ITEEA Grants, Scholarships, and Awards

Application Deadline: December 1, 2010

Are you an ITEEA member who is integrating a quality technology and engineering education program with the school curriculum? Are you a technology and engineering education teacher or supervisor who seeks professional development? Are you an undergraduate student majoring in technology and engineering education preparation? Are you a technology or engineering teacher who is continuing your education? Do you know of an exemplary teacher or program that you would like to nominate for one of ITEEA's Professional Recognition Awards? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you should look at ITEEA's grants, scholarships, and awards opportunities.

www.iteea.org/Awards/awards.htm

ITEEA's grants, scholarships, and awards support the advancement of technological literacy.

ITEEA Minneapolis Conference Registration Now Open

Preparing the Future Workforce, March 24-26, 2011

The STEM movement has never been stronger than it is today, nor has the need for a future STEM-educated workforce ever been greater. Technology and engineering education will play a key role in preparing this future workforce for occupations that have not yet even been fully identified. Join the STEM leaders who will share their experiences, directions, and ideas that are specifically focused on the role of TECHNOLOGY and ENGINEERING in a quality STEM education. The March 2011 ITEEA Conference will offer unparalleled professional development, including workshops, tours, and educational sessions to further define how to Prepare the STEM Workforce for the Next Generation.

The Minneapolis preliminary program is now online and ready for you to download. Explore the ITEEA conference website to find all you need to know and more about attending the conference, including:

• Leading-edge keynote presentations from speakers like Dr. Rich Feller,  a top counseling and career development professional, and Dr. Joseph "Jay" Zwichenberger, department head at the Kentucky College of Medicine, who is known for using technology to advance medical science.
• Specialized preconference workshops, focusing on renewable energy, grant writing, the framework of engineering curriculum, and engineering design for kids.
• Engineering byDesign™ Learning Labs – 11 to chose from.
• Educational tours, including Remmele Engineering, Target Field, Precision Products Corporation, and the Dunwoody School of Technology.
• Professional Development Learning Sessions – over 100, offering hands-on information that you can use in your daily classroom activities.
• Social functions where you not only socialize with your colleagues, but learn, including the Opening Networking Gathering, International Lunch, FTE and EPT Breakfasts, and ITEEA Awards Luncheon.
• Exhibits, exhibits, and more exhibits for you to explore—and enjoy a free lunch in the exhibit hall on Friday.
• Action labs, where you'll learn specifics from vendor presentations about the latest products to help you in the classroom.

Conference HOUSING is also open, and reservations can be made at any time. There are three official ITEEA hotels for you to choose from at a variety of price points, and all hotels are connected to the Convention Center via skywalk. And there are special rates available for students! More details are available under "housing" on the conference website. 

Register now to join ITEEA in Minneapolis, March 24-26, 2011 for the 73rd Annual ITEEA Conference and Exhibition. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity! Minneapolis Conference preregistration is now open. Attendees can register online at www.iteea.org/Conference/registration.htm, or by downloading a preregistration form and mailing or faxing it to ITEEA. Complete instructions are available online.

Register prior to February 11 and save nearly 20% on conference registration fees. You will also be entered in a drawing to win a $100 VISA gift card.

Housing rates are the lowest in the entire city so don't delay in making your reservation within the ITEEA room block. This will qualify you for special prize drawings for free breakfasts and dinners!

ITEEA Membership must be current through the end of March 2011 in order to qualify for discounted member rates.

This is the ONE educational event in 2011 that you won't want to miss. Professional development and networking opportunities await you next spring in downtown Minneapolis. Make plans NOW to attend, and mark your calendar to join your colleagues at ITEEA in Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 24-26, 2011. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity!

Complete conference information can be accessed at www.iteea.org/Conference/conferenceguide.htm.

Additional Minneapolis Preconference Workshop Announced

Engineering Design for Kids in Grades K-6 at THE WORKS!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 1:00pm–4:30pm

Explore an engineering design process that's understandable and engaging for elementary school children while also developing imagination, creativity, design, and evaluation skills! Then tackle some engineering design challenges, including designing, building, and testing a bridge made from raw pasta (Design Pastabilities!) and creating a small boat (What floats your boat?) from a variety of interesting materials. This workshop will take place at The Works – a hands-on engineering museum in Minneapolis – and includes time to explore the exhibit gallery. Transportation is provided. Due to the exclusive nature of this workshop, space is limited to the first 50 registrants.

