New Images for Computing, a report of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) - 21 pg pdf - Report on Market Research. Highlights:

• College-bound males have a positive image of computing, CS as a college major and career; African-American and Hispanic teens more so than white teens;
• College-bound females are significantly less interested in computing, and less likely to associate it with "design", "electronics", "solving problems", "interesting" and "video games"
• Three messages tested best:
  • Computing puts you in the driver's seat
  • Computing opens doors
  • Computing empowers you to do good.
• The gender gap overwhelms any racial/ethnic gap.
• Image does not appear to be the problem, so why aren't more college-bound African-American and Hispanic males choosing CS majors?

ODE's webpage with Primers and Program Briefs -- http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=534.

Jo's favorites, of course, are Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Talented and Gifted (TAG) students, but there's info here on how ODE is addressing Alternative Education, At-Risk Students, Applied Academics and much more ...

And speaking of CTE, ODE's webpage on CTE Special Partnerships and Initiatives -- http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1626 -- including Math-in-CTE

A consortia of Workforce organizations is the grantee for a "High Growth Job Trainining Initiative STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Grant" from the US Department of Labor. The grant runs from 2009 - 2011 and provides, among other things, 3 STEM Coaches for Northwest Oregon (Columbia, Washington, Multnomah, Yamhill, Marion and Polk counties) and Southwestern Washington (Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark counties) and these resources:

• Regional Resource Catalog: Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Initiative, A list of Active STEM Programs Serving Northern Oregon and Southwest Washington, April 2009. Prepared by Scruggs and Associates, LLC and Professionals on Demand - 69 pg pdf - program description and contact information
• Northern Oregon and Southwest Washington Science Technology Engineering Math Resource Listings, a STEM Resource List for Career Exploration, Program and Classroom Activities and other related efforts, April 2009 - 8 pg pdf - annotated website listings.

Collaborating Organizations: SWWDC (Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council), WSI (WorkSystems, Inc), MTC (Management & Training Corporation), EEE (Enterprise for Employment and Education) and the US Department of Labor.

TAPPS: Talking/Thinking Aloud Paired Problem Solving

• Teaching Problem Solving, James E. Stice, UT Austin - pdf - from the Center for Teaching Effectiveness - web
• The Effect of Think Aloud Pair Problem Solving (TAPPS) on the Troubleshooting Ability of Aviation Technician Students, Scott D. Johnson & Shih-Ping Chung, JITE, Vol 37 No. 1, 1999 - web
• Teaching Guide for Graduate Student Instructors, Berkeley - web
• Training for Collaborative Problem-Solving Skills and Group Dynamics, 2Learn2Learn for ORTOP, 2008 - 19 pg color pdf

National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering -- http://www.nacme.org/home/

National Coalition of Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Advocacy Groups in Engineering and Science -- http://www.ncourages.org/

National Alliance for Partners in Equity (NAPE) -- http://www.napequity.org/

• STEM Equity Pipeline Project -- http://www.stemequitypipeline.org/
• Engineering Equity Extension Service -- http://www.napequity.org/page.php?17

keywords underserved, diversity, inclusivity

Oregon Department of Education: "Guidelines, Scenarios, and Resources for Offering Credit in Applied Academics" -- 10 pg pdf. Updated October 28, 2008. Keywords CTE, graduation requirements, math, science

"Learning to Work, Working to Learn: Transforming Career and Technical Education", 2008, National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) -- 37 pg pdf -- Recommendations:

• Provide meaningful opportunities for all middle and high school students to engage in rigorous and relevant CTE
• Engage industry and community leaders in meaningful partnerships
• Adopt policies to integrate CTE and academic coursework, standards, and multiple assessments. Recognize students for career-focused learning.
• Ensure seamless transitions for students from high school to post-secondary and beyond
• Develop policies to address quality, recruitment and compensation for CTE instructors
• Address the poor image of CTE with educators, parents, guidance counselors and the public.

keywords CTE, PTE, policymakers, business, workforce, reform

From Larry Flick, Chair of OSU’s Department of Math and Science Education: “These [current grant] projects relate to collegiate engineering instruction (NSF Collaborative), integration of mathematics and science in career technical education (MSP Algebra in Context), and professional development that relates the teaching of science through construction engineering (NSF/SELS).  The latter two address the delivery of science and mathematics with an emphasis on engineering-related contexts.  These two project also offer an avenue for offering a third year of science (and maybe mathematics) as required by the state.”

