news about the 2014 masstec conference ‘new standards: new...
TRANSCRIPT
News about the 2014 MassTEC Conference
‘New Standards: New Opportunities’
And
More!
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
John Storella-Mullin, a Technology Engineering Teacher at Hanover Middle School,
suggested that MassTEC develop and conduct a survey of all existing Tech Ed teachers
with the objective of understanding how much time is allocated by each district and
school related to student attending a Tech Ed class. We wanted to know even more.
Please improve our understanding of your interests in Technology Engineering
Education by completing this two minute survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3RDQBP6
THE
MASSTEC
EXPRESS NEWSLETTER
Features inside this
issue include:
Note from the President
3
MassTEC
Conference 5-10
ITEEA Conference
11
STEM News &
More
12-15
POY-TOY 2015
17
Cool Links
18
Rubric Challenge
19
Greetings!
The annual MassTEC Conference
was on Friday, October 24, 2014 at
Fitchburg State University. From
all accounts, the 150 participants
gathered great ideas; shared lively
camaraderie; and networked to
improve what we do as practioners
of the “subject matter that
integrates everything that is going
on in every classroom” (See page
3) and all the news from the
conference on pages four through
ten.
The MassTEC Board of Directors
thank the vendors, the presenters,
the wonderful faculty and staff at
Fitchburg State with a special shout
out to Ms. Diane Whitham for
making this such a smooth
operation. We look forward to
doing this all again next year!
As usual, this year has many
challenges for classroom teachers.
Not only are we asked to meet
every student’s individual needs
but we also have to document that
we are highly qualified teachers.
Now the Massachusetts Department
of Elementary and Secondary
Education (DESE) is recommending
that every teacher in every class in
the commonwealth create a ‘value
added’ assessment to her/his practice
to assure that students gain
knowledge in the subjects being
taught. Since Massachusetts is a state
in which each school district is
independent, DESE can only
recommend that this happen
however, DESE also holds the trump
cards of overseeing the school
improvement plans and AYP.
In this light, MassTEC is offering
suggestions for creating pre– and
post-tests and also alternative
formative and summative evaluation
instruments such as rubrics for
capstone projects. We will share
these with you in the near future. If
you have a topic and a learning
measuring device (rubric, test,
assessment) that you want to share,
please forward it to me and we’ll
publish them in the upcoming
Expresses.
Sometimes all the new hoops that
we have to jump through seem just
another layer that gets in the way
of what we love to do: help
students learn through real life,
authentic experiences using tools
and materials and multiple thought
processes to learn how to solve
problems. Let’s all remember, it’s
not the rubric, nor the test, nor the
politics: it’s all about students
learning to become better informed
and prepared future citizens.
Please check out all the news from
the Conference as well as the great,
interesting and odd things that are
being offered in the media
regarding STEM education and
the future needs of our students to
be found in this issue of the
MassTEC Express.
As always, we’d love to hear from
you. Please offer a short article,
some pictures and lesson plans to
share! Thank you for all
you do!
Dr. Ray McCarthy
The MassTEC Express Editor
c 413.627.7043
MORE at http://www.masstec.org
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work
http://www.iteaconnect.org/Conference/conferenceguide.htm
Page 3
Ipswich-
From the desk of the President
Greetings!
I thank everyone who attended the 13th annual MassTEC Conference.
This was a very successful conference. One of the main focuses of the
conference was keeping you informed about the changes in the STE standards
that are going to happen soon. The STE standards are available for review and
will be considered a public draft until June of 2015. The standards will then
move through the official public comment period, with the adoption process
ending by June of 2016. After the adoption of the standards there will be a
multi-year implementation / transition period.
The other day I was asked by a fellow TE teacher, “Why do we at
MassTEC spend so much time and energy talking about the future?” This is a
great question. The best answer I can come up with is that we live in an ever
changing technological world. The needs of our students and the society they
live in have been constantly changing over the last 100 years of our subject
matter. Our life is all about change. Either we adapt to these changes or life
moves on without us. We technology engineering teachers need to be forward
thinkers because we need to keep evolving as society changes. If not we will
slowly disappear at a time when we are needed more than ever to put the T&E
into STEM education. We teach the subject matter that integrates everything
that is going on in every classroom.
With that said, I look forward to seeing you at next year’s conference which
will be held on October 23, 2015.
I hope to see you there.
Scott Jewell
President MassTEC
Technology/Engineering Education: the T&E of STEM!
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
“We teach the
subject matter that
integrates
everything that is
going on in every
classroom.”
