp, a three-day opportunity for high school students to work with professionals on real-world design challenges. The camp provided youth with an immersive experience in the design process. Educators might enjoy a visit to the camp's website, which has a wealth of resources about the definition and process of design thinking.
Check out Prototype Design Camp's curriculum resources.

• The Future of the Profession
What will the role of architects be in 2025? A new report by RIBA's think tank, Building Futures, claims that "architect" will be increasingly replaced with terms like "creative consultant." The report serves as a wake-up call, encouraging architects to foster their firm's commercial viability. From 2008 to the present, the demand for architectural services has decreased 40%. However, at the same time, enrollment in UK architecture schools has increased 23%, and celebrity endorsement of the career choice rises. Read Glancey's article "RIBA vs. Bieber and Barbie: the Battle for Architecture's Future" in The Guardian.

• 59 Designers/787 Books
Pentagram has launched an elegant, straightforward new website, asking leaders in design which books have significantly shaped their output. It's a fun place to spend a little free time. Some books are direct from architecture school reading lists, likeGiedion's Space, Time, and Architecture, while other results are more surprising. Would you have expected Nabokov's Lolita to appear on the reading lists of Michael Sorkin, Massimo Vignelli, and Richard Meier?
Explore www.designersandbooks.com.

Source: A+DEN newsletter from the AAO (Association of Architecture Organizations), March 2011

NASA News

• Internship Opportunities
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) is coordinating two NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) internship opportunities at NASA Langley Research Center during the summer of 2011. The purpose of these internships is to train and develop the highly skilled scientific, engineering, and technical workforce of the future needed to implement the Vision for Space Exploration.

Students will be engaged in hands-on engineering projects with a placement mentor starting June 6th and ending August 12th. The internships will be open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students. This summer’s ESMD internship positions include a stipend of $6,000. No additional funding for travel or lodging will be provided. These positions are open only to full-time students attending Virginia Space Grant Consortium member universities and colleges. These institutions include Hampton University, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, College of William and Mary, Old Dominion University, and the Virginia Community College System, and you must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible.

ESMD website: www.nasa.gov/exploration/home/index.html
Virginia Space Grant Consortium website: www.vsgc.odu.edu/internships/ESMD08.shtml

• NASA Express Messages

March 17:
NASA Launches Women@NASA Website
To celebrate Women’s History Month, NASA recently unveiled a new website that features women in NASA careers telling their stories in their own words. The website has 32 video interviews with women of diverse backgrounds who represent different aspects of the agency's work. Subjects include NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, astronauts, engineers, and scientists. They discuss their accomplishments and offer encouragement to women and girls considering technical careers so they can become the trailblazers of tomorrow. The site also provides information about NASA internships and career opportunities. To watch the interviews and learn more, visit http://women.nasa.gov.

March 24:
$5,000 Grants Available for 2012 University Student Launch Initiative
The NASA Minority Innovation Challenges Institute, or MICI, will be offering Minority Serving Institutions the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 grant to assist the school in entering the 2012 NASA University Student Launch Initiative. USLI is a competition that challenges university-level students to design, build, and launch a reusable rocket with a scientific or engineering payload to one mile above ground level. The project engages students in scientific research and real-world engineering processes with NASA engineers. It culminates in an actual launch competition near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.

Those interested in this grant opportunity should visit http://nasamici.com/?p=450 to register for a free, live videoconference. Dates and times for all of these sessions will be posted there.

Applications are due May 31, 2011. Please email any questions about the grant opportunity and informational videoconferences to Mary Baker at mary@nasamici.com.

NASA LEARN and NES Offering Webinars
NASA Learning Environments and Research Network, or LEARN, and NASA Explorer Schools have teamed up to offer exciting webinars featuring NASA educational resources for educators. The final offering in April 2011 will be presented from 9-10 p.m. EST to ensure that educators on both the East Coast and West Coast can participate. And, don’t worry about the technology. We have tech support ready to walk you through viewing and participating in the webinar.

Engineering Design Challenge: Water Filtration – April 20, 2011, 9 p.m. EST
This webinar will highlight the water recovery and management function of the Environmental Control and Life Support System, or ECLSS, on the International Space Station. Students will design, build, test, and measure the performance of a water filtration device, analyze the data collected, and use this information to work toward an improved filtration design. You can register for the webinar by clicking: https://digitalmedia.wufoo.com/forms/nes-webinar-registration-water-filtration/

March 31:
2011 Space Tech Engineering Design Challenge
NASA has invited college students to take part in the 2011 Space Tech Engineering Design Challenge. Students are invited to design a technology that will help further space exploration and development. Designs may relate to autonomous operations; entry, descent, and landing; human factors; power/propulsion, including for operation in space and on other planetary bodies; or robotics (not related to in-situ lunar samples). Students entering other NASA contests, such as Lunabotics or RASC-ALs, may not submit the same entry or technology that they used for the other contests. All entries must be original and must be the work of students, not faculty or corporate partners.

The contest is open to any full-time student enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution in the United States. This category includes universities, colleges, trade schools, community colleges, professional schools, etc. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

A notice of intent is requested as soon as possible. Final entries are due June 1, 2011.
For more information and a complete list of rules, visit http://spacetech.larc.nasa.gov.
Questions about the challenge should be directed to Elizabeth Ward at Elizabeth.B.Ward@nasa.gov