FI3T Project PIs Meeting 7-18-08

FI3T Project PIs Meeting

July 18, 2008
9:30am – 12:30pm
SOE Conference Room 251
Fairlane Center South (FCS)
University of Michigan-Dearborn


AGENDA


1.0 Welcome

2.0 Summer Course
2.1 Attendance
2.2 Grading
2.3 Hardware and software update
2.4 Teacher selection for STEM design teams
2.5 End-of-Course Evaluation Questionnaire

3.0 Prep for Fall Semester
3.1 Research/evaluation tools for students
3.2 Student selection
3.3 Parental involvement
3.4 Kickoff – September
3.5 Fall workshops - scheduling

4.0 Scheduling, questions and comments
4.1 August meeting with STEM teachers

5.0 Others

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Western Michigan University Spearheads Conference for STEM education

By News Report

June 18, 2008

More than 60,000 H-1B visas are granted anually to allow foreign skilled workers with a specialty occupation to live in the United States for at least three years. Although universities are issuing more degrees every year, the number of STEM degrees -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- degrees are declining, forcing businesses to seek foreign workers to fill these positions.

There is a push to stimulate the advancement of STEM education, and this year two Western Michigan University professors are spearheading the conference "Facilitating Change in Undergraduate STEM: An Invitational Symposium Integrating Multiple Perspectives."

The conference, which is paid for by two grants from the National Science Foundation, will host 42 individuals who are working to change education trends. Participants will demontrate how changes can be made in the teaching and learning of undergraduate STEM subjects.

Dr. Charles Henerson, conference co-organizer and WMU professor of physics and science education, said national growth and economic competition depend on STEM education.

"Researchers know a lot about effective teaching practices for STEM subjects," he said. "What we need to do now is find ways to expand the use of these practices so that all undergraduate students can experience them."

A few of the speakers include Dr. Carl Wieman, co-winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in physics; Carol Colbeck, dean of the graduate school of education at the University of Massachusetts Boston; and Judith A. Ramaley, president and professor of biology at Winona State University.

Each of the invitees is asked to bring a poster that describes the approach they've taken to facilitate change in undergraduate STEM.

Adjourn