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STEM Education News

June 16, 2011

Volume 17, Number 23

This Week’s Topics:

– RECENT GRADS AT TOP OF THEIR GAME CHOOSE TO TEACH

At a time when education news headlines lead with layoffs and budget cuts, the 2011 Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) Fellows are choosing to impact the future through teaching. This group of high-achieving recent grads is bringing their passion for science and mathematics education into the nation’s high schools. In a highly competitive selection process, KSTF, an advocate for new teachers and the teaching profession, has awarded each of these thirty-six beginning teachers a fellowship in biology, mathematics, or physical sciences valued at up to $150,000 over five years. The need for accomplished math and science teachers cuts across all states. A report published by the Business Higher Education Forum (BHEF) points to a projected national shortfall of more than 280,000 new mathematics and science teachers by 2015. The incoming KSTF Teaching Fellows, who will be entering classrooms in 14 states this fall, are aware of the challenges that lie ahead, yet undaunted and excited about their prospects.

KSTF empowers its Fellows to think critically and creatively about the teaching of mathematics and science. Explicitly designed to meet the needs of beginning teachers from the onset of the credentialing process through the early years of their careers, the KSTF Fellowship includes professional and leadership development, teaching tools and materials, and access to a network of like-minded colleagues nationwide. “Nearly half of all teachers leave the field within the first five years, and the most highly qualified are the most likely to leave,” said Dr. Nicole Gillespie, Associate Director for Teaching Fellowships. “KSTF is working to understand why this happens and what it would take to reverse the trend, particularly for high school math and science teachers. We believe that the key is developing teacher leaders and advancing the national dialogue about the complexity and challenge of the teaching profession.” KSTF awarded its first four Teaching Fellowships in 2002. To date, there are 190 Teaching Fellows and alumni nationwide across 40 states. Since the program’s inception, KSTF Fellows have impacted more than 150,000 students. More details are available online.

– 530 STUDENTS TO SHARE IN MORE THAN $2.64 MILLION IN VERIZON SCHOLARSHIPS

More than 500 children and dependents of Verizon employees will each receive scholarships of at least $5,000 from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, for the 2011-2012 school year. The scholarships are for incoming freshman and students continuing their education at an accredited four-year institution in the fall. Each scholarship is renewable for a maximum of three years and has a total value of $20,000. For the 2011-2012 academic year, the Verizon Foundation will provide a total of more than $2.64 million for the scholarships. One hundred scholarships are for incoming freshman, and 430 are for continuing support for previous winners. Since 2001, the scholarship program has invested more than $42.3 million toward the college education of children and dependents of Verizon employees, benefitting 2,353 students.

“Education is a key issue for Verizon and for our communities,” said Rose Stuckey Kirk, Verizon Foundation president. “As a technology company, we know the value of education and are proud to support our future leaders through this scholarship program.” The Verizon Foundation awards the scholarships in partnership with Scholarship America. A list of the Verizon scholars for 2011 is available on the Verizon Foundation website. The Verizon Foundation uses its technology, financial resources, and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. For more information, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

– MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES SECOND-ROUND FINALISTS FOR U.S. INNOVATIVE EDUCATION FORUM

Microsoft Corporation has announced the selection of 72 additional educators to attend the 2011 Microsoft U.S. Innovative Education Forum (IEF). These second-round finalists will join the previously announced finalists traveling to the Microsoft campus in Redmond, WA in July to showcase the creative ways they are using technology in the classroom. This year, Microsoft Partners in Learning saw a record number of submissions from teachers transforming their classroom curriculum using technology. Of the many applications from individual teachers, partners, and schools, 78 outstanding educator projects stood out that address tangible, real-life issues for students, such as blended learning, service learning and civic engagement, working with social media in education, creating entrepreneurship opportunities, assistive technologies, and the application of gaming as it relates to learning.

Presented by Microsoft Partners in Learning, the U.S. Innovative Education Forum celebrates outstanding school leaders for using technology in their classroom curriculum to enhance positive learning outcomes while increasing student engagement and success. Teachers who apply to attend the U.S. IEF are evaluated based on the learning philosophy and goals of their project submission, their use of technology in the project, and their ability to demonstrate examples of student work and achievement connected with the project. Educators who attend the celebratory event will network and share their teaching best practices with peers, engage in learning excursions to Seattle landmarks, participate in hands-on learning sessions with Microsoft’s latest technologies, and present their projects to a panel of judges. Ten projects will be selected to represent the United States at the Partners in Learning Global Forum this November in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against educators from across the globe. More information about the teachers selected to attend this year’s U.S. Innovative Education Forum and their projects, including first-round finalists, is available on the Microsoft TeachTec blog.