Register for this workshop along with your conference registration at www.iteea.org/Conference/registration.htm. Space is limited, so register early!

ITEEA's Foundation Announces Name Change

The Foundation for Technology Education’s (FTE) Board of Trustees has changed the name of their entity to the Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators (FTEE). This change is in keeping with the recent name change of the parent association to include engineering.

FTEE will continue the work of the Foundation to provide experiences and support to enhance the leadership of the technology and engineering educators’ profession. The Foundation holds an annual conference breakfast during which a noted speaker addresses “excellence” as a part of the program. Outstanding graduate students from universities within the profession are recognized at this breakfast for their contributions and accomplishments.

The Foundation also supports the 21st Century Fellowship Program that is designed to build leadership for the association and field. The Fellowship program provides experiences that include interaction with leaders in the field, as well as elected representatives and Washington, DC-based education agency personnel.

More information about the Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators can be found at www.iteea.org/Awards/awards.htm.

For further information about the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA), email iteea@iteea.org, call 703-860-2100, or visit the website at www.iteea.org.

CTTE Call for Nominations

• CTTE Outstanding Research Award
ITEEA’s Council on Technology Teacher Education (CTTE) sponsors an annual award for outstanding scholarly research in the field of technology teacher education. This award is presented to a member or members of CTTE who have provided significant service to the profession through research and related scholarship in the preparation of technology education teachers or enhancement of professional practice in technology education. The CTTE Outstanding Research Award will consist of a framed award certificate and a monetary award of $500. Recipients of the award are asked to submit a manuscript of their work to the Journal of Technology Education.

Candidates for the Outstanding Research Award may nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. The application process consists of an initial screening by the CTTE Research and Scholarship Committee based on a brief abstract and a peer review of papers submitted by selected finalists. The CTTE Outstanding Research Award is available on an annual basis, but will not be awarded if submissions are not deemed worthy of the award after being reviewed by the Research and Scholarship Committee members.

• The Silvius-Wolansky Award
Outstanding Scholarly Publication in Technology Education
The Silvius-Wolansky Award for the Outstanding Scholarly Publication in Technology Education is co-sponsored by the G. Harold Silvius Foundation and the Council on Technology Teacher Education (CTTE). The award is presented annually by CTTE to an author (or co-authors) whose scholarship has enhanced the Technology Education profession.

Information about both Awards, including criteria for eligibility, can be accessed at www.ctteonline.org/activities/awards.shtm.

The nominee shall email all required materials by December 18, 2010 to Charlie McLaughlin at Cmclaughlin@ric.edu.

News Via ITEEA's Facebook Page

Maryland is planning to create a statewide STEM Network through which its STEM teachers can find critical resources, support, and professional connections to improve STEM teaching and learning. http://baltimore.citybizlist.com/
yourcitybiznews/detail.aspx?id=101554

Cincinnati’s Princeton High School has bridged a physics lesson and engineering class with a project that required students to use information during lecture to complete a hands-on project. The project in ITEEA member Brian Lien's Engineering Your Future class used concepts of torque, compression, and tension, among others.
http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/C2/20101029/NEWS/
10290385/Princeton-project-bridges-gap-between-lecture-hands-on-learning

Calling the country "woefully inequipped" to teach students about science and math, Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) introduced a bill Wednesday that would create an office to oversee federal efforts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/121853-bill-from-rep-honda-would-create-office-of-stem-education?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4ca5e69e9b2b096d%2C0

Best Robotics Competition Gearing Up for 2011 Program Growth

Increased interest in robotics education and partnership with VEX Robotics sparks national and international interest in the competition, “Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers, Scientists, and Technology Experts.”

BEST (“Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology”) Middle and High School Robotics Competition has announced it will host three two-day training workshops in November and December for groups interested in starting a BEST “hub” (licensed, local competition host site).

BEST hosts its annual two-day training workshops for community colleges, universities, professional engineering and technology organizations, industries, or groups of individuals interested in joining the organization. The workshops are held at each of BEST’s three regional championship sites: Auburn University (November 19); the University of North Texas (November 19); and the University of Arkansas—Fort Smith (December 10). Visit www.bestinc.org to learn more about BEST and get detailed workshop information.

