Triangle Coalition Electronic Bulletin

Triangle Coalition Electronic Bulletin

October 16, 2008

Volume 14, Number 39

Published by the
Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education

This Week's Topics:

NEXT WEEK IS NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK 2008
FORTUNE 1000 EXECS SAY NEW PRESIDENT MUST FIX EDUCATION GAP
$9.2 MILLION TO RESEARCH VIDEO GAMES FOR TEACHING
TEAM AMERICA ROCKETRY CHALLENGE
2009 OUTSTANDING ST. LOUIS SCIENTISTS AWARDS SEEKS NOMINATIONS
ELEMENTARY SCIENCE UNHURT BY FOCUS ON MATH, READING
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING SEEKS NOMINATIONS
PREVIOUS ISSUES

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NEXT WEEK IS NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK 2008

From sandy baseball fields in Los Angeles to blacktop basketball courts in New York City, this year's National Chemistry Week (NCW), October 19-25, will draw upon young people's love for sports and show them how chemistry plays a big part in all kinds of games. The theme of NCW 2008 is "Having a Ball with Chemistry." Triangle Coalition member, the American Chemical Society (ACS), the sponsor of NCW, is working with other organizations to explain how the materials, design, and safety improvements in sports/sporting equipment are made possible through chemistry. Among the week's nationwide activities are: * A K-12 poster contest focused on chemistry and sports, emphasizing chemical principles or concepts in different sports and sporting equipment. * ACS Local Sections will sponsor sports-related Chemistry Olympics, featuring hands-on activities * ACS Student Affiliates will coordinate an NCW Chemvention contest for undergraduate Student Affiliates chapters. Students are asked to create activities for next year's NCW program, with the theme, "Chemistry - It's Elemental!" With more than 160,000 members, the American Chemical Society (ACS) is the world's largest scientific society and one of the world's leading sources of authoritative scientific information. A nonprofit organization, chartered by Congress, ACS is at the forefront of the evolving worldwide chemical enterprise and the premier professional home for chemists, chemical engineers, and related professions around the globe. More details are at www.acs.org. For full information about NCW, including contest rules and deadlines, click here.

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FORTUNE 1000 EXECS SAY NEW PRESIDENT MUST FIX EDUCATION GAP

The U.S. Presidential candidates should be very concerned about the country's ability to attract and retain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers in order to maintain its global leadership in science and technology, say CEOs and other C-suite executives at America's Fortune 1000 STEM companies. One way to counter this talent crisis, they say, is to build a diverse STEM pipeline beginning at the earliest educational level. And while they believe they and other STEM companies have a responsibility to support such a diverse pipeline, they also say the current American pre-college education system is failing to engage girls and minorities to pursue STEM careers. These are among the findings of a new survey commissioned by Bayer Corporation as part of its Making Science Make Sense initiative. In the latest Bayer Facts of Science Education Survey XIII: Fortune 1000 STEM Executives on STEM Education, STEM Diversity, and U.S. Competitiveness, senior executives leading some of the country's largest chemical, pharmaceutical, aerospace, semiconductor, and other STEM industry companies were polled about a host of issues related to diversity and underrepresentation of women, African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics in STEM fields and their impact on U.S. competitiveness. Specifically, the survey asked 100 of these Fortune 1000 executives to address three STEM workforce aspects: the current U.S. STEM workforce needs in the face of rising international competition; the need for a more diverse U.S. STEM pipeline to address these needs in order to remain competitive, and recruitment and workplace realities in achieving a diverse STEM workplace.

Almost all of the Fortune 1000 STEM executives (95 percent) are concerned that the U.S. is in danger of losing its global leadership position in science and technology due to a shortage of STEM talent, with more than half (55 percent) reporting their companies are already experiencing such a shortage. When it comes to rising international competition, fully two-thirds (68 percent) are concerned that other countries' increasing access to STEM talent is giving rival companies based in these countries a competitive advantage over them, with one-fifth (20 percent) saying they are "very concerned." Not surprisingly, almost all the senior executives (98 percent) say it is important for girls and minorities to receive a strong science and math education beginning in elementary school in order to reduce their underrepresentation in STEM fields, with nine-in-10 (90 percent) saying it is very important. And, say the executives, the most effective way for these students to learn science is through a hands-on, inquiry-based approach (87 percent). However, they believe the U.S. education system is falling short here. Not one of the executives surveyed graded the U.S. an "A" when asked how good a job the U.S. pre-college system is doing in engaging and nurturing girls and minorities to pursue STEM careers. In fact, almost six-in-10 (55 percent) assigned it a failing grade of D or F. The country's higher education system fares somewhat better for its ability to train women and minorities for STEM careers, with executives assigning it an average grade of "C+." Overall, the U.S. education system gets a "C" from executives for providing U.S. companies with diverse, talented, and skilled STEM graduates. The full report is available online.

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$9.2 MILLION TO RESEARCH VIDEO GAMES FOR TEACHING

The Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) has been awarded $9.2 million by the U.S. Department of Education to serve as a National R&D Center on Instructional Technology, investigating how video games can be used in middle school classrooms. EDC will develop and pilot-test a series of game modules -- built to be used with the very popular Nintendo Dual-Screen (DS) -- that capitalizes on youth's fascination with electronic games. EDC's Center for Children and Technology in New York and EDC's Center for Science Education in Boston will develop a year-long curriculum for grade 7 science students, with four game modules supplementing traditional instruction. Known as Super Sleuths, the curriculum will offer teachers and students in-depth explorations of scientific problems, countering students' scientific misconceptions, reading difficulties, and lack of motivation that often complicate science teaching.

