Monday, December 13, 2010

A Message from Chuck Goodwin (NYSTEA Executive Council)

Hi everyone,
Are you aware of the "New" New York State Teaching Standards
coming down  the pike from State Ed.? BE IN THE KNOW!!
You can download the draft doc. in pdf format and provide feedback
via their survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KBPRSFM

http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/sbsurvey2010.html

Chuck

A Request for Volunteers from Michael Hacker





I need to recruit four expert and experienced TechEd
teachers who would like to work as with us advisors on a
P-12 engineering and technology education (ETE) project that we will be
submitting in January for Funding to the national Science Foundation.

The project, called Engineering for All, has coalesced a renowned 
group of STEM educators and disciplinary experts to develop
two major products: 1) a P-12 engineering and technology education
framework, and 2) a set of six exemplary middle school engineering
modules based upon it, that situate student work in important social
contexts (e.g., food, water, structural design). The materials will
support current ITEEA ETE initiatives.

I’ve attached a brief description of the project. The uniqueness of the 
project stems from the target audience: all children, not just the elite few 
that may wish to pursue careers in engineering. A salient part of the description states:

This Project’s engineering for all approach extends beyond school-based
engineering initiatives whose dominant focus is career preparation. To
capture their interest and open their minds to further STEM study and
attractive careers, EfA students will indeed be introduced to a wide
range of diverse engineers at work; but the heart of this Project lies
in engendering the vision of engineering articulated in the NAE’s Grand
Challenges as “seeking solutions to broad realms of human concern —
sustainability, health, vulnerability, and joy of living.”
This Project’s engineering for all approach extends beyond school-based
engineering initiatives whose dominant focus is career preparation.
Although EfA students will indeed be introduced to a wide range of
engineers at work, the heart of the Project lies in creating the vision
of engineering articulated in the NAE’s Grand Challenges: “seeking
solutions to broad realms of human concern — sustainability, health,
vulnerability, and joy of living.”

I am looking for four teachers to help us.  They would serve two roles:

1. To meet with the design team as a focus group four times each
year during this five-year Project (starting in September 2011 if we
get funded) to provide formative feedback on the choice of curriculum
topics, the way they’ve been conceptualized, and the appropriateness of
the content and pedagogy; and

2. To pilot test two curriculum modules, each six weeks long,
with classes in Project years three and four (09/01/13-8/31/14 and
09/01/14-8/31/15).  Our project would pay all expenses, support any
substitute teacher expenses that schools might incur, and pay for any
materials that they would need. They would be paid a small honorarium
for their work with us.

Would you be good enough to pass this along to teachers on the various
listservs that you moderate.

They can contact me directly at mhacker@nycap.rr.com

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

1st CNYTEA Tour & Meeting

When: Wednesday, January 19th @ 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: D.S. Ray Middle School - 7650 Van Buren Road - Baldwinsville
What:
• Tour of the 6th & 7th Grade Technology Education Program
          * Unique team teaching approach with myself & Annette Wallace
          * Technology Money to incorporate reading & writing in Technology Class
          * Use of teacher produced instructional digital videos
          * 6th Grade (Model Rocketry, Woodworking Toolbox & Desktop Publishing)
          * 7th Grade (check out the 7th Grade Blog)
• Demonstrate the Hydroponic & Aquaponic Garden Systems
• Demonstrate & promote the upcoming Lego Maglev & High Speed Rail Competition
• Nominations for "CNYTEA Teacher of the Year" & "CNYTEA Program of the Year"
• Announcements/Information about upcoming tours, STEM Conferences & the 75th Anniversary Event Planning.
• SAFETY GLASSES GIVE AWAY (Check out the info on side bar post ----->)
• Vote & Win a chance on a 12V Bosch Driver (Worth $179 ~ Syracuse Industrial Sales)
• $1.00 Bag of fresh picked Hydroponic Lettuce!


After Tour:
Hot Wing Feast at Quaker Steak & Lube
CNYTEA will treat all to a few wings and soda, however adult beverages will be on your own!