Accepting the STEM Challenge Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education East Tennessee State University Dr. Francis Eberle Executive Director National Science Teacher Association

President Obama – March 2009 National 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 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 8 th 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 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 Attitudes Science 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, N=3606

Recruiting and Retention Roughly 30% of 7–12 th 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 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 College & Career Readiness ACT, 2009

Online School?

Information and Culture: New Media 93% of teens used the internet 55% of yr olds use social networking 28 % use blogs 39% use the internet to share artistic creations. Pew Internet & American life survey % 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 21 st Century Skills

Relevancy, Rigor and Relationships

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