• OSU/WSU NSF/IEEC1: In-Class Peer Tutoring: A Model for Engineering Instruction – Project Summary - 1 pg pdf
  • WSU’s Engineering Education Research Center - http://eerc.wsu.edu/
• OSU/ School of IDEAS (Eugene) Oregon Title IIB MSP: Algebra in Context – Abstract - 2 pg pdf
• OSU NSF: Science and Engineering in the Lives of Students (SELS) - 2 pg pdf

"Learning and Understanding, Improving Advanced Study of Mathematics and
Science in U.S. High Schools", Jerry P. Gollup, Meryl W. Bertenthal, Jay
B. Labov and Philip C. Curtis, Editors. National Academy Press, Washington D.C. 2002. keywords hands-on, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement

• AP & IB Curricula may not have a large enough project-based component

A new NASA education project called INSPIRE is recruiting students interested in careers in science, math and technology to join an online community, where their interests can be nurtured and directed.  From this online community, students will be offered opportunities to take trips to NASA, have a resident experience at a technology university, or even a summer internship at a NASA center.  For more info, see the Promotions information (2 pg pdf) or the flyer (very colorful pdf) or
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/programs/INSPIRE_Project.html

PSU’s STEM Mentor Project is an NSF funded experimental field-test of the impact of STEM mentoring on high school students with disabilities. Students are in grades 9 and 10, have expressed an interest in STEM careers and attend Portland Public Schools.  Mentors will either be working in or studying STEM fields (scientists, engineers, college students, etc).  Mentors and students do 2 activities a month for 6 months (March 2009 - August 2009).  Any costs incurred for mentors are paid as well as a $250 stipend of appreciation.  Right now, we are trying to recruit as many mentors as we can from STEM fields: college students, professionals, engineers, teachers, professors. Flyer - 1 pg color pdf

OSU Engineering Ambassador Ellen Porter on TekPets (robots with cuteness built in) -- http://eecs.oregonstate.edu/news/connectivity/2007Fall.pdf -- see page 10
An email recently crossed my inbox with an enthusiastic endorsement of this project by a middle school teacher. I was lucky enough to meet and talk with Ellen Porter during my tour of the OSU College of Engineering. She’s a great kid, definitely a teenager headed for twenty-something, fun to talk with – and really, really on the ball.
keywords gender equity, outreach, curriculum, kit, robot, computer science, CS

• SUSE Open Archive -- http://dspace.stanford.edu/

Achieve, Inc's Math At Work Brochures page: http://www.achieve.org/MathatWork

I skimmed a couple of these brochures, and I am not sure if I like them or not:

• The occupational outlook does not distinguish between “some college” and “degree”
• The IT brochure in particular seems to be defining IT, a very broad field (of which I have personal experience so am quite biased), as networking.  I think some kids would look at that and say, “Oh, then IT is not for me.”  The manufacturing brochure focuses on a Toyota assembly line.
• Achieve's original vision may have focused on college prep at the expense of CTE and perhaps overemphasized math-to-learn-more-math; the "Math at Work" program may be something of a retrofit.

