ensuring the next generation of engineers john w. steadman 2004 ieee-usa president dean of...
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Ensuring the Next Generation of Engineers
John W. Steadman2004 IEEE-USA President
Dean of EngineeringUniversity of South Alabama
K-12 in the “Gathering Storm”
Background for the NAE report Key recommendations for K-12
education The American Competitiveness
Initiative and K-12 actions Implementation status
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
Rising Above the Gathering Storm Charge to the Committee
Senators Alexander and Bingaman with endorsement of House Science committee requested National Academies to:
• Identify top actions federal policy makers could take so US can successfully compete, prosper, and be secure in the 21st Century
• Determine an implementation strategy with several concrete steps
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
Committee
• Norman Augustine (chair)
• Craig Barrett
• Gail Cassell
• Steven Chu
• Robert Gates
• Nancy Grasmick
• Charles Holliday
• Shirley Ann Jackson
• Anita Jones
• Joshua Lederberg
• Richard Levin
• Dan Mote
• Cherry Murray
• Peter O’Donnell
• Lee Raymond
• Robert Richardson
• Roy Vagelos
• Charles Vest
• George Whitesides
• Richard Zare
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
Some Context
• Growing national concern about the economy– Globalization– Out-sourcing & off-shoring– Rise of other nations
• Friedman: The World is Flat– 58+ weeks on the list of top selling books– Communicated the “message”
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
4 Major Recommendations, 20 Implementation Actions
1. Ten Thousand Teachers, Ten Million Minds, and K-12 Science and Mathematics Education
2. Sowing the Seeds – Research, Researchers and Research Infrastructure
3. Best and Brightest in Science and Engineering Education – U.S. and Foreign S&T Students
4. Incentives for Innovation
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
Ten Thousand Teachers, Ten Million Minds
• Recruit 10,000 teachers, Educate 10 million minds: Attract bright students through competitive 4-yr. merit-based scholarships for BS in sciences, engineering, or math with concurrent K-12 science & math teacher certification in exchange for 5 years public service teaching in K-12 public schools
• Strengthen 250,000 current teachers’ skills: Summer institutes, Master’s program, AP/IB (Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate) training
• Enlarge the Pipeline: Create opportunities and financial incentives for pre-AP/IB and AP/IB science & math courses
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
Initial White House Action
• President's State of The Union and FY2007 Budget – American Competitiveness Initiative
• AP/IB• Research Funding for NSF, NIST, and DOE Office of Science • R&D Tax Credit
– Advanced Energy Initiative
• President’s FY 2008 Continued Support for ACI• Administration actions on Deemed Exports;
International Students
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
Congressional Action
• America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act of 2007 (S. 761, passed Senate 88-8)
• 21st Century Competitiveness Act of 2007 (HR, 2272, passed House, voice vote)
• Conference report passed by both houses August 2, 2007.
• America COMPETES Act signed by President Bush on August 9, 2007.
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
America COMPETES (Overview)
• Authorizes $33.6 billion over fiscal 2008-2010 for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research and education across the federal government
• Includes provisions throughout to broaden participation in science and engineering fields at all levels
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
America COMPETES (Education)
• Authorizes competitive grants for new courses of study in mathematics, science, engineering, technology or critical foreign languages leading to a baccalaureate degree with concurrent teacher certification
• Helps to prepare thousands of new teachers and provide current teachers with content and pedagogical expertise in their area of teaching through NSF’s Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and Math and Science Partnerships Program
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
America COMPETES (Education, continued)
• Expands programs at NSF to enhance the undergraduate education of the future science and engineering workforce, including at 2-year colleges
• Authorizes competitive grants to expand access to AP and IB classes and to increase the number of qualified AP and IB teachers in high-need schools
National Academy of Engineeringof the National Academies
For more information
www.nationalacademies.org/gatheringstorm
PDF of executive summary and full report are available at no cost
K-12 The U.S. IS Falling Behind
Fourth Grade Academic Performance 15-year-old Academic Performance
Fourth Grade - Low
Percent Passing - Low Benchmark
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
England
Italy
Japan
Russia
Scotland
United States
Science
Math
Fourth Grade – Advanced
Percent Passing - Advanced
0 5 10 15 20 25
England
Italy
Japan
Russia
Scotland
United States
Science
Math
Math Achievement of 15 year olds
Percent at Level 5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Canada
France
Italy
Japan
Russia
United States
Other Indicators
ACT 2007 Results 15% of those who had completed
required math courses met “college readiness” benchmark
40% of those with trigonometry 20% of those who completed core
science were ready for college biology
Conclusions
“…students are not learning the skills they need to succeed in college by taking core curriculum in H.S.”
“…these courses lack the proper level of rigor.”
“While scores improved, more than half of takers fell short of college readiness benchmarks.”
Changing K-12 STEM Performance
In the U.S., K-12 is state or local Compete America is federal – limited Engaging Youth in Engineering Boston Museum of Science IEEE-EAB Tryengineering.org NSPE Mathcounts
Engineering Academies
Five math and science courses above minimum required for graduation
AP Calculus and Physics “Engineering” course each year Supported by College of Engineering Becoming state-wide program