– COUNCIL OF THE GREAT CITY SCHOOLS NAMES 2011 MATH AND SCIENCE SCHOLARS

The Council of the Great City Schools has named four high school seniors as the 2011 winners of the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarships. The scholarship program was created by the first African American to walk in space and the ExxonMobil Foundation to increase the number of underrepresented students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). The annual scholarships are awarded to two African American and two Hispanic graduating seniors from high schools in the 65 urban school districts represented by the Council of the Great City Schools. The scholarships are named for former NASA astronaut Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., who came from humble beginnings to become an astronaut, physician, businessman, and author. The award recipients were selected from more than 300 applicants based on academic performance, plans to pursue post-secondary academic studies in a STEM-related field, as well as a leadership qualities and commitment to the community. Each of the recipients will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to continue his or her education in a STEM-related field.

“These scholarships create a launching pad for the winners of this highly competitive scholarship program to reach for the stars,” said Council Executive Director Michael Casserly. “Thanks to the support of the ExxonMobil Foundation and Dr. Harris, these young men and women will go out into the world representing the best in America’s Great City schools.” Administration of the scholarship program including the application process, pre-selection, and presentation of awards is provided by the Council of the Great City Schools. Dr. Harris participates in the final selection of the recipients. The Council of the Great City Schools is composed of 65 large city school districts. Its mission is to promote the cause of urban schools and to advocate for inner-city students through legislation, research, and media relations. The organization also provides a network for school districts sharing common problems to exchange information, and to collectively address new challenges as they emerge in order to deliver the best possible education for urban youth. More details are at www.cgcs.org.

– REPORT ON TEACHING PROFESSION SHOWCASES LESSONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The U.S. Department of Education and Asia Society have released a report entitled, “Improving Teacher Quality Around the World: The International Summit on the Teaching Profession,” addressing lessons shared during the two-day event held in New York City in March. The summit marked the first-ever convening of education ministers, teachers, and union leaders from high-performing and rapidly improving countries and regions. The report, authored by Asia Society’s Senior Advisor for Education Vivien Stewart on behalf of the Summit’s partner organizations, outlines summit discussions and emerging lessons from around the world on how to strengthen the teaching profession. The discussions were framed around four overarching themes: Teacher Recruitment and Preparation; Development, Support, and Retention of Teachers; Teacher Evaluation and Compensation; and Teacher Engagement in Education Reform. Representatives from England, Finland, Hong Kong, Norway, Singapore, The People’s Republic of China, and the United States served as discussion leaders during the Summit. Speakers highlighted numerous examples of best practices, shared challenges, and the importance of systematic, coherent reforms for strengthening the teaching profession. Their experiences, together with those of other Summit participants, serve as examples throughout the new report.

“The practices of top-performing countries can help America accelerate student achievement and elevate the teaching profession,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “The lessons outlined in the International Summit on the Teaching Profession report reinforce the understanding of education leaders around the world that a high-quality teaching profession is built on common principles and cornerstones in different education systems.” The Summit discussions revealed that education leaders around the world are deeply aware of the challenges of creating education systems for this new era of rapid change and globalization. Greater educational excellence and educational equity are both essential to the future success of societies and individuals. Countries around the globe are reforming national and regional education policies to increase access and achievement, but no policies will succeed unless there is stronger capacity at the school level to raise the efficacy of teachers and to enhance teaching and learning. Plans are underway to convene a second international summit next spring.

– OUTSTANDING MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS HONORED BY THE PRESIDENT

On May 20th, a group of kindergarten thru sixth-grade teachers from across the United States topped off a visit to the nation’s capital by meeting with President Barack Obama. The meeting honored teachers who received the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The teachers’ visit capped a week of professional development and recognition activities, including a number of interactions with senior members of the Administration and members of Congress. During their time in Washington, the awardees also had the opportunity to talk with senior education policy staff from the Department of Education, the White House Domestic Policy Council, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

President Obama has committed to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and to prepare 100,000 effective science and mathematics teachers over the next decade. These commitments build on the President’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign, which has attracted more than $700 million in donations and in-kind support from corporations, philanthropies, service organizations, and others to help bolster science and technology education in the classroom. PAEMST is the nation’s highest recognition of kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teachers for outstanding teaching in the United States. The awards recognize teachers for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

– THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS MAKES ALL PDF BOOKS FREE TO DOWNLOAD

The National Academies Press has announced that all PDF versions of that they publish are now downloadable to anyone free of charge. This includes a current catalog of more than 4,000 books plus future reports produced by the Press. The mission of the National Academies Press (NAP) — publisher for the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council — is to disseminate the institutions’ content as widely as possible while maintaining financial sustainability. “Our business model has evolved so that it is now financially viable to put this content out to the entire world for free,” said Barbara Kline Pope, executive director for the National Academies Press. “This is a wonderful opportunity to make a positive impact by more effectively sharing our knowledge and analyses.”

Many books focused on education are available online and are focused in the following areas: Early Childhood Education; Education Research and Theory; Educational Technology; Engineering Education; Higher Education; K-12 Education; Math and Science Education; Medical Training and Workforce; Policy, Reviews, and Evaluations; Teacher Preparation and Professional Development; and Testing, Assessments, and Standards.

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