The Sustainability Classroom

ITEA is fortunate to have an excellent working relationship with the "Beyond Benign" organization. Beyond Benign is described as a nonprofit focused on creating a workforce and public that is well educated in green chemistry in order to create safer materials for a thriving society. Though they use the descriptive term, "green chemistry" they are quick to add that much of what they do has overlap with technology education. Representatives from BB have attended the past few ITEA conferences and been truly energized by seeing how our members embrace and are already implementing many sustainable practices.

Among the many opportunities that this partnership brings, is an opportunity for classroom teachers to attend BB's 6th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo - to be held next April on the Mall in Washington, DC. From BB's website:

The National Sustainable Design Expo is an event that brings together professional scientists, engineers, green chemists, business leaders and students around innovations designed to advance economic growth while reducing environmental impact. The Expo showcases the innovative designs of the EPA’s P3 (People, Prosperity and the Planet) student design teams.

Beyond Benign has issued an open invitation: the event is open to everyone at every age. They would love nothing more than for school buses full of technology teachers and their classrooms to descend on the Mall for the 2010 event. More information to follow - via ITEA and Beyond Benign at www.beyondbenign.org. Stay tuned!

Posted by Katie de la Paz

Will ITEA Tweet?

With the absolute slew of social and professional networking opportunities available these days, we feel a responsibility to make sure that ITEA is involved only in those that truly offer something beneficial to its members. Thus far, we've created opportunities for ITEA members on Linked In and Facebook and of course, here on Blogger.

The next site that is being given serious consideration is Twitter. While it is apparent that Twitter has useful applications for a membership association, it wasn't until I recently attended. a conference for my own professional development that I fully got the "Twitter experience." The conference organizers did a phenomenal job of using Twitter to make the attendees feel like tightly-knit group of colleagues - keeping them abreast of events, news, changes, and the like. The immediacy of the "tweets" truly made it feel like a conversation in which each attendee was involved.

For MUCH more on Twitter, including it's appeal to the masses, I strongly encourage you to read "How Twitter Will Change The Way We Live," recently published in Time Magazine. The article can be retrieved at http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1902604,00.html . It does a remarkable job of explaining what Twitter is all about.

Posted by Katie de la Paz

A Digital-Literacy Maven's Favorite Web Links

Excerpted from Edutopia Magazine:

As a professor of education, Michele Knobel uses the sites referenced in the website below. She believes that teachers-to-be must be savvy users of online technologies in order to be effective classroom teachers. She gives her students ample opportunity to create and collaborate through Web-based tools.

http://www.edutopia.org/dg-resources

Posted by Katie de la Paz

House Science and Technology Committee Hearing

The FY 2010 budget request for Education totals $126.1 million and furthers NASA's commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Read much more:

http://4g-wirelessevolution.tmcnet.com/news/2009/05/26/4197079.htm

Penn State Actively Involved in STEM Initiatives

Excerpt from the article:

"Penn State is playing a leadership role for the nation and beyond when it comes to educational initiatives involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), according to David H. Monk, dean of the College of Education, who gave a report to the University's Board of Trustees, Friday (May 15).

The STEM disciplines have been identified as critical in educating students who can advance the global competitiveness of the United States. Pennsylvania has joined a National Governors Association effort to make STEM education a top priority. Penn State's expertise in these areas, Monk said, will help the University build partnerships throughout Penn State as well as with agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Education and with the K-12 schools in the state. The College of Education, Monk said, is well-positioned to facilitate the development of these partnerships."

To continue reading the article, go to http://live.psu.edu/story/39796

Posted by Katie de la Paz

Journals - Paper versus Electronic

For a number of years, we have wrestled with the concept of if and when to migrate our journals into an online format. We survey members, follow trends, and watch our bottom line - but the answer still remains elusive. 

Today I read the following article, which I feel takes us one step closer to the electronic eventuality. It's coming - just not sure how soon or how effectively. 

http://www.observer.com/2009/media/toy-story-are-those-5000-magazines-your-messenger-bag-or-are-you-just-happy-see-me

Posted by: Katie de la Paz

President Obama's Speech to the National Academies

A write up describing President Obama's recent speech to the National Academies of Science - expressing the need for better STEM education:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-m-gentile/president-obama-the-natio_b_194479.html