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Hudson-
Annual MassTEC Conference Award Presentations
At the most recent MassTEC conference the Board of Directors presented two awards. The first award
was the Founder’s Award; this award was presented to Dr. Robert Antonucci, president of Fitchburg
State University. The Founder Award is given by the MassTEC Board to an individual who they
believed helped promote the field of Technology/Engineering.
Dr. Antonucci was with us at the beginning our journey 20 years ago when we developed the first set
of technology education standards for Massachusetts. When we developed the standards back in 1994
he encouraged us to look to the future and think of how we will meet the needs of students in the 21st
century.
Do to his vision Massachusetts was the first state to have set of standards devoted just to Technology
Education. As they say the rest is history and that history is still being played out today. He was an early supporter of having a technology education course, which receives high school
science credit, be part of the admission process for students entering the state university system. He also encouraged us to hold our conference at Fitchburg, which we have since 2003 with great
success and hope to continue to have our conference at Fitchburg in the coming years.
It was with great pleasure that I presented Founder award to Dr. Antonucci a friend and advocate of
Technology Education over the past 20 years.
Thank you,
Charlie Corley, DTE
2014
MassTEC
Founder’s
Award!
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Hudson-
Annual MassTEC Conference Award Presentation
The 2014 Program of the Year Award this year was presented to the Ottoson Middle School
located in Arlington. Teachers Gary Blanchette and Brandy Whitney were present to receive
the award. In addition to Gary and Whitney their superintendent, Dr. Kathleen Bodie, their principal Mr. Timothy
Ruggere and their department head Mr. Larry Weather were also present at the conference. It was great to see the
support the Arlington administration gives their program.
The Arlington program offers students a cutting edge experience in technology/engineering in grades six, seven and
eight. I would like to quote part of their mission statement that was included with their application.
“In our program, students identify and understand the five elements of a technology system. They acquire basic
safety skills in the use of hand tools, power tools, and machines. Additionally, they explore engineering design;
materials, tools, and machines; and communication, manufacturing, construction, and transportation technologies.
They achieve a more advanced level of skill in engineering design by learning to conceptualize a problem, design
prototypes in three dimensions, and use hand and power tools to construct their prototypes, test their prototypes, and
make modifications as necessary. The culmination of the engineering design experience at all grade levels is the
development and delivery of a grade and standard related engineering presentation and a summary/evaluation
showing the understanding of the science.”
One final note :every year the MassTEC Board of Directors encourages each of you to submit an application for
either the Teacher of the Year or Program of the Year awards. Each of you reading this article is doing
wonderful things in your classroom and you deserve to be recognized by your follow professionals at our annual
conference.
I ask you to give serious thought to submitting an application for each of the awards that will presented next year. I
have heard from some of you that you don’t feel comfortable nominating yourself for the awards. If you don’t
promote yourself no one else will. I assure you won’t be the first teacher who nominated himself or herself.
Please remember we set the due date for submitting your application for the first Friday after Labor Day on purpose.
The reason we did this was to allow you time during the summer to work on the application. I hope when you
receive the 2015 applications near the end of the year you will take a look at either one or both of the applications.
Thank you,
Charlie Corley, DTE
2014
Program
of the
Year!
Plan on Applying
For
POY and TOY!
http://masstec.org/recognition/index.htm
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Fitchburg-
2014Annual MassTEC Conference
Friday, October 24
Plan to be there next year!
Friday, October 23, 2015
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Fitchburg-
2014Annual MassTEC Conference
Friday, October 24
Thanks to All Our
Conference Vendors!
Advanced Educational Technologies
California University of Pennsylvania
Downes and Reader Hardwood Co., Inc.
Educational STEM Solutions, LLC
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Lego Education
Paxton/Patterson LLC
PTC
STEM Education Center WPI
Tech Ed Concepts, Inc.
Technical Education Products
Plan to be there next year!
Friday, October 23, 2015
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Fitchburg-
Plan to be there next year!
Friday, October 23, 2015
I want to let you know that (as always) I really enjoyed this year's MassTEC conference. I'd like to
think that my presentation went fairly well and it was really nice to get to swap ideas with a number
of different people. This is always my favorite part of the conference because while my coworkers
are great, nobody I work with really understands what it is that I teach and it is so nice to get to
spend a day with people who really understand it instead of just assuming I teach "computers" or
"wood shop".
For me however, the most exciting part of this year's conference was the conversation I had with
two other attendees and our resultant agreement to swap expertise and materials (we're all in the
process of implementing new (programming heavy) material in our classes and are going to help each
other get up to speed with the Processing programming language and the Arduino IDE).
~Sarah Leadbeater
Page 9
Thanks to All for this
year’s Great Workshops!
