TEEAP News

ITEA’s 2009 Louisville Conference was the launch date for ITEA’s latest initiative to help its membership become stronger leaders through the use of GREEN initiatives toward building a sustainable environment. ITEA’s President-Elect, Gary Wynn, DTE, spoke at the President’s Roundtable to the Affiliate Representatives about this initiative that will include members being involved in the following ways:

• Learning to teach the basics of GREEN TECHNOLOGY in their program.
• Building a state team of ITEA leaders who are teaching about GREEN in their programs.
• Becoming a part of a larger ITEA networking group, working at the national level to teach about GREEN TECHNOLOGY.
• Leading their community, school, and students in creating a more sustainable society.
  Being dedicated to making the technology/engineering teaching profession one of the best in the field of education.
• Becoming an outspoken professional and advocate about the importance of teaching technology/engineering in their community.
• Helping fellow teacher by inspiring greatness far greater than what they could develop by themselves.
• Going the extra step to help their fellow teachers and colleagues.
• Helping their colleagues be recognized and rewarded for being outstanding educators.

Wynn used examples of GREEN initiatives such as the ongoing statewide initiative by the Pennsylvania state association. ITEA Past President, Andy Stephenson, DTE, has volunteered to lead this nationwide effort, which will include a website, learning communities, and numerous other activities that will help ITEA members use their leadership skills in leading education.  Members who want to know more about this initiative or want to lead with Stephenson should watch ITEA communications and publications as well as contact Stephenson at andy.stephenson@fayette.kyschools.us.
 
For more information about ITEA’s GREEN initiatives, go to www.iteaconnect.org or email itea@iteaconnect.org.

International Technology Education Association Board of Directors Statement of Action January 17, 2009

The Board of Directors approved the following proclamation pertaining to the T & E of STEM as follows.

Proclamation:
ITEA’s Position on the “T & E” of STEM
Whereas; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical (STEM) literacy is critical for the advancement of students to enter all careers of tomorrow, be it known that the (ITEA) International Technology Education Association believes that it is necessary for K-12 students to gain 21st Century knowledge, skills, and thinking abilities for the technological world.

ITEA’s Board of Directors, on behalf of its membership proclaims that the delivery of STEM education content is closely aligned with the same core content as Standards for Technological Literacy. Furthermore, the goals of our content are essential for all students to achieve both academic and technological abilities in all career pathways and for future leadership in Technology, Innovation, Design and Engineering.

Further, that the content contained within our standards is the foundation for students to develop 21st Century STEM literacy—the very core of abilities needed for students to become advanced problem solvers, innovators, technologists, engineers, and knowledgeable citizens. ITEA believes that all true STEM programs must include Standards for Technological Literacy as a ladder to help students achieve STEM literacy.

Therefore, it is proclaimed that the Technology and Engineering within STEM is delivered by our content area. ITEA and its Standards for Technological Literacy continue to be supported by NASA, The National Academies of Science and Engineering, the National Science Foundation, and the National Assessment for Educational Progress. ITEA believes our content and standards are the foundation through which students may achieve STEM literacy with the partnership of science and mathematics to help all students achieve 21st Century skills.

Board members voting for the Proclamation were as follows: Litowitz, Denton, Stephenson, Warner, Fitzgerald, Meyer, McDonald, DeMiranda, Miller, Wright, and Whiting. There were no votes against this action. The action was deemed approved by President Litowitz on January 17, 2009.

In order for Marlene and Ginger to make any headway in advocating for Children’s Engineering/Design & Technology in the elementary classroom they need your help.

1. A SHORT survey will be showing up in your mailbox before September 15th. It will ask you what non-members of the ITEA want to see from the association. Unless you hold an individual membership to the ITEA, this means they need your input. (It will take you more time to read this email than to complete the survey.) Ginger will use the results to develop a briefing for the ITEA Board of Directors. It is a chance for elementary teachers to be heard.
2. Marlene and Ginger need every elementary educator with any interest in children’s engineering to join the Innovation Station Elementary Listserv. To date, postings by elementary educators have been very limited. The goal is to change that so the listserv becomes a place for elementary educators to share ideas for activities, classroom organization hints, and successes with their students! Have questions? Need help? Innovation Station can become the “go to” place for elementary educators involved in children’s engineering. Only you can make this happen.

Traffic on Innovation Station will also allow leaders of the ITEA and other organizations to keep current of what is really going on in elementary classrooms across the nation. And it will provide elementary educators a way for their needs and wants to be heard.

You can subscribe to Innovation Station at http://www.iteaconnect.org/Networking/IS/IS.htm It is FREE. You can choose to have the postings sent to you as they are posted OR sent in one batch each day.