STEM Smart: Lessons Learned From Successful Schools

On September 19, 2011 I traveled to Philadelphia to attend the STEM Smart: Lessons Learned From Successful Schools event hosted by NSF at Drexel University.  It was about two hours on Amtrak train.

The event was surrounding the release of a report by National Research Council on Successful Schools.  They didn't really tell anything new. 

Essentials to Effective Instruction

1.  coherent set of standards and curriculum

2.  teachers with high capacity to teach the disciplines

3.  supportive system of assessment and accountability

4.  adequate instructional time

5. equal access to high quality learning opportunities

School Conditions that Support Learning
1. school leadership as a driver of change
2. professional capacity of faculty
3. parent - community ties
4. student centered

Recommendations
1.  consider all models of STEM
2.  devote adequate time
3.  curriculum that is focused, rigorous, and sequenced
4.  provide teachers with learning opportunities
5.  teacher led professional development

Policy Makers
1.  elevate science to same level as reading and math
2.  develop science assessments
3.  supports for STEM teachers
4.  more educational research with continual funding

Dr. Suresh, Director of National Science Foundation gave an opening address.  He started with good news about education in the U.S.  We are leaders in science and technology around the world.  Our universities are world leaders.  We lead in research and scholarly publications. But then he related this short excerpt from Tom Friedman's new book, That Used to be Us.  Grinnell College in Iowa has 10% of its applicant pool come from China. Half of those Chinese applicants have perfect SAT scores in mathematics. 

September 11

I attended Spirit of America at the Verizon Center with several other Einstein Fellows.  I thought it was going to be a musical tribute to September 11, 2001, but it was an elaborate theatrical tribute to soldiers in out country from the Revolutionary War to now.

I love my new camera.  It is a Canon PowerShot SX130 with a 12X optical zoom.  I was able to take these pictures in a dark event center, sitting in at top row.  The zoom lets me get good shots even when I am a long distance away.

Covered Bridges

Sunday Terrie and I went for a drive in the country to find some of the more than 100 year old covered bridges in Maryland.  It was lovely weather and the countryside was so green and beautiful.  When you look at the pictures, notice how different the inside construction is for each bridge.

Bridge #1. Utica Bridge

Bridge #2. Loy's Station Bridge

Bridge #3.  Roddy Road Bridge

A New Start

I am back in Washington, DC.  This week starts my second year as an Einstein Fellow.   This year there are 30 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers from schools across the United States coming to the DC area to begin their fellowships in different government agencies (Dept of Energy, National Science Foundation, NASA, legislative offices, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).  Nine of us are returning for a second year.

I am at the National Science Foundation again in the Directorate of Computer Science Information and Engineering (CISE). Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were filled with orientation activities.

This year there are two fellows from Idaho.  DaNel teaches physics in Kuna and I teach mathematics in Boise.

Family Part 2

A few more pictures of my visit in Boise.  My brother Jerry and wife Bernita visited for a few days.

Baby Madilyn sitting up all by herself!!

My mom is always feeding me very good food whenever I come to visit.

This one is a climber.

It was so nice to be home in Idaho for August.  I tried to soak up as much family and friends as I could before I return to Washington DC for another year of my fellowship.

August with family and home

The Einstein Fellowship is only 11 months, so I went home for all of the month of August.  Here are some of the highlights of my time home.

Hiking in the Flat Irons with Rich, Bryana, and Eliana in Colorado.

A day at the Denver Zoo.

My 40th high school class reunion.

Rock climbing with Anna and Mike's family at the Black Cliffs.

A great summer time dinner at Jon and Charlotte's.

Riding the gondola at Sun Valley to the top of the mountain.

NCTM Mathematics Institute of Reasoning and Understanding

The last official activity for the 2010/2011 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship was a trip to Orlando Florida.  The keynote speaker was Dan Meyers.

First I spent 4 days in Orlando at NCTM Institute for Mathematics Reasoning and Understanding.

Not all work and no play.  The pool and sun were calling me.