S.T.E.A.M. Homemade Musical Instrument
Project By engaging student participation in different forms of music
technology; and with the guidance of a professional educator, students
of all grade levels and kinesthetic ability can experience the Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics behind the mystical
world of music. Kurt Lichtenwald—Gloucester High School
John Barry— Gloucester High School
Mark Miller—Saugus High School [email protected]
What I Learned Teaching Exploring Engineering
As I developed the Exploring Engineering course at Andover High
School, I worked to give students exposure to a wide range of
engineering disciplines with the intent to inspire engineering pursuits
in college. Come see the curriculum that doesn’t require a big budget,
a big workshop or a vast background in multiple engineering
disciplines. I’ll share which projects are working, what students have
taught me, and how wanting to learn is contagious. Minda Reidy
Andover High School
Professional Technology Education Master's
Degree: 100% Online
Earn your Master's degree while teaching. 100% online program
provides flexibility, enhancing your teaching and program. This five
term program provides professional experiences in: program
development, grants, STEM, sustainability, special populations,
creativity, assessment, research, and more. Competitive tuition
available. Help meet your state standards.
Glenn Hider
California University of Pennsylvania [email protected]
2016 United States Super STEM Competition
All are welcome to learn about an upcoming National grade 5 through
college STEM competition being held in Massachusetts’s backyard.
An excellent opportunity you’re your students or school to compete in
to win awards and scholarships
Joseph Ramos
United States Super STEM Competition [email protected]
The Next Wave of 3D Printing and Advanced
Manufacturing
The buzz about 3D printers has been heard around the world. So
what is the next step for these game changers? At our presentation
we’ll discuss how 3D printers have already moved way beyond
making “trinkets” and how they are directly impacting and changing
today’s manufacturing and advanced manufacturing practices
worldwide and even in our own communities. Every attendee will
receive a grant form to apply for a chance to receive a FREE 3D
printer for your school!
Mark Leonard & David Ciolfi
Technology Education Concepts, Inc. [email protected],
Digital Delivery to Expand Technology/
Engineering
Description and demonstration of digital delivery and support options
for Technology/Engineering instruction. Platform demonstrations for
online text, companion websites and instructor lead online courses will
be covered, grades 9-12.
John Marconi
GoodHeart-Willcox Publisher [email protected]
Building Sustainable K-12 Stem Programs One
District
At A Time The Gateway Project provides a refined model that cultivates
technological literacy, STEM education, and support for engineering
education in school districts throughout Massachusetts. Gateway
focuses on teachers currently in the classroom and works with them to
help build their STEM content understanding, pedagogical knowledge,
and confidence in teaching it. This presentation will focus on the
elements of the Gateway Model, as well as engage participants in
hands-on activities that demonstrate the ability to connect technology
and engineering in the curriculum PreK-12.
Nancy Pymento
Museum of Science Gateway Project [email protected]
Utilizing 3-D Printers in Your Classroom We have been using successfully working with 3-D printers since
October 2013 in our classrooms. Students and teachers in the
Winchester Public Schools have been working on creating a ‘pay it
forward’ model that will help other educators and technical enthusiasts
obtain and use their own 3-D printers in their classrooms.
Tom Awiszus, Richard Monagle, Dr. Danielle Dumond
McCall Middle School [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]
Automating of Middle School Technology
Engineering through Computer Assimilation Teachers will use computer based activities to assimilate Technology
Engineering strands of Manufacturing, Transportation,
Communication, Construction and BioTech systems. Gaining
knowledge of over 30 computer activities enables teachers to gain
insight on how to streamline and automate teaching and assessment
tasks related to Technology Engineering for 5th and 8th grade MCAS
standards.
John Storella-Mullin
Hanover Middle School [email protected]
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Page 10
Meridian Stories—The Educational Potency of
Creating Digital Narratives This workshop will introduce participants to the power of digital
storytelling though Meridian Stories (www.meridianstories.com ), a
new initiative that challenges teams of Middle and High School
students to create short-form stories using images, words, video and
music in the service of core curricular objectives and 21st century
skills. The workshop will be hands-on and discussion driven.
Bob Moore
Meridian Stories
Robots Engage STEM Robots serve as a way to engage and show off the fun side of STEM in
the hopes of inspiring youth to pursue technology-related fields and
combat the STEM crisis in the United States.
Robots are cleaning floors, making cars, keeping our military safe,
assisting in patient care, exploring the depths of the oceans and
patrolling the skies. However we will need significantly more skilled
professionals in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in
the future.
Mike Ogilvy & Dennis Tappin
Educational STEM Solutions, LLC
TEECA—A Recruitment Tool for Technology/
Engineering Teachers Fitchburg State University TEECA Students will present the programs,
events and activities that are available to Middle and High School
teachers who are interested in increasing the awareness of opportunities
in the profession.