BEST Robotics is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization whose mission is to engage, excite, and inspire middle and high school students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers through participation in a sports-like, six-week long robotics competition.

Real World Design Challenge

Registration is now open for the 2010-2011 Real World Design Challenge. The Challenge is open to teams of 3-7 high school students, and participation is totally free. It is an aviation design competition that uses real engineering tools. Some new tools have been added this year, and each teacher who participates gets more than $1 million in professional engineering software. Teams get access to mentors, and state winners get an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete in the National Finals. Please check out the new website at www.realworlddesignchallenge.org and sign up today.

News From the National Science Teachers Association

NSTA Reports, Vol. 22, No. 3

• NASA Design Challenges
Engineering design challenges help students develop their STEM skills. At http://eto.nasangov, educators can access seven design challenges and lesson plans for middle and high school students. Each challenge presents a classroom activity that leads students through the design, testing, and evaluation process used by NASA engineers in developing new technology. Titles include Living Off The Land: Water Filtration Challenge; Centennial of Flight: Propeller Design Challenge; Lunar Plant Growth Chamber Challenge; Personal Satellite Assistant; Electrodynamic Propulsion Systems; Thermal Protection Systems Design Challenge; and Spacecraft Design Structures.

• Lexus Eco-Challenge (Air/Climate)
Registration opens November 18 for the Lexus Eco Challenge. Middle and high school teams, composed of five to 10 students and one teacher advisor, can participate in the Air/Climate Challenge for a chance to win part of $500,000 in grants and scholarships. Teams will define an environmental issue they consider important, develop an action plan to address the issue, implement the plan, and report the results. Entries will be accepted online until January 19; go to http://bit.ly/adf0Ma.

News From the American Society for Engineering Education

• eGFI News for Teachers, October 26, 2010

Faster, Better, Cheaper
Engineers design everything from bicycles to bridges, but they also devise better ways of doing things. Systems engineers can help traffic move safely, enable factories to turn out quality products in less time, and find ways to provide the best health care at the lowest cost.
Learn More

Television Series: Dean of Invention
Robots, microbots, bionic limbs, and more! To learn about cutting-edge technology being invented today to save our planet and improve our lives, check out Dean of Invention on Planet Green network, airing on Fridays at 10 p.m.
Read More

• eGFI News for Teachers, November 16, 2010

eGFI Contest: Innovative Teaching Ideas
You could win a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card for a creative teaching idea. Check out the first eGFI contest and propose a clever classroom use for our new eGFI cards. We'll select the most exciting and innovative proposal—it could be yours! Deadline extended to November 23, 2010
Read More

Packed with Fun: The New eGFI Cards!
The colorful, new eGFI cards are here! The 15 cards from our homepage have been brought to life and sized just right (4" x 5"). An accompanying teachers guide offers fresh activities to inspire your students. The cards also encourage discussion of such challenges as ocean pollution, cyber-security, and robot development. Teacher tested and approved, the cards are available on our eGFI store. Check Them Out

News From the Triangle Coalition

Triangle Coalition Electronic Bulletin
October 14, 2010 - Volume 16, Number 39 Online Version

• NASA and Optimus Prime Collaborate to Educate Youth
Triangle Coalition member, NASA, has developed a contest to raise students' awareness of technology transfer efforts and how NASA technologies contribute to our everyday lives. NASA is collaborating with Hasbro using the correlation between the popular "Transformers" brand, featuring its leader "Optimus Prime," and spinoffs from NASA technologies created for aeronautics and space missions that are used here on Earth. The goal is to help students understand that NASA technology “transforms” into things that are used daily. These “transformed” technologies include water purifiers, medical imaging software, or fabric that protects against UV rays.

The Innovative Partnerships Program Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, in conjunction with NASA's Office of Education, has also designed a related video contest for students from third to eighth grade. Each student, or group of students, will submit a three- to five-minute video on a selected NASA spinoff technology. Videos must demonstrate an understanding of the NASA spinoff technology and the associated NASA mission, as well as the commercial application and public benefit associated with the "transformed" technology. Video entries are due by December 31. The videos will be posted on the NASA YouTube channel, and the public will be responsible for the first round of judging. For more information, visit the Optimus Prime Spinoff Award website. Click here for additional details on NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program.