Each game module for Super Sleuths will open with an animated video featuring a scientific challenge or investigation. For instance, Organisms and Ecosystems may start with a natural disaster. Players may be assigned to teams where they work on extended problem-solving games that call on and build their scientific know-how. In the process, students use the Nintendo DS as a combination portable lab, field notebook, scientific instrument, and communicator. The devices enable student groups to collect and analyze data and build hypotheses for solving problems posed by the unit. The games will also build literacy skills, with mini-games that ask students to discern word meanings from the context of a passage. Super Sleuths will undergo an extensive evaluation phase, tested in a variety of classroom settings. While the research focuses on 7th graders who are struggling academically, especially those in urban schools, EDC anticipates that the games and supporting materials will have broad application. In addition to designing and testing Super Sleuths, EDC will also be researching the effectiveness of the video games, with plans to share its development process and lessons learned with educators and game developers. The new R&D center and its work are funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. More details are online.

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TEAM AMERICA ROCKETRY CHALLENGE

Registration is now open for the Team America Rocketry Challenge which challenges participants to compete for $60,000 in prizes and scholarships and a trip to the 2009 International Air Show in Paris, France. Participants must design and build a rocket that will climb to 750 feet and stay aloft for 45 seconds. This year's new task is transporting the one-egg payload lying on its side rather than positioned vertically, mimicking the position of an astronaut.

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) sponsors the contest along with the National Association of Rocketry, NASA, the Defense Department, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and AIA member companies. Students in grades 7-12 in any U.S. school or non-profit youth organization are eligible to compete. About 7,000 students from across the country took part in the contest last year, and since the first contest in 2003, almost 50,000 students have taken the challenge. Interested teams have until December 1 to register; contest rules and registration details are at www.rocketcontest.org.

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2009 OUTSTANDING ST. LOUIS SCIENTISTS AWARDS SEEKS NOMINATIONS

Triangle Coalition member, The Academy of Science of St. Louis, is currently seeking nominations of outstanding professional women and men in science, engineering, and technology for the 2009 Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards. These awards will be presented at an award dinner in April 2009. Nominees are encouraged to be individuals and institutions from the St. Louis area known worldwide for their scientific contributions to research, industry, and quality of life.

The Academy of Science of St. Louis has been the driving force for scientific progress in the St. Louis community since 1856. The Academy has played roles in establishing the Missouri Botanical Garden, the St. Louis Science Center, and the Junior Academy of Science. The Academy provides science resources to classrooms and the public. As an umbrella organization for science and engineering in the region, the Academy is guided by its mission to advance the understanding of science, medicine, engineering, and technology. Find out more about the Academy and its educational programs online.

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ELEMENTARY SCIENCE UNHURT BY FOCUS ON MATH, READING

(Source: NSTA Reports)

The emphasis placed on math and language arts by high-stakes testing does not lead to lower scores in science, at least at the elementary level, according to a paper released by the Center for Civic Innovation at the Manhattan Institute. Marcus Winters, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and lead author of Building on the Basics: The Impact of High-Stakes Testing on Student Proficiency in Low-Stakes Subjects, said he was surprised by what he and his fellow researchers found. His group examined how the threat of sanctions -- based on high-stakes testing in reading and math under Florida's A+ Accountability Program -- affected student proficiency in science. Florida's A+ program is often cited as a template for the federal No Child Left Behind legislation. Winters and his fellow researchers examined data on Florida fifth graders in the 2002-03 school year. Because the state did not test students on science in the fourth grade, the researchers used prior math and reading scores as a proxy for prior sciences scores. They compared the proxy scores to the results of the 2002-03 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in science (the first year science was tested), finding students in schools previously sanctioned for receiving a failing grade in math and reading had "substantial improvements in science proficiency." This finding contradicts qualitative research and anecdotal evidence that suggests high-stakes testing has reduced student knowledge in general. The researchers attributed their results to a correlation effect -- improvements in math and reading have increased proficiency in science. Whether the effect would continue in higher grades or have any bearing on other untested subjects has not been studied. The report summary is available online.

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PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING SEEKS NOMINATIONS

Nominations are currently open for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). PAEMST is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1983, this program authorizes the President to bestow up to 108 awards each year. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Awards are given to mathematics and science teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The teachers are recognized for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science. In addition to honoring individual achievement, the goal of the award program is to exemplify the highest standards of mathematics and science teaching. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. Find out more at www.paemst.org.

Triangle Coalition member, the Council of Presidential Awardees in Mathematics (CPAM) is an organization whose members are recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching. CPAM meets annually in conjunction with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Annual Meeting. CPAM maintains a Speakers' Bureau, awards a $2,000 college scholarship (renewable for three years) each April to a future mathematics teacher, and distributes certificates for Outstanding Mathematics Achievement for student recognition. More information is at www.cpam.teachersdg.org.

TCEB Sponsors

3M
3M is a diversified technology company committed to providing practical
and ingenious solutions to help customers succeed.

Ford Motor Company Fund
Ford Motor Company Fund continues the legacy of Henry Ford's commitment
to innovative education at all levels. They remain dedicated to creating and enriching
educational opportunities, especially in the areas of science, engineering, math, and business.

To find out how your organization can sponsor the TCEB or support the Triangle Coalition in other ways, visit www.trianglecoalition.org/support.htm __________________________________________________________________________

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