Accepting the STEM Challenge

Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science

EducationEast Tennessee State

University

Dr. Francis EberleExecutive Director

National Science Teacher Association

President Obama – March 2009National Academies of Science

“We are restoring science to its rightful place.”

“I am challenging states to dramatically improve achievement

in math and science by raising standards, modernizing science labs, upgrading curriculum and forging partnerships to improve

the use of science and technology in our classrooms.”

Reports 2007- 2009

2007 20092008

Obama Administration•Science Advisors OSTP and USDOE•Standards and assessments• Data Systems• Teacher Quality• Interventions for low performing schools

Carnegie Commission

International/National

TIMSS assessment Benchmark States MA & MN

4th graders and 8th graders in the top of the world. TIMSS 2007

State MSP projects report 7% gain in students science proficiency – U.S. Department of Education

State MSP projects report 80% of teachers show significant gains in content knowledge - U.S. Department of Education

Increases in scores and participation for minority populations in Science –

College Board

Teachers and support

Increases availability in: Induction and mentoring Building content knowledge Structures for job embedded professional

development

Caveat: not sustained. Usefulness, influence on school polices

Professional Learning in the Learning Profession. NSDC. 2009

Teachers and Students

Pedagogy makes a different in what student learn.

Long term commitment for teacher support.Sabelli. 2008

Content depth in science at High School leads to higher grades in college science.Schwartz, Sadler, Sonnert, & Tai. 2009

Schools and Students

High Tech High – (school development organization)

The Met – (A network of schools: “one student at a time”.)

The Francis Parker Charter Essential School – “Habits Of Learning”)

Caveat: scattered and not systematic

 Investments in Education and Training - ARRA

$39.5 billion to local school districts using existing funding formulas, for preventing cutbacks, preventing layoffs, school modernization, or other purposes;

$5 billion to states as bonus grants for meeting key performance measures in education

$8.8 billion to states for high priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, including education and modernization, renovation, repairs of public school facilities and institutions of higher ed. facilities.

$13 billion for Title 1: $12.2 billion for Special Education/IDEA: $15.6 billion to increase Pell Grants by $500; $3.95 billion for Adult job training

Science: $1 billion for NASA; $3 billion - NSF; $2 billion for Department of Energy; $830 million- NOAA. 

Public AttitudesScience and Engineering Indicators 2008: Science and Technology: Public Attitudes and Understanding. National Sciences Board

Americans consistently and by large margins endorse the past achievements and future promise of Science &Technology.

In 2006, more than half of Americans said the benefits of scientific research have strongly outweighed the harmful results.

Americans' positive attitudes about S&T cross demographic boundaries: both genders, race, college graduates and high school dropouts, express support.

Americans also express some reservations about S&T. Nearly half believe that science makes life change too fast.

Changes: Venues and Activities Science Cafes Science Days Film festivals Podcasts Journals and books Television Programs

Brian Greene Video Clip

Science Teachers

National topics that concerns you the most? – Student Motivation (30%)

To create a strong science education community over the next two years, I would like to: Involve students in real-world problem solving in the community (66.6%)

Source: NSTA Survey of educators, 2009. N=3606

Recruiting and Retention

Roughly 30% of 7–12th grade science teachers did not have a minor and 41% did not have major or regular certification in one of more of the course assigned. Gathering Storm Report NAS. 2006

In a typical year some out of field teaching takes place in more than one-half of all U.S. secondary classrooms and one-fifth of the grades 7-12 teaching force does some out of field teaching. Ingersoll. Out of Field Teaching 2003

Predicting 11-12 College & Career ReadinessACT, 2009 Background

Characteristics, 14%

Advanced/ Honors

Coursework, 6 %

Student Testing

Behaviors, 14%

High School Grade Point Average, 9%

Eighth Grade Achievement,

49%

Online School?

Information and Culture: New Media 93% of teens used the internet 55% of 12-17 yr olds use social networking 28 % use blogs 39% use the internet to share artistic

creations. Pew Internet & American life survey 2006

96 % of 9-17 year olds, with online access, use social networking sites.

National School Board Association 2007

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Policy arena – Federal, state, district

School – programs, curriculum and courses

21st Century Skills

Relevancy, Rigor and Relationships

Conclusion

Now is the time Consider context for learning Consider the medium for

learning