• Teach For America Announces Top Contributing Education Schools
Teach For America recently released its annual ranking of the colleges and universities contributing the greatest number of graduating seniors to its 2010 teaching corps. The University of Texas at Austin ranks No. 1 among large schools, with 80 graduates beginning their two-year Teach For America commitment this fall. Northwestern University tops all medium-sized schools, contributing 57 graduates. Teach For America corps members are top college graduates and professionals who commit to teach for two years in underserved schools and become lifelong leaders in the pursuit of educational equity. Teach For America recruits individuals from all academic majors and backgrounds who have demonstrated outstanding achievement, perseverance, and leadership. Admission to the teacher corps this year was even more selective than in previous years, with a record 46,000 individuals applying to join and a 12 percent acceptance rate. Because of the enormous number of highly qualified candidates, Teach For America was able to increase both the size and strength of the incoming corps. The 4,500 incoming corps members have an average GPA of 3.6, and 89 percent have significant leadership experience. This fall, more than 8,200 corps members will be teaching in 39 regions across the country, while 20,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org.

Triangle Coalition Electronic Bulletin
October 28, 2010 - Volume 16, Number 40 Online Version

• Triangle Coalition Conference Explores STEM Education Innovation
Triangle Coalition's recent conference, "STEM Innovation…Leveraging Business, Government, and Education," brought together over 130 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education leaders from around the country, representing corporations, government, education, media, STEM alliances, professional associations, and more.

The conference kicked off with a powerful keynote address delivered by Steve Robinson of the White House Domestic Policy Council and U.S. Department of Education, and Albert Einstein Fellow Emeritus. Panel discussions followed, providing participants with a behind-the-scenes look at current STEM education legislative issues and STEM Education programs at the federal agencies. During the luncheon, Charles Britt, Founder and Executive Director for the Center for Minority Achievement in Science and Technology (CMAST), delivered an inspiring speech on the need for less talk, and more action in STEM education. In addition, a series of breakout sessions focused on key issues in STEM education, including the most popular among participants, Common Standards, led by Thomas Keller from the National Academy of Sciences' Board on Science Education, Stephen Pruitt of Achieve, and Rolf Blank of the Council of Chief State School Officers. NBC Learn also featured a dynamic presentation on using rich media to engage learning.

One of the highlights of the conference was a speech by Linda Rosen, CEO of Change the Equation, discussing the momentum for STEM education that is currently taking off in corporate America. At the conclusion of the conference, approximately 50 attendees made their way to Capitol Hill to meet with the offices of their congressional delegates to relay the importance of prioritizing STEM education in the remainder of the current congressional session and in the new session next year. Many of Triangle Coalition's conference participants and members remained in DC over the following weekend to attend the USA Science and Engineering Festival that took place on the National Mall. "Clearly there is a growing push to focus on STEM education, beginning at the White House and spreading across the country," said Vance Ablott, Triangle Coalition Executive Director. "We are encouraged and inspired by what we saw and heard at the conference."

Triangle Coalition Electronic Bulletin
November 11, 2010 - Volume 16, Number 43 Online Version

• NASA and the LEGO Group Partner to Inspire Interest in STEM
A LEGO space shuttle headed to orbit helps mark the recent signing of a Space Act Agreement between NASA and The LEGO Group to spark children's interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). To commemorate the beginning of this partnership, the small LEGO shuttle will launch with the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery on its STS-133 mission late in November. The partnership marks the beginning of a three-year agreement that will use the inspiration of NASA's space exploration missions and the appeal of the popular LEGO bricks to spur children's interest in STEM. The theme of the partnership is "Building and Exploring Our Future." The LEGO Group will release four NASA-inspired products in their LEGO CITY line next year. The space-themed products will vary in terms of complexity, engaging audiences from young children to adult LEGO fans. Each product release will contain NASA-inspired education materials.

As part of the Space Act Agreement, NASA will send special LEGO sets to the International Space Station aboard shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission in February 2011. The sets will be assembled by astronauts on-orbit and by children and student groups across the country. The construction process and activities with the sets will demonstrate the challenges faced when building things in the microgravity environment of space. For more information, visit www.LEGOspace.com.   

