FCAT Science » Stem education

Florida to Use Race to The Top Funds to Train More Math and Science Teachers

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:58:06 +0000

Florida is facing a critical shortage of math and science teachers at the middle and high school level. Florida plans on using Race to The Top funds to spur the education of more of these critical instructors, according to the Florida Department of Education. I’m hoping that the Florida Department of Education seeks out quality educational experiences and long-term professional staff development for the math and science teachers that will be heading into Florida’s middle and high school science classrooms. Also, of importance is the need for teachers trained in STEM education practices. To read Leslie Postal’s article in November 28th, 2011 Orlando Sentinel see the following link.

Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science Class In Full Gear At Mariner School Lee County, Florida

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 23:31:11 +0000

Biomedical Science Class is being offered at Mariner School in Lee County, Florida. The Biomedical Class is part of the the first Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical ScienceProgram. It’s the first PLTW class that Lee County has offered. Project Lead the Way is a nationally-approved method of increasing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts and explorations within schools. STEM education classes help to achieve the goals set forth in the Race to the Top grant program. Michelle Hellman is the instructor for the Biomedical Science class at Mariner School. She completed two weeks of intensive training provided by PLTW this past summer to become certified to teach the class. Hellman states that “she is more of a facilitator, she hardly lectures.” Students are in charge of most of their own research and labs. Project Lead the Way philosophy and curriculum encourages the development of problem-solving skills, critical thinking, creative and innovative reasoning, and a love for learning. To read more about the Biomedical Science class at Mariner check out the following article in News-Press.com by Mae Yousif-Bashi. To find out more about Project Lead the Way programs and teacher training opportunities check out the Project Lead the Way website.

National Lab Day

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:57:19 +0000

A coalition of educators, scientists, engineers, and philanthropies announced the launching of National Lab Day. A new grassroots initiative designed to reinvigorate science and math education in the nation’s schools and after-school programs which will is hoped to ultimately lead to increased U.S. competitiveness.
The goal of the initiative is to improve the quality of Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in America. A collaboration between the government and more than 200 public-and private sector organizations, National Lab Day will connect students in grades 6–12 to hands-on learning experiences and promote tinkering in laboratory settings. National Lab Day is a New York-based education organization dedicated to improving science and math education nationwide. National Lab Day welcomes new partnerships and can be reached at info@nationallabday.org. For further details on the National Lab Day initiative please see the following link to the National Lab Day Organization website. http://www.nationallabday.org/

Obama announces $250 million iniative for science and math teacher training

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:04:11 +0000

President Obama announced a $250 million public-private combination effort to improve science and mathematics instruction. The goal of the initiative is to help the United States compete in science and engineering fields with global economic competitors. The funding will prepare more than 10,000 new math and science teachers teachers over the next five years, and provide on-the-job training for an additional 100,000 teachers in STEM fields. I am hoping that the state of Florida benefits from this iniative via providing additional and much needed quality hands-on professional staff development for math and science teachers. For further details on the initiative see the article by Nick Anderson, Washington Post Staff Writer in the following link “>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/06/AR2010010602063.html”>

“Educate To Innovate” Program for Excellence in technology, Science, Engineering & Math

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:23:47 +0000

November 23rd, President Obama launched the “Educate to Innovate” campaign. The goal of the nationwide effort is to move American students from the middle to the top in science and math achievement over the next decade, over $260 million in public-private investments have been made to help achieve this goal. Big name public and private partnerships have come on board to help achieve this goal including: Time Warner Cable, Discovery Communications, Sesame Street’s Early STEM Literacy Initiative, The MacArthur Foundation, Sony Computer Entertainment America, and numerous other corporations. States have begun submitting qualifying paperwork to state their interest in applying for “Race to the Top” funds. States receiving Race to the Top funds will have to dramatically improve their schools and student achievement in science and math. A major portion of the funds are expected to be used for professional staff development. For further details on the “Educate to Innovate” campaign see the official White House Press release below.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-launches-educate-innovate-campaign-excellence-science-technology-en