Work in Progress – National Center for Engineering and Technology Education: Supporting Teacher Professional Development and Renewing K-12 Schooling

Abstract

The National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) links technology educators with engineering educators in a symbiotic alliance to build capacity for research, nurture a cadre of talented, diverse leaders in engineering and technology education and infuse engineering design and analytical skills into K-12 schools. The NSF-funded center (ESI-0426421) links four research universities with five technology teacher education institutions, fifteen K-12 school districts and three education-related societies. In 2005, the Center has been involved in on-going delivery of professional development for technology teachers in the partner K-12 schools. Professional development focuses on assessment-driven open-ended problem solving applied to engineering design utilizing mathematics and science concepts. Evaluation survey instruments are used to collect data from students and teachers to determine if the project met the objectives and if the content was effective for technology education students