• "INVENT IT. BUILD IT." Event Helps Girls Calculate the Benefits of Pursuing Engineering Careers
More than 200 Girl Scouts recently became "engineers for the day" as they constructed devices capable of launching a ping-pong ball, building an electrical circuit, creating a game using electronics, and learning about positive aspects of the engineering profession during the Society of Women Engineers' (SWE) first "Invent It. Build It." event on November 6. The event was part of the SWE's annual conference in Orlando. With support from the local Girl Scouts' Citrus Council and sponsorship from ExxonMobil Foundation, "Invent It. Build It." introduced high school girls to the rewarding career opportunities available in engineering and encouraged them to further their math and science studies. All activities were coordinated by PBS' television series, Design Squad, and were intended to test students' problem-solving skills while exposing them to fun applications of math and science. More details are available online at http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/.

• FIRST Robotics Announces New Rookie Team Incentive Program
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology, has introduced a series of program incentives to help reduce the cost of team registrations and promote the progression of students in all of its student robotics programs for Grades K through 12. Rookie Teams in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program will be eligible for a grant program that reduces their team registration fees to $75, while returning and past FTC teams providing referrals for new Rookie Teams will be awarded a $200 credit toward their team's FTC registrations next year. Current and former FIRST LEGO League students meanwhile will receive a $200 credit toward their FTC Rookie Team registration, plus a discount in the cost of their FTC competition kit. Currently-registered FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams will be eligible for a $200 discount to register an FTC team to compete in an FTC event. FRC teams that exercise this option would then qualify for a $500 credit towards their 2012 FRC registration.

To support this effort with new, official FIRST events, FIRST will award $2,500 to each new qualifying FTC Affiliate Partner that is added to the FIRST organization. Affiliate Partners host and conduct qualifying events, organize and manage qualifying teams and events, and staff regional events along with a corps of volunteers. Affiliate Partners provide facilities for regional and qualifying events. In order to qualify for any of these discount options, the FTC registrations would have to be new teams with Rookie numbers that were registered between now and March 30, 2011. More details are at www.usfirst.org.

News From National Institute for Women In Trades, Technology, and Science (IWITTS)

WomenTech Educators Newsletter
November 16, 2010

Why is Gender Diversity in STEM Important?
How does gender diversity benefit STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)?

A key goal in STEM education is "broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all citizens—women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities," according to the National Science Foundation. Similarly, President Obama's recently launched "Educate to Innovate" campaign cites, "...expand STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and girls" as one of its three goals.

Here's why IWITTS thinks gender diversity in STEM is important.

The absence of women from STEM education and careers affects more than the women; it is a missed opportunity for those fields. Women bring a different perspective that shapes and influences STEM disciplines. Research shows that women—as a group—have a greater interest than males in how technology will be applied, in particular to help others, and women naturally have a greater understanding of what is important to and appeals to women.

Having more women in the picture will not only help women themselves—it will also help society benefit from their expertise—whether it's ensuring women are included in clinical trials or developing a prosthetic knee that works better for women. We are all enriched when women fully contribute to the advancement of science and technology.

Take our One Question Poll - Why Women in STEM is Important.

Click here to join the WomenTech Educators Newsletter mailing list.

News From Delaware

Delaware STEM Flash Newsletter
October 27, 2010
Via Mike Fitzgerald and the IdeaGarden

• SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that trains teachers to teach their students how to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in an in-school or out-of-school setting. Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. Building a SeaPerch ROV teaches basic skills in ship and submarine design and encourages students to explore naval architecture and marine and ocean engineering concepts. It also teaches basic science and engineering concepts and tool safety and technical procedures. Students learn important engineering and design skills and are exposed to all the exciting careers that are possible in naval architecture and naval, ocean, and marine engineering.

The National SeaPerch Challenge is a challenging, educational, and fun opportunity for top teams from middle and high school districts and student interest groups with established SeaPerch programs. This exciting event is scheduled for May 23-25, 2011 at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. Learn More

• OF INTEREST FOR TSA ADVISORS Over 35 FREE parliamentary procedure teaching resources are now available. They can be used as mini-lessons to teach parliamentary procedure in the classroom and/or to train a team for your competitive event.

• Georgia Problem Solving Cookbooks Volumes 1 through 4. The GITEA Problem Solving Cookbooks offer a wealth of resources and opportunities for you and your students to practice engineering and technological problem solving!

