cemast cemast newsletter newslettercemastcemast newsletter newsletter september 2010 upcoming...
TRANSCRIPT
T he Center for Mathematics, Science,
and Technology (CeMaST) at
Illinois State University was established
in 1990 with the mission of integrating
and improving the teaching and learning
of science, technology, and mathematics
for students across the K-12 and
university spectrum. Since it's inception,
CeMaST has led Illinois State University
in major curriculum and professional
development projects funded by
national (NSF, DoEd, NIH) and state
(ISBE, IBHE) agencies.
In recent years, engineering has been
added to these three fields to create the
acronym STEM—which stands for
science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics. Twenty years later,
CeMaST's mission has broadened—to
enable and improve teaching and
learning in all the STEM disciplines. As a
society, however, we face a number of
problems that share particular
characteristics:
The problems of and solutions for our
current and future world are
primarily interdisciplinary.
The problems will be solved by
collaboration—locally, regionally,
nationally, and internationally.
The problems will be solved by
teams of scientists, technicians,
engineers, and mathematicians
working collaboratively and
innovatively to improve the lives of
people everywhere.
The next generation of STEM
professionals must be taught in such
a manner as to enable them to work
col laborat ively with o ther
professionals from diverse fields.
Future work should be grounded in
research that established successful
methods for achieving goals.
These characteristics have led to the
development of The CeMaST Stance:
Although we will support individual
projects, our focus will be to encour-
age and pursue projects and ideas
that bring together professionals
from multiple disciplines.
We will focus on problems that affect
the day-to-day lives of people around
the world and encourage STEM
students and professionals to tackle
them. We may support basic
research, but we will preferentially
support applied and integrated
solutions to current problems.
We will preferentially promote
projects that have an interdiscipli-
nary research and/or outreach
component.
We will work on projects that have
both local interest and national
significance.
In practice, The CeMaST Stance leads to
our current initiatives: The Urban STEM-
Ed Initiative, The K12 Engineering
Education Initiative, The Innovative Design
Project, and Research and Outreach
Initiatives. These initiatives help us to
decide which projects we should pursue
including support for The Chicago
Teacher Pipeline, The American Solar Car
Challenge, Math Science Partnerships
such as Engaged STEM and Global
Climate Change: Threatened Species,
Threatened Environments, and an as-yet-
unnamed project which uses the fine arts
to help students learn in mathematics and
science.
The CeMaST Stance: A Note From Our Director
CeMaST Newsletter CeMaST Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2010
Upcoming Events:
September 11—Noyce
Banquet and Urban STEM
Alumni Event in Evanston, IL
September 25 — RSO STEM
Challenge Tailgate
October 1 — deadline for
Professional Innovation Grant
October 1 — deadline for Fall
Teacher Innovation Grant
More information, including details
about Registration, can be found at
our website:
CeMaST.IllinoisState.edu
As you read the newsletter, view our
website, encounter our publications,
hear about CeMaST's other efforts, and
respond to CeMaST’s request for
proposals; we hope that you, too, will
see the CeMaST Stance as an important
and strong influence in what we do.
Willy Hunter
Director of CeMaST
The Journal of Technology Education (JTE) is one of most prestigious
research-based journals in the technology education profession.
Originally edited by Dr. Mark Sanders (Technology Education, Virginia
Tech) and Dr. James LaPorte (Technology Education, Millersville
University), Dr. Chris Merrill (Technology Education, Illinois State
University), has just accepted the appointment as new Editor. The JTE
provides a forum for scholarly discussion on topics relating to technology
education. Manuscripts focus on technology education research,
philosophy, and theory. In addition, the JTE publishes book reviews,
editorials, guest articles, comprehensive literature reviews, and reactions
to previously published articles. Since the inception of the JTE (1989), it
has always been available in both print and electronic forms. The JTE is co
-sponsored by the International Technology and Engineering Educators
Association and the Council on Technology Teacher Education.
Manuscripts that appear in the Articles section have been subjected to a
blind review by three or more members of the Editorial Board. Book
reviews, editorials, and reactions are reviewed by the Editor and/or
Associate Editor. All issues of the Journal of Technology Education may be
accessed on the World Wide Web at: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/
ejournals/JTE/ (Note: this URL is case sensitive).
CeMaST supports Dr. Merrill and other journal editors on campus through
journal management, subscriber services, and technical editing.
We congratulate Dr. Merrill for this prestigious accomplishment and look
forward to supporting his work over the next few years.
The Center for Mathematics, Science and
Technology (CeMaST) will again be offering
Professional Innovation Grants to support
faculty, instructors, faculty associates and
AP staff with teaching responsibilities
involved in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics. Grants can
be used to support new or innovative
research projects, travel to professional
conferences or workshops, funding a guest
speaker or an event on campus, etc.
Preference will be given to submissions
which emphasize Urban STEM and Urban
STEM Education, STEM Outreach, and K-12
Engineering. Successful applicants
(individuals or teams) can receive up to
$5000. The deadline to apply for this year’s
Professional Innovation Grants is October 1,
2010.
This year, in addition to the grants offered
for ISU personnel, CeMaST will also be
offering Teacher Innovation Grants to
support Illinois K-12 teachers involved in
STEM teaching, learning and research in a
variety of ways. These grants can be used
to support new or ongoing teaching
projects or to match funds of grants already
received for innovative STEM projects.