Jon Hickey & Zach Cash
TEECA Fitchburg State University
Be your own 3D printer at a fraction of the cost of
the real thing. Wish you had a class set of computers with enough RAM to run Sketch
-Up Pro to create great orthographic projections to then export to a 3D
printer? Me too. This MS/HS session will use fun, hands-on, but
distinctly low-tech methods for learning engineering drawing
techniques and rendering them in 3D. Class sets of materials provided
for the first 20 participants.
John Banister-Marx
Manchester-Essex Middle School [email protected]
How to Manufacture an App using AppInventor
Every student can identify with technology related to mobile devices.
AppInventor, a free software platform produced and maintained by
MIT’s Center for Mobile Learning, is a very powerful tool that can be
used to create Apps for Android devices. Phone features such as the
accelerometer, location sensor/GPS, data storage and Bluetooth
communication are just a few examples of the tools that can be utilized
in the development of an App. For more information, visit http://
appinventor.mit.edu/explore/ .
Rich Eiermann
Tahanto Regional Middle/High School
Design an Assistive Device for Matthew This workshop presents a simple design challenge that can be adjusted
to elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. Participants
read/ listen to an interview with Matthew, a quadriplegic teen, and
develop a prototype for a straw-holder device that will make
Matthew’s outings more enjoyable. This simple design challenge is
perfect for introducing or practicing the engineering design process.
The workshop will open with a short overview/discussion about the
engineering design process as featured in the revised MA
Technology/Engineering framework.
Mia Dubosarsky
The STEM Education Center at WPI [email protected]
Industrial Design in the High School Classroom People rarely think about the objects in their everyday lives, but
design is an important part of our world, and a hard thing to teach.
From model making, to electronics and ergonomics, come learn
about my introductory industrial design class and help me
brainstorm ideas for an upper level class.
Sarah Leadbeater Newburyport High School
Computer Science Opportunities in Middle
School and High School This presentation focuses on ways to integrate Computer Science
into middle and high school classes. Computer platforms are
application-based (such as Snap or a C IDE) or external (as on a
minicomputer/Arduino). This presentation will provide resources
for visual and text languages, instructional ideas and strategies,
examples of student work, and resources for recruitment of
students. Computer Science isn't in specifically our T/E standards,
but is full of design and engineering principles and integral to many
modern technologies
Diane Brancazio Belmont Public Schools
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
“Great hands-on problem based
learning experiences!”
“Ideas I can use Monday
with my students!”
“We could offer a workshop
on…. Next year.
Start Planning Today!
www.iteea.org/Conference/conferenceguide.htm
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Page 12
Outer Space-
2015 BLUECUBE
CubeSat Challenge Event Description A Geoscience and Remote Sensing Team
Competition
Background:
For the first time in human history, the entire surface
of Planet Earth can be viewed, analyzed, and
interpreted. Scientists, educators, and students have,
therefore, the capability of looking at the planet as a
total global system, a sum of integrated systems,
physically interacting in a constantly changing fluid
and dynamic state..
This new way of looking at Earth revolutionized the
science of geoscience and remote sensing and
provides scientists with enormous data sets for
modeling. Students and educators now have the
opportunity to make observations and measurements
on Planet Earth and to enhance their data sets
collection through the use of space-born imagery.
Event 1: Verification of flight hardware and
assembly
Teams will present their assembled BLUECUBE
Aerospace CubeSats to tethered balloon staging area
and/or indoor test stand site as directed. For the
designated time period, student CubeSats will
ascend collecting temperature, barometric pressure,
and accelerometer data. Teams will download data
and generate graphs.
Event 2: Earth Observing Image Capture
Teams will be presented with imagery representing
an area(s) of environmental change selected from
authentic events. The CubeSat will be positioned at
2.5 meter height to capture image (s). Captured
images will be transmitted via electronic digital files
to the ground station.
Event 3: Satellite Image Interpretation
Captured images will be uploaded into ImageJ
analysis software. Teams will first determine pixel
resolution. Teams will then conduct analysis
between the two timed series of imagery and
determine area of change. The rate of change can
then be determined and change predictions can be
made. Teams will address the problem presented
and offer a written summary.
Judging Criteria:
Teams will be judged on: (1) the completion and
quality of data collected during tethered balloon
event, (2) generation and transmission of two
digital images, (3) quality and accuracy of image
analysis using ImageJ, and (4) quality, accuracy,
and depth of insight provided in the written
summary.
FAQs, tutorials, and a grading rubric will be
available at www.bluecubesat.com/cubesat-
challenge/ beginning December 1, 2014.
