ITEA's72nd Annual Conference and Exposition in Charlotte, NC on March 18-20, 2010
WELCOME
"If Math Counts and Science Matters, Technology Education is the Innovation and Application of all that Counts and Matters."
Dr. Brian Pyles, the Career and Technical
Education Director for the Shiawassee
Regional Education Service District,
recently received recognition from the
Michigan Occupations Special
Populations Association (MOSPA) for his
dedication and contribution to special
population students in Career and
Technical Education (CTE) programs in
Shiawassee County.
Dr. Pyles received the Outstanding Special Populations Professional Award at both the regional and state level. Dr Pyles has been employed with the Shiawassee RESD since 2001 and has developed over 20 new CTE programs that allow students to explore careers, prepare for their college experience, gain college credit while attending high school and prepare for career and technical employment.
In 2003, he had a vision of developing Countywide Career and Technical Programs that would be open to all students in the county to explore careers, prepare students for the college experience, gain college credit while attending high school and prepare students for career-technical employment.
In collaboration with Baker College of Owosso, Memorial Healthcare, and the local school districts seven new programs were developed including HVAC & R, two Auto Services programs, Graphics/Web Design, Computer Networking and two Health Careers Programs.
He is a member of many committees and organizations on the regional, state and national level that promotes Career and Technical Education and continues to advocate special population students.
MOSPA was formed in 1975 and is dedicated to ensuring special population students to have access to career and technical education.
Sustainable Energy Workshop
for Science and Technology Teachers
Kettering University
Flint, MI
Time is growing short to join other teachers for the June Sustainable Energy Workshop for Science and Technology Teachers to held at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. The deadline for the June workshop is June 10th. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about energy, the energy economy, and having the opportunity to network with other teachers discussing fuel cells, wind, solar and bio-fuels.
Learn how to integrate energy concepts into the Michigan Science Curriculum Standards and Expectations using Sustainable Energy content. You will have the opportunity to interface with experts in the sustainable energy field and participate in sustainable energy labs and activities. For participating, you will receive an operational model Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car for classroom demonstration purposes and sustainable energy content and lab materials. The workshop runs for three days from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM including a tour of a sustainable energy facility. The next workshop is June 24th, 25th, and 26th. Payment (by check only) is due by the deadline date for each workshop or through special arrangements at the time of registration.
You can also earn 2.4 Professional Development CEU's. The fee for this workshop is $150 and this fee covers the cost of the materials and lunch.
If you can't make the June workshop, additional workshops are scheduled for this summer including:
July 15th, 16th, and 17th
Registration deadline is July 3rd
August 12th, 13th, and 14th
Registration deadline is July 29th
August 19th, 20th, and 21st
Registration deadline is August 5th
We are looking forward to seeing you at the workshop!
For additional information or questions send an email to Fuelcellinfo@kettering.edu or call Dave Namenye at 810-394-3757. To register, call Virginia Hill, 810-762-9873, at Kettering University.edu
May 18, 2009
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Dear Governor Granholm:
News stories recently have identified a shortage of Mathematics, Science, and English teachers in Michigan. While these disciplines are important, few if any are being eliminated from schools due to this shortage.
This is in stark contrast to Technology Education courses and departments which are being eradicated in schools across the state due to the lack of trained professionals and lack of support by school administrators. On April 20, 2006, you signed into law a rigorous new set of statewide graduation requirements that are among the best in the nation. (MCL 380.1278a, MCL 380.1278b) The Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE) supports, through its programs, the Applied Arts section in Michigan’s Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts Standards. This OCTE support focuses on the requirement for graduation in some but not all school districts. In too many school districts this avenue for student graduation is being overlooked due to the lack of teachers and programs. With the growth of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) movement, the need for learning experiences that develop understanding of the technological process and engineering is imperative. The expansion and diversification of Michigan’s economy requires a technologically literate work force. Citizens prepared to engage in careers in all aspects of the state’s economy.
You may ask what is Technology Education and what role does it perform in helping our students get ready for 21st century citizenship? It is the discipline that assists both female and male students in becoming “technologically literate”. Often misrepresented by educational/information technologies, used to enhance teaching and learning, the subject area of Technology Education embodies the disciplines of Design and Engineering.