Preference will be given to projects that
center on the integration of multiple STEM
disciplines, involve collaboration, have a
far-reaching impact, and originate in a
high-needs school as defined by the Illinois
State Board of Education. Successful
applicants can receive up to $500. The
|deadline to apply for this fall’s Teacher
Innovation Grants is October 1, 2010.
More information about eligibility,
application materials, and evaluation
criteria for both the Professional Innovation
Grants and the Teacher Innovation Grants
can be found on our website:
CeMaST.IllinoisState.edu
Professional Innovation Grants Now Available
Recent Events
Illinois high school
students took part in
our Illinois Summer
Research Academy,
July 12-16.
More than 75 Illinois
teachers took part in
o u r s u m m e r
workshops in July,
which focused on
threatened species, an
integra ted math/
science curriculum,
laser methods, and
Illinois geology.
Page 2
CEMAST NEWSLETTER
Journal of Technology Education Moves to ISU
Dr. Chris Merrill (Technology Education
at Illinois State University) is the newly
appointed editor of the Journal of
Technology Education.
CeMaST Summer Program Wrap Up
geologically important and prevalent sites, including
former and current quarries and faults in Cape
Girardeau, Harrisburg, Anna, and the Shawnee
National Forest.
CeMaST also welcomed the first annual Illinois
Summer Research Academy high school researchers to
campus this summer. Ten high school students from
across Illinois spent one week on campus participating
in research learning both field and laboratory
techniques. The event culminated with the presentation
of their findings in closing ceremony. Finally, Bugs for
Kids has continued to hop around town presenting our
Lubber Grasshoppers. Our fascinating insects have
made appearances at Sugar Grove Nature Center,
Unity Community Center, and Katie’s Kids. If you would
like more information on Bugs for Kids, please contact
CeMaST at (309) 438-3089.
The Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology is
wrapping up a busy and productive summer. There
have been a number of events that have taken place
with many of our programs. On June 25-26, CeMaST
partnered with The Children’s Discovery Museum and
the Town of Normal to welcome the American Solar
Challenge to the Normal Pit stop. This all day event
featured 14 solar car teams from all over the world. The
event featured food and games as well as a morning
send off from Uptown Normal.
In addition to the American Solar Challenge, CeMaST
welcomed a number of teachers to Illinois State
University throughout June and July for four different
workshops. In the Global Climate Change: Threatened
Species, Threatened Environments workshop, high
school science teachers were trained in a wide variety
of scientific techniques and technologies in the field and
lab. The Engaged STEM workshop provided teams of
middle school teachers with an opportunity to learn how
to implement an integrated math and science
curriculum called IMaST.
In addition, about 30 chemistry teachers from around
the state of Illinois met for two weeks this summer to
continue their work towards their Master's degree
through the IMSP grant. The teachers learned about
lasers and how they work, what they are used for in
chemistry (along with other applications), and how they
might use low energy lasers for experiments with their
students.
Finally, Illinois Earthscope had 22 teachers assisted by
seven instructors. They learned about using the
USArray to measure structure and changes in the earth’s
crust as part of the larger Earthscope project. They also
spent 5 days in Missouri and southern Illinois visiting
Page 3
SEPTEMBER 2010
Volunteer your time by participating in one of the following
events:
Attend Urban STEM Alumni Events—May 6th and
September 11th in Chicago
Serve as a research mentor for students in the
High School Research Symposium
In addition, we are looking for people with expertise or in-
terest in working on:
Global Climate Change Education Initiatives
TUES—Transforming Undergraduate Education in
Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (formerly CCLI)
due January 2011
Ways to Get Involved
Contact Us: [email protected]
Director of CeMaST, Dr. William Hunter, is
pleased to announce that Dr. Kevin
Laudner, Associate Professor in the
School of Kinesiology and Recreation, will
become Associate Director of CeMaST
beginning August, 2010. Dr. Laudner will
begin a three-year term in which he will
act as liaison to the College of Applied
Science and Technology and provide
leadership in CeMaST. Dr. Laudner brings
a wealth of technical expertise to CeMaST
as he is a highly regarded and sought
after leader and consultant in the
prevention, evaluation, and treatment of
various orthopedic related injuries.
Dr. Hunter upon making the appointment
indicated that ―this marks a new day for
CeMaST – we anticipate Dr. Laudner
being able to lead new projects that
CeMaST would never have contemplated
before. His leadership will promote novel
research and technical projects that cross
Center for Mathematics, Science, and
Technology
210 W. Mulberry St.
Campus Box 5960
Normal, IL 61790-5960
Phone: 309-438-3089
Fax: 309-438-3592
E-mail: [email protected]
many disciplinary boundaries and
provide interdisc ip l inary STEM
opportunities for students and faculty.‖
Dr. Laudner’s stature as a world-class
researcher enhances both the reputation of
Illinois State University and of CeMaST. In
commenting upon his appointment, Dr.
Laudner said ―I am very excited about
joining CeMaST because of their strong
history of promoting and supporting the
STEM fields. It is an honor to have been
appointed to this position and I look
forward to working closely with the entire
CeMaST personnel, as well as local, state,
and national students, teachers, and
researchers with the shared goal of
enhancing STEM education.‖ We invite
you to contact Dr. Laudner with both
congratulations and ideas that you would
like to pursue. He can be reached at
438-5197 or at [email protected].
Kevin Laudner named CAST Associate Director of CeMAST
For m ore new s a nd i n form at i on ,
V i s i t our w ebs i t e :
C eMa ST . I l l i no i s S t a t e . e du
Kevin Laudner
CAST Associate Director of CeMaST