Maker Racers: Cardboard Race Cars
with 3D Printed Gears and Springs Aim
to Educate Our Youth by Eddie Krassenstein · November 7, 2014
When I was younger, my brother and I would
constantly be competing against each other,
whether it was in sports, education, video games, or
just about anything
else. One of our
favorite pastimes was racing our slot-cars. It was
more than just racing them though, as we were
always looking to gain an advantage over each
other no matter what it would take. Even though we
had no clue what we were doing, we would try and
modify our cars in whatever way possible, to try
and make them go faster. We would spend hours on
end doing this and I don’t have a single regret, nor
does he.
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Page 13
A little while back, at a Chamber of Commerce
meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a representative
of Volkswagen was discussing his company’s
commitment to education at all levels. The
company’s hopes and beliefs are that if they help
educate children of their employees, those kids will
grow up to also be good Volkswagen employees
themselves. This idea got one man, named Hoyt
Jolly, thinking. “Let’s make some rubber band
powered cars that the kids can build and race,” Jolly
thought to himself. “What better way to help kids
connect with the automotive industry?”
That’s where the idea for ‘GoTime Maker Racers‘
got started, but it was 3D printing that ended
up providing a better solution than the original
rubber bands could.
“After several months of development and seven
different versions, the current Maker Racer contains
up to twelve 3D printed gears and 3D printed torsion
springs,” Jolly tells 3DPrint.com
Fore more go to: http://3dprint.com/22506/maker-racers-3d-printed-gears/
Edutopia-
8 Myths That Undermine
Educational Effectiveness June 10, 2014
Myth #8: Merit Pay for Teachers Improves
Student Performance The full argument is that merit pay is a good way to
increase teacher performance, because teachers
should be evaluated on the basis of student
performance, and rewarding or punishing schools
for student performance will improve our nation's
schools. However, evidence suggests that
competition between teachers is
counterproductive and interferes with
collaboration. Measuring teacher effectiveness is
very difficult, and no simple measures effectively
do this. There is no evidence that merit pay
correlates with improved student achievement, but
there is strong evidence that basing teacher
salaries on student performance is
counterproductive and ethically wrong -- it
frequently punishes teachers and schools for
socioeconomic factors over which they have no
control.
For more go to: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/myths-that-undermine-educational-
effectiveness-mark-phillips?
utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-
myths-that-undermine-educational-effectiveness-link-november-repost
________________________________________________ Reston, VA-
December issue of
Children's Technology and
Engineering
Children's Technology and Engineering: A Journal for Elementary
School Technology and Engineering Education is available
electronically for only $30/year. Children's Council of
ITEEA members receive a complimentary copy. For
subscription information, contact [email protected]
Thank you for your interest in Children’s Technology and
Engineering. You can order online with MC, Visa, or
Discover at http://www.iteea.org/Publications/t&c.htm, or
by downloading an order form and faxing or mailing to us
with your payment, or by calling 703-860-2100.To join
ITEEA, go to How to Join/Renew.
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
MORE at http://www.masstec.org
Page 14
Dragon Capsule Splashes Down In The
Pacific.
The AP (10/25) reported that SpaceX’s Dragon
spacecraft left the ISS on Saturday ans splashed
down into the Pacific Ocean “with 3,300 pounds of
gear for NASA, including valuable science
samples.”
Florida Today (10/25, Dean) noted that the
spacecraft was scheduled to head to port in order to
retrieve the “time-sensitive cargo within 48 hours.”
CNN (10/25, Erdman) reported that Sam
Scimemi, director of the International Space Station
division at NASA Headquarters, summarized the
Dragon’s time at the ISS by saying, “This mission
enabled research critical to achieving NASA’s goal
of long-duration human spaceflight in deep space.”
According to the article, the part of the Rodent
Research-1 experiment returned with the Dragon.
NASA said that the experiment was part of
“ongoing research on how microgravity affects
animals, providing information relevant to human
spaceflight, discoveries in basic biology and
knowledge that may directly affect human health on
Earth.” The article also highlighted that the Dragon
carried the ISS-RapidScat instrument to the station.
Scimemi said, “The delivery of the ISS
RapidScatterometer advances our understanding of
Earth science, and the 3-D printer will enable a
critical technology demonstration.” SpaceX’s next
launch is now scheduled for December.
____________________________________
Five Tools That Are
Transforming STEM
Education The K-12 classroom doesn’t look the way it used to.