• The hands-on classroom exercise kits were developed as an introduction to the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge.  The NFPA Fluid Power Challenge is a competition that challenges middle school students to solve an engineering problem using hydraulics and pneumatics. Using the classroom exercise kits—a Lifter, Clamp and Rotating Arm—students work in pairs to build a mechanical device, and learn math, science, and engineering in the process. The only supplies needed are a pair of scissors and wood glue, and the exercises can easily be incorporated into fluid-power lesson plans.

• Lesson: Problem-Solve Your School Students in Grades 4-12 apply the engineering design process to a real-life problem that affects them at school. The class jointly selects a single problem then comes up with and tests a design solution. By doing so, students undertake the role of problem-solving engineers.

• Underwater Robotics: Science, Design, & Fabrication Free sample chapters of a book that provides an introduction to underwater vehicles (past and present day), the physical challenges of working under water, and the considerations for designing and building underwater vehicles (particularly ROVs).

• My ROV An instructable ROV simulator that can be used to introduce students to the basic configuration of many common ROV designs.

• Home Built ROVs This website is dedicated to Homebuilt Remote Operated Vehicles Mike has built over the past years.

• ROV Design Flow Chart Tips that can be used for the development of an ROV unit of study for your students, including details on mission statements, mission requirements, design phase,  conceptual design, detail design, construction, testing and field trials, operation plans, reporting, and much more.

• Build your own underwater ROV Build a working underwater robot: a frame, motors, underwater light, camera, 50-foot tether, operator control box, and a dry-cell battery. Of course, you'll still be required to provide your own tools and TV monitor…

• Build an Underwater Robot Some underwater robots are controlled by built-in computers and can operate without any connection to the surface. These are called “Autonomous Underwater Vehicles” (AUVs). Many underwater robots are attached to a cable that allows a human operator to control the robot’s movements from a ship on the ocean surface. These robots are called “Remotely Operated Vehicles” (ROVs).

• The MATE Center coordinates an international student ROV competition and a network of 19 regional ROV contests that take place across U.S. and in Canada, Hong Kong, and Scotland. Student teams from middle schools, high schools, home schools, community colleges, and universities participate in the events, which consist of different “classes” that vary depending on the sophistication of the ROVs and the mission requirements.

• Study points to uncertainty of K-12 engineering standards As educators debate the need for engineering education, a new report says designing national standards might be tough.

• Dean of Invention brings Cool Innovations to Your TV. Dean of Invention, a new show on the Planet Green network, follows famous inventor Dean Kamen on a quest to find the most cutting-edge technology on the planet and the most amazing and inventive engineering solutions to modern-day challenges. Dean Kamen is a globally renowned inventor with more than 400 patents, including the Segway, the insulin pump, and the Luke Arm robotic prosthetic.

• STEM Corporate Matching Funds Grant Awards School districts are eligible for up to $50,000 in matching funds grant awards over a three-year term. High schools must commit to utilizing courses for stand-alone or show integration into traditional academic courses. High schools would also be encouraged to participate in a national study by reporting student outcomes, which are captured by The STEM Academy Learning Management System. The captured data will be utilized for continuous program improvement and student improvement validation.

About The STEM Academy: The STEM Academy is a national non-profit status education program designed to improve STEM literacy for all students. K-12 curriculum was designed to improve student performance, close achievement gaps, decrease dropout rates, increase graduation rates, and improve teacher and principal effectiveness. The STEM Academy prepares students to be competent, capable citizens in a technology-dependent society through comprehensive student assessments including traditional tests, project-based learning presentations, and portfolios. This STEM-centric program is focused on standards-based foundations, gender awareness, socioeconomic concerns, and general learner needs to improve STEM literacy for all students. To learn more, please visit www.stem101.org and request a meeting or evaluation access to available courses.

• The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship is a paid fellowship for K-12 STEM teachers. Einstein Fellows spend a school year in Washington, DC serving in a federal agency or on Capitol Hill. To be considered for an Einstein Fellowship for the 2011-2012 school year, apply online NOW, and submit your application and three letters of recommendation no later than January 4, 2011. If you have questions about the program or application, contact Program Manager Kathryn Culbertson at culbertsonk@triangle-coalition.org

• Middle & high school teachers: Grants available for your class to create a display and compete for $2K grand prize! Innovation Generation (EETimes Group) will be accepting applications shortly for a $