Helping Iraq & AfghanistanVeterans on Oregon's public campuses:

• At Mt. Hood Community College: Veterans of the Classroom, The Gresham Outlook, 7.2.2008, by Ed Johnson http://theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=121497010632530100
• At Portland State University (PSU):Bush signs new GI Bill, Daily Vanguard, 7.1.2008, by Chelsea Villareal http://media.www.dailyvanguard.com/media/storage/paper941/news/2008/07/02/News/Bush-Signs.New.Gi.Bill-3387004.shtml

Dr. Wanda Staggers of North Carolina testitifes before the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor at the hearing entitled “The National Mathematics Advisory Panel Report: Foundations for Success”, May 21, 2008

• Read it - 9 page pdf
• Watch it --http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2XSMRC6tzg&feature=user

Oregon State Wins 2008 Mars Rover Challenge, Information Week, 6.11.2008, by K.C. Jones
OSU has won the second annual University Rover Challenge,a two-day competition held by the Mars Society at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah.The team was commended for using common household products in the competition, which involved geology, biology, basic engineering, construction, and emergency navigation. Oregon State was the only team to locate a "distressed astronaut" during the navigation challenge.  Full article: http://www.informationweek.com/news/management/training/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=208403417

NACME: Growing ‘Opportunity Gap’ Exists in the Number of Minority Students Pursuing STEM Degrees - Interest among American students of all races and ethnicities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has dissipated over the last several years.
http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11106.shtml

Lowell & Salzman, Into the Eye of the Storm: Assessing the Evidence on Science and Engineering Education, Quality, and Workforce Demand, October 2007 – from the abstract “… our review of the data fails to find support for those presumptions. Rather, the available data indicate increases in the absolute numbers of secondary school graduates and increases in their math and science performance levels. Domestic and international trends suggest that that U.S. schools show steady improvement in math and science, the U.S. is not at any particular disadvantage compared with most nations, and the supply of S&E-qualified graduates is large and ranks among the best internationally. Further, the number of undergraduates completing S&E studies has grown, and the number of S&E graduates remains high by historical standards. Why, then, is there a purported failure to meet the demand for S&E college students and S&E workers?”

Urban Institute home: http://www.urban.org/ - there is a pdf available under Harold Salzman's list of publications. Jo is working on obtaining permission to link directly to the paper.

NEW eJOURNAL: International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering (IJSLE) – peer-reviewed, free, electronic, semi-annual, published by Penn State University. “The Journal welcomes manuscripts based on original work of students and researchers with a specific focus or implication for service learning in engineering, engineering entrepreneurship in service, or related service learning pedagogy … an invaluable resources for students, faculty, practicing engineers and local communities.”
• Home: http://www.engr.psu.edu/IJSLE/home.htm
• Subscribe: http://www.engr.psu.edu/IJSLE/subscribe.htm
• Grants to Higher Ed Students at http://www.engr.psu.edu/IJSLE/Carter.htm

"Computing Group Strives to get students into Computer Careers"
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=2962&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en

From Celeste Baine, Engineering Education Service Center: a new blog on marketing engineering programs, replacing the The Engineering Education Advocate e-newsletter, about finding, educating, inspiring and recruiting students in engineering or other technical fields. If you have short articles about engineering recruitment, retention, camps, events or programs that could help others, feel free to forward them. The blog currently has about 4600 subscribers.
http://www.engineeringedu.com/celestes_blog/ keywords lesson, speaker, motivate, resource

Oregon course combines engineering, technical education principles
Oregon's Sherwood Gazette (4/24, Moyer) reported that the "emphasis on engineering preparation classes" in John Niebergall's "advanced shop classes at" Sherwood High School (SHS) "is proving unique." At SHS, technology education teachers are "promot[ing] the use of cutting edge technology to prepare students for the real world." But in order "to compete with countries like India," Chris Brooks, president of the TechStart Education Foundation, said that "more schools need to follow" the lead of SHS. Brooks touted Niebergall's program, which combines traditional shop classes like woodworking with high tech software and 3D printers." He called the class "a shining example of how you can get kids interested in the engineering field." However, while the course is popular with boys, "young women are nearly absent from the class." Brooks recognized that "the lack of females in the engineering world is a problem," and said that it "remains a difficult challenge that schools and industry will continue to address." 