Alexandra Ossola Nov 8 2014, 9:00 AM ET
Twelve-year-old Shubham Banerjee creates a braille
printer out of Legos. (Wikimedia)
Since ancient times, scientifically minded people
have tried to figure out the mechanisms behind the
physical world. Astronomers observed the
movement of the sun and stars, biologists watched
humans and animals interact with their environment,
engineers noticed the angular similarities behind
structurally sound buildings. They may have had
simple tools to aid them—a basic measuring device,
a compass, perhaps an early telescope.
Today, teachers of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM) topics mostly stick to the
theoretical aspects. Students must know the number
of degrees in a triangle, but rarely do they get to put
that knowledge to use through structured lessons.
STEM Education in the 21st Century
The tools listed here are transforming the way
teachers approach STEM education. Integrating
these new tools into their lessons can help teachers
reinforce theoretical concepts by demonstrating their
real-world applications. By showing students that
the knowledge is relevant and useful, teachers can
help them unlock new realms of creativity in all
scientific realms and possibly change their future
career trajectories.
3-D Printers Whether they’re used to create food, organs or
mechanical parts, 3-D printers allow engineers to
make their designs tangible and physical. And that’s
just what they can do for students, too; as 3-D
printers have become less expensive and more
ubiquitous, schools have begun integrating them into
their science and engineering curriculums. Students
have used 3-D printers for projects ranging from
dioramas of real or imagined constructions to engineering the
fastest model car to reconstructing of eyeballs to better
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Page 15
understand how they work.
iPads iPads have been a contentious addition to some classrooms. But many
educators report that iPads have drastically altered the way
information flows in their classrooms. Teachers can send notes and
worksheets directly to students during class, and students are able to
turn in homework digitally for near-instant feedback. Communication
between teachers is also much easier, whether they are sharing notes
at a meeting or sharing lessons plans from across the country.
Although some evidence indicates that they may distract students,
iPads open up new possibilities to make conceptual information more
tangible, from studying new vocabulary with approved apps to
sketching out designs and graphs.
Graphing Calculators for the 21st Century Sure, the TI Nspire can add. It can do matrices and chart derivatives.
But it can also do a video simulation to test a graphic hypothesis. On
its full-color, backlit screen, students can view photos applying and
overlaying graphs to see math’s application in the images of their
everyday lives. The operating system allows saving and even linking
to a designated computer. A calculator like this helps students get the
most out of math and science classes, giving them a chance to apply
their newly learned formulas and knowledge.
Legos Used as manipulative teaching aids, raw materials for the next great
robot, or simply building blocks for young students, Legos are great
tools in the STEM classroom. Lego itself has developed a curriculum
for how to use its products in schools. Lessons range from helping
young students pair math concepts with how they are written to
creating sophisticated robots that can complete specific tasks. Lego
also organizes a number of robotics competitions for students from
age 6 to 18.
Flight Simulator Charting points on a graph to understand negative and positive slope
may not be the most engaging lesson for restless middle and high
school students. But for some schools, high-tech flight simulators
may do the trick. Kids can get in the cockpit of a simulated airplane to
“fly” over cities and navigate the appropriate trajectory. Students who
dream of becoming pilots can see how math and science are used in
the profession, while others will have a better grasp of the scientific
concepts that could be used in any field in the future. Because one
flight simulator station costs about $4,000, educators have had to
apply for outside grants to bring flight simulators to their schools.
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/11/five-tools-that-are-
transforming-stem-education/382305/
On behalf of Manufacturing Day 2014, here
are 13 facts about the state of American
Manufacturing: Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Small Business Administration, Brookings Institution, U.S. Department of Energy, The White House, Deloitte
and The Manufacturing Institute
1. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million people.
2. There are approximately 338,000 manufacturing
establishments in the U.S.
3. Some 98% of manufacturing firms are small businesses.
4. The average manufacturing employee earns $1,022 a week.
5. There are about 334,000 job openings in manufacturing.
6. Manufacturing accounts for approximately 60% of all U.S.
exports.
7. In 2013, U.S. manufacturers exported $1.59 trillion in goods,
more than double the exports in 2003.
8. Manufacturers conduct 68% of all R&D.
9. California is the state with the most manufacturing employees
– 1,250,600.
10. Indiana represents the state with the highest share (28.2%) of
manufacturing as a percent of its gross state product.
11. Manufacturers spend approximately $200 billion each year on
energy for their plants.
12. Manufacturing accounted for 45% of foreign direct investment
in the U.S. from 2010 to 2012.
13. Only 35% of Americans say they would encourage their
children to pursue a career in manufacturing.
http://www.industryweek.com/manufacturing-day/us-manufacturing-
bakers-dozen-facts?
utm_content=8753917&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin
Scot Kutz on Mellody Hobson On
Financial Literacy Click on the link below to see the video – you only need to see the
first minute or so to get the gist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=D2GotVz5_mQ&index=3&list=PL2A42D73241BB72D1
This all started when, last evening, I was watching the 25th
anniversary show of CNBC in their discussion of money, investing,
and financial literacy (that’s the part that I saw – she was being
interviewed on the topic).
