Work in progress: Supporting K-12 teacher professional development through the national center for engineering and technology education

The National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) links technology educators with engineering educators to build capacity for research, nurture a cadre of talented, diverse leaders in engineering and technology education and infuse engineering design and analytical skills into K-12 schools. The NSF-funded center (ESI-0426421) links four research universities with five technology teacher education institutions, fifteen K-12 school districts and three education-related societies. In 2005 and 2006 the Center has been involved in on-going delivery of professional development for technology teachers in the partner K-12 schools. Professional development focuses on assessment-driven open-ended problem solving applied to engineering design utilizing mathematics and science concepts. Data is collected from students and teachers to determine if project objectives are met and if the content is effective for technology education students. At the time of the 2006 FIE conference, the project will have collected data from 50 technology teachers designed to assess the value and focus of the professional development workshops. Evaluation survey instruments, designed by the Center's external evaluator in collaboration with the Center's leadership, are used to collect data from students and teachers to assess the extent to which the project met the objectives and whether the content and delivery mechanisms were effective for technology education students.