Education and the Built Environment, “See It. Build It. Know It.” -- http://www.salvadori.org/
Founded in 1976 by world-renowned structural engineer and Columbia prof Mario Salvadori who “believed that the built environment held all the knowledge that a person needed to be an intelligent and active member of the community. What teachers need to make this knowledge available to their students are tools with which they can "unpack" the knowledge embedded in the built environment.
The Salvadori Center gives these tools to teachers and students through a pedagogy grounded in what it calls "project-based, hands-on/minds-on activities" that employ the principles of architecture, engineering, and the design process. Through this method, teachers and their students can unlock the math, science, art, and humanities embodied in the structures and systems that surround them.”
keywords curriculum lesson plan elementary middle high

A Closer Look at Minorities in Engineering, Inside Higher Education
An important point: Only 4%  or "28,000 out of about 690,000 minority students who graduated from high school that year (2002) had taken enough required math and science courses to qualify them for a college program in engineering" -- brings home the importance of giving students reasons to take higher level math/science while in HS (and working to make sure that all our Oregon high schools offer physics, calculus). keywords equity diversity

Introduction to Engineering Design: Analysis of Cognitive Levels of Learning and Mathematics and Science Content.  March 2008 (42 page pdf with color charts)
Intro to Engineering Design, IED, is the first course in the PLTW High School curriculum.

Creating a World-Class Education System in Ohio.  Feb, 2007. 102 pg color pdf.  "Intended for Ohio policymakers and all other stakeholders interested in moving Ohio’s K-12 system to world-class levels. The report was commissioned by Achieve, Inc., with its fact base, international benchmarking of Ohio’s K-12 system, and identification of best practice implications for Ohio (in order to attain the goal of a world-class system) conducted by McKinsey & Company, drawing upon the work of leading international education experts." -- 7 page executive summary, review of international best practices.


Created by the nation's governors and business leaders, Achieve helps states raise academic standards and achievement so that all students graduate ready for college, careers, and citizenship -

Why We Need a Philosophy of Engineering, a Work in Progress. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, Vol 29 No 2, June 2004, p 163-176(14). Abstract: "Engineering problem solving employs a contingency based form of reasoning that stands in sharp contrast to the necessity based model of rationality that has dominated Western philosophy since Plato and that underlies modern science. The concept 'necessity' is cognate with the concepts 'certainty', 'universality', 'abstractness' and 'theory'. Engineering by contrast is characterised by wilfulness, particularity, probability, concreteness and practice. The identification of rationality with necessity has impoverished our ability to apply reason effectively to action. This article locates the contingency based reasoning of engineering in a philosophical tradition extending from pre-Socratic philosophers to American pragmatism, and suggests how a contingency based philosophy of engineering might enable more effective technological action."
Free download thanks to the gracious permission of Maney Publishing - http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney/isr/2004/00000029/00000002

ODE's "Guidelines, Scenarios and Resources for Offering Credit in Applied Academics" - DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION- pdf - distributed at OACTE (Oregon Association for Career and Technical Educators), April, 2008. keywords diploma requirements, relevance, teacher licensure, Algebra I

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) - A central and trusted source of scientific evidence for what works in education from the Institute of Education Sciences, US Department of Education. keywords equity, gender, curriculum, program, research-based, underrepresented, diversity, instruction, teaching and learning

• What Works Clearinghouse home - http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/
• Encouraging Girls in Math and Science - http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguides/index.asp#girlsmath_pg

Building Blocks Foundations for Mathematical Thinking Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 2: Research-based Materials Development, NSF grant. keywords preschool, primary, elementary, curriculum, instruction, mathematics

• Building Blocks Website- http://www.gse.buffalo.edu/org/buildingblocks/
• EdWeek Article "Preschool Play Imparts Math's 'Building Blocks'" - weblink