Hard to believe that she is the President of Ariel Investments and
speaks so lowly about people who “make, fix and create” (not sure
if she forgot how stocks and investments can grow based on people
who make things).
BTW – we should ask her if she has ever heard of Froebel,
Pestalozzi, Comenius, and even Howard Gardner.
“Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world
that never was.”
- Theodore Von Karman, Aerospace Engineer (from the http://
www.discoverengineering.org/ website)
K. Scott Kutz
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Page 16
Golden Mean Detector Wand
The golden mean detector wand is intended as a bit of a joke, in that
it is used to determine whether or not the golden mean was used in
the design of a piece. Whenever I've taught furniture design, the
subject of the Golden Mean comes up, and I would like for my
students to be able to investigate for themselves. You can print this
out and make your own. I use a hollow chisel mortiser to make the
cut and if you want to make lots of them for student use, simply
stack them, or cut the mortise in thicker stock and rip it into thin
strips.
To use it, simply hold it at the right distance so that the edges of the
small window align with the edges of the object. If the edges align,
you are looking at an object of the proportion prescribed by the
golden mean, a ratio of sides 1:1.618...
In my review of hundreds of photos of beautiful and useful furniture,
very few are intentionally designed according to the golden mean,
leading me to suggest that there are other useful schemes of
proportion.
Make, fix and create...
Doug Stowe
21 Reasons Why School Wood Shops are
Important in the 21st Century A quality woodworking program provides experiences far more
important than those typically associated with woodshop. Courses,
like woodworking, where students use their hands build confidence,
strength of character, and problem solving capabilities useful in all
careers and in every educational experience.
Furthermore, working with a natural material in a creative manner
assists students in connecting the relevance of other subject material
to their daily lives.
Woodworking Education:
1. Assists students in communicating and understanding ideas non-
verbally, through sketches and technical drawings.
2. Enhances the skills of spatial visualization required for geometry,
trigonometry and algebra, thereby helping students to prepare
for careers in engineering, architecture and science.
3. Provides students with take-home, physical evidence of their
mastery of skills.
4. Instills a pride of accomplishment and self-esteem.
5. Gives the student the opportunity to execute precise work and
to produce useful products, and become “self-assessors” using
measuring tools, squares, etc. and then the fit of things to self-
assess the quality of their work.
6. Trains the eye and hand to see accurately and to feel the sense
of beauty in form.
7. Inculcates the habits of attention, perseverance and patience.
8. Offers opportunities for students to go where their hearts
demand by selecting designs and projects that motivate them
not only as a woodworker but also as a student.
9. Provides opportunities for students to overcome setbacks that
occur when working on real objects.
10. Provides relevancy of other subject matter to their lives,
thereby preparing them for a lifetime of learning.
11. Provides non-academic areas for demonstration of skills and
pursuit of excellence. 12. Provides a non-contrived opportunity for engagement of
multiple intelligences.
13. Provides an opportunity to engage physically and actively in
learning exercises.
14. Provides an opportunity for engagement and success even for
those disinclined for academic involvement.
15. Helps students gain confidence as real world problem solvers.
16. Helps students gain confidence in tools use and learn safety
considerations required for a career, lifetime of general home
maintenance or a life-long hobby.
17. Offers an appreciation for the values inherent in physical labor
and the work contributions of others.
18. Connects students to thousands of years of human creative
endeavor.
19. Provides a much-needed break from oppressive classroom
routine.
20. Helps students to better understand the sources and process
of technological change, placing human development in
historical context.
21. Is a class that students enjoy!
http://dougstowe.com/educator_resources/neawt21reasons.pdf
_______________________________________________
Teacher spends two days as a student and is
shocked at what she learns
By Valerie Strauss October 24
Do teachers really know what students go through? To find
out, one teacher followed two students for two days and was
amazed at what she found. Her report is in following post,
which appeared on the blog of Grant Wiggins, the co-author
of “Understanding by Design” and the author of “Educative
Assessment”decided to write a followup piece revealing that
the author was his daughter, Alexis Wiggins, a 15-year
teaching veteran now working in a private American
International School overseas.
For more go to; http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/
answer-sheet/wp/2014/10/24/teacher-spends-two-days-as-
a-student-and-is-shocked-at-what-she-learned/
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Page 17
MassTEC
* Teacher of the Year
* Program of the Year
Apply or Nominate Today!
http://www.masstec.org/recognition/
index.htm
Hudson-
POY—TOY 2015 All applications need to be submitted no
later than Friday, September 4, 2015
MassTEC is offering two recognition
programs for technology/engineering
teachers: Program of the Year, and
Teacher of the Year. The recipients of
Teacher of the Year, and Program of the
Year will receive a plaque.
