Presentation on Advancing STEM Education in North Dakota
WHO:
National leaders in STEM Education: Jan Morrison, founder and executive director of the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM http://www.tiesteach.org/ (TIES) and Dr. Annalies Corbin, executive director of the PAST Foundation http://www.pastfoundation.org/stem.
WHAT:
A public presentation: Advancing STEM Education in North Dakota
WHEN:
10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23, 2010
WHERE:
Pioneer Room, North Dakota Capitol Building, Bismarck
This event has been organized by the Great Plains STEM Education Center at Valley City State University with support from the North Dakota University System. Interview Opportunities:
Bill Goetz, chancellor, North Dakota University System
Dr. Don Mugan, director, Great Plains STEM Education Center at Valley City State University
Dr. Steve Shirley, president, Valley City State University
Dr. Wayne Sanstead, superintendent, Department of Public Instruction
Janet Welk, executive director, North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB)
Other statewide leaders in education
Background:
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education is an emerging set of interdisciplinary teaching methods and content in which students learn how to apply rigorous academic concepts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to real-world problems. Its goal is to increase student literacy in the STEM fields and ultimately increase the number and ability of students entering into STEM-related careers.
VCSU recently established the Great Plains STEM Education Center to provide education and training opportunities for K-12 teachers as an essential step in the process of increasing technology and engineering capacity of the U.S. workforce.
Jan Morrison, founder and the executive director of the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES), will speak on "Advancing STEM Education in North Dakota." This presentation will focus on creating awareness and partnerships for advancing education reform in North Dakota through STEM education. Morrison most recently served as the senior STEM advisor to the White House and the U.S. Department of Education in development of their sweeping "Race to the Top" and "Innovate to Educate" education reform programs and currently has several engagements, including serving as the senior consultant for STEM education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and NASA STEM education initiatives.
Accompanying Morrison will be Dr. Annalies Corbin, executive director of the PAST Foundation, Columbus, Ohio. PAST is dedicated to changing the world of education to encompass transdisciplinary teaching and learning. Corbin has a particular interest in working with Native American populations.