The Chèche Konnen Center (Haitian Creole for "search for knowledge") is dedicated to improving science education for children who are not currently succeeding in school, whose linguistic, intellectual and cultural strengths are not recognized as relevant to academic learning. These children are disproportionately from low-income families with limited formal education; many speak a first language other than English. While the language these children use to describe what are essentially scientific observations of their world may not be what mainstream teachers expect, this does not invalidate their core observations. keywords URM, underrepresented, equity, diversity

• EdWeek Article on the Cheche Konnen Center, March 2008- weblink
• Cheche Konnen Center Website - home

• NCES home: http://nces.ed.gov/
  • Data tools - http://nces.ed.gov/datatools/
  • Fast Facts - http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/

NOISE - the Network of Informal STEM Educators' homepage

The Oregon University System maintains a listserv of NOISE members – to subscribe, please contact Jo Oshiro, jo_oshiro@ous.edu or 503.725.2910.  You much be a member of the listserv to email the listserv.

The Business Education Compact (BEC) maintains an on-line listing of informal science and technology education programs and opportunities, the TechnoScienceSupersite –

• To submit a new program click here
• To update a program already listed, note "update" in the description box on the same form

Google Earth Lessons - http://gelessons.com/lessons/ - free public resource created by teachers, for teachers gives educators tools and ideas for using the free Google Earth software in their classrooms. . All that is needed to use the lessons is a free download of Google Earth software. keywords curriculum

• “Essential Qualities of Math Teaching Remain Unknown”, EdWeek – While quality teachers are known to account for 12 – 14% of variation in elementary math learning, what preparation, professional development, certification and ongoing support makes a teacher that can make such a difference is not known. [Notes Jo:  difficult to appropriately structure a controlled experiment to generate “research-based” results with such a complex model as two or more human beings interacting as teacher and student.]
• “Panel Calls for Systematic, Basic Approach to Math”- trying to reign in extremes of the debates on calculation/memorization vs. conceptual problem-solving; teacher vs. student-centered instruction; use of calculators.  The target is students well able to handle algebra in 8th and 9th grades.  The report may de-emphasize applied math.

“Blurring the lines: Career and Technical Education Today”, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) - 6 pg color pdf with photos
CTE classes, done with well-meshed academic, career, and technical content can improve student engagement, test scores, employability, desire and ability to pursue post-secondary education and reduce drop-out rates. Cases are cited, studies are referenced. Keywords PTE, workforce, 21st century, Perkins, postsecondary

• Registration form – pdf
• Postcard flyer – some fantastic photos - 2 pg color pdf
• Photorelease form – pdf
• Weblink – www.pdx.edu/cecs/outreach

Web Resources for students, parents, teachers, counselors and volunteer engineers going to the classroom:

• national - local
• Tryengineering.org - careers info & activities

• Engineering K12 Welcome Students

• Engineer Girl Website - Middle School Girls
• Engineer Your Life - High School Girls
• Greatest Engineering Achievements - 20th century

Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) website - http://www.jets.org/

Dick Knight has chewed on some data from various sources:

• Have 2007 SAT test-takers have been exposed to Computer Science? (Not many) - xls
• SAT Summary Data for 2007 - xls - Dick's interpretation - pdf
• OUS Degrees of interest to OPAS 1996-2006- from the OUS Factbook - xls

Some resources/info provided at the January Worksession on PLTW hosted by the Prepare Workgroup: (keywords Project Lead the Way)

• CTE Considerations in Oregon Relevant to OPAS – Perkins IV, new grad requirements - http://opas.ous.edu/PLTW_Advocacy/Summary_CTE_in_Oregon_Jan08.pdf
• Tim Brower’s slides on status/ roles - http://opas.ous.edu///PLTW_Advocacy/Brower_PLTW_Roles_Status_Oregon_012208.pdf
• 1 pager on PLTW in Oregon - http://opas.ous.edu///PLTW_Advocacy/PLTW_Brief_012208.pdf
• Under construction as of February 2008, PLTW Advocacy webpage