The top two finalists of Teacher of the
Year will receive a free MassTEC
membership, admission to the following
year’s MassTEC conference and a year's
membership to ITEEA. The top two
finalists of Program of the Year
will receive a free MassTEC membership and admission to the following year’s
MassTEC conference. The award recipient (s)
will receive a one year membership to ITEEA
for up to 3 members of the department. All
applications need to be submitted no later
than Friday, September 4, 2015
The recipients for the Teacher of the Year
and Program of the Year will be eligible to
submit an application to the International
Technology Education Educator Association
(ITEEA) for consideration for the ITEEA Teacher Excellence or the Program
Excellence Awards. These awards will be
presented at the ITEEA annual conference.
I ask you to think about applying for one or
both of these awards. For additional
information and an application for either of
the awards please go our web site and look
under Recognition Consider Applying for
Program of the Year and Teacher of the
Year. This section is located on the left side
of our web page.
http://www.masstec.org/recognition/
index.htm
~Charlie Corley, DTE [email protected]
MORE at
http://www.masstec.org/
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
This could be you!
Plan to apply
this year!
Page 18
Design a New Studebaker Contest
Have you ever wanted to design your own Studebaker? Here is
your chance! Click on the link below to check out our brochure to
learn what can be qualified. Fill out the entry form on the
brochure and send it via email or to the Museum.
SNM Design Contest Brochure http://www.studebakermuseum.org/files/repository/2013%
20Design%20Contest.pdf
EVSR: Electric Race Car Takes On Gas
Powered Sibling in Palmer MA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X02V1sXhSo
Consumer Reports: Top tech toys for 2014
http://www.kcra.com/news/consumer-reports-top-tech-toys-for-2014/29694728
Makey Makey
https://www.facebook.com/makeymakeykit
What is a Shop Rat? http://shoprat.org/what-is-a-shop-rat/
http://shoprat.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Newsletter-3.13.pdf
Maker Faire Maker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth—a family-
friendly festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a
celebration of the Maker movement.
http://makerfaire.com/makerfairehistory/
WINTER 2015 Online Issue
Gifted Education Press Quarterly http://www.giftededpress.com/GEPQWINTER2015.pdf
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
Cool Links!
For more go to http://www.masstec.org/
Page 19
Many have asked if
we still had this
MassTEC Poster in
the 12 x 18 format.
Short answer: No.
However, you can
download it and
print with our
permission if you go
to:
http://
www.masstec.org/
conferencefolder/
conference2009/
images/
TechEngED%
20LIVE%208x11%
20poster.pdf
“Your mission, should you accept it, is to” (Geller, 1966-1973, Mission Impossible TV show):
Create a Rubric Challenge
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is recommending that every teacher
in every class in the commonwealth create a ‘value added’ assessment to her/his practice to assure that students gain
knowledge in the subjects being taught.
MassTEC will be offering suggestions for creating pre– and post-tests and also alternative formative and summative
evaluation instruments such as rubrics for capstone projects.
Please share your ideas and assessment instruments so your peers can get a grip on this new initiative!
Maybe you can use this basic rubric table as a jumping off spot: go for it!
~RMc
MassTEC Express November 2014 Volume 6 Issue 2
20 18 15 12
Production
Quality
Product
Shows Extra effort
and Attention to
Product
Shows Conscientious
Effort
Product
Shows Effort
Product
Shows Some Effort
SEE ME!
Engineering
Principles
Product
Shows High Degree
of
Understandin
g of Topic and
Product
Shows Above
Average Degree of
Understandin
g of Topic and
related Skills
Product
Shows A Degree of
Understandin
g of Topic and
related Skills
Product
Shows Some
Understandin
g of Topic and
related Skills
SEE ME!
Design
& Final sketch
Matches
expectations
with
improvement
Matches most
of the
expectations
Matches half
of the
expectations
Matches
some of the
expectations
SEE ME!
Requirements
All
Requirement
s Are met.
All but one
Requirement Are met.
All but two
Requirement
s Are met.
More than
two
Requirements Are not met.
SEE ME!
Citizenship,
Work Habits & Daily Clean
-Up
Excellent
Citizenship. Works with
extra effort
to improve
personal
best.
Good
Citizenship. Works with
effort.
Sometimes
gets Off task and Accepts less
than personal
best effort.
Often gets
Off task and Accepts less
than personal
best effort.
SEE ME!