By becoming literate in the areas of technology students will be ready to live in a constantly changing and more technically complex world. A technologically literate individual understands that "technology is human innovation in action. This involves the generation of knowledge and processes to develop systems that solve problems and extend human capabilities" [International Technology Education Association (ITEA)]. Technology Education uses science, math, and accurate communication to give students a better understanding of the human built world. A technologically literate work force is important for the future of Michigan and the nation. Technology Education provides K-12 students with exposure to, exploration of, and preparation for careers in agriculture, bio-related industries, health care and medicine, communications, energy production and conservation, manufacturing, and construction.
Technology Education teachers engage students in using concepts, tools, and materials to solve authentic problems, and already teach the competencies described as necessary in how to think critically and creatively, work collaboratively, use the Internet to do research, and communicate clearly and effectively… to be responsible and accountable, to be up on the news, and to have a workable knowledge of economics and business.
Furthermore, the Michigan framework standards for Technology Education are the foundation for helping our students to develop STEM literacy. To put these standards into action requires students to research complex subjects, work with others to brainstorm, create sketches of possible solutions, develop technical drawings, choose appropriate materials, safely use tools to create prototypes of their solution, evaluate their solution, and improve their solution. The Michigan Technology Education Framework Standards are aligned with the Standards for Technological Literacy (STL). The Learning Institute for Technology Education (LITE), as an affiliate of the ITEA, supports the inclusion of Technology Education for all K-12 students in Michigan.
“ITEA and its Standards for Technological Literacy continue to be supported by NASA, The National Academies of Science and Engineering, the National Science Foundation, and the National Assessment for Educational Progress. ITEA believes our content and standards are the foundation through which students may achieve STEM literacy with the partnership of science and mathematics to help all students achieve 21st Century skills.” (ITEA Position on the "T & E" of STEM, 2009)
In a typical Technology Education laboratory students participate in an exciting curriculum that includes many hands-on activities. The curriculum includes studies of transportation, manufacturing, construction, communication, and bio-technology. On a typical day, students are problem solving with peers while researching, brainstorming, designing, creating, and evaluating their products with an eye to improve their products and their understanding of the human made world. Young women and men produce prototypes including, vehicles, mechanical devices, digital images, written reports, and presentations that meet the learning objectives guided by the Michigan Technology Education Curriculum Framework. The huge smiles, gleams in the eyes, and laughter are all bonuses.
The fact that there is a state framework that addresses the need for students to be technologically literate indicates these studies are important for our students’ future. However, Michigan is not producing enough highly qualified Technology Education teachers to meet the needs of all students. The six Michigan universities that prepare teachers of Technology Education – Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech, and Saginaw Valley/Delta – are experiencing declining enrollments in their programs due to a lack of awareness among school administrators and leaders of the necessity of developing technological literacy. Where will we obtain the 200 to 300 professionals we will need within ten years? At the moment there are no plans to increase the number of Technology Education teachers or even replace retiring instructors.
- Michigan needs to continue its support for Technology Education programs and enhance the teacher preparation departments at our state universities. Their departments of Technology Education need continued state support as they modernize their physical plants and course offerings.
- The MDE-OCTE needs additional resources and support to expand the inclusion of Technology Education in the K-12 programs so that all students are provided with the opportunity to become technologically literate.
- The MDE needs to develop a marketing strategy to encourage school districts to maintain and expand technology/engineering core academic programs in their schools.
- At the same time the MDE should develop marketing strategies to encourage women and men to enter into the technology/engineering field as a second or third career as well as an undergraduate student.
- Until these suggestions are put in place, the MDE should declare the discipline of Technology Education in critical shortage. This will allow school districts an additional option to fill open positions and keep Technology Education programs operating.
I, along with the LITE board membership, look forward to working with you and others in your administration to develop and implement an action plan that will address the critical shortage of Technology/Engineering teachers in Michigan.
Respectfully,
William S. Holodnick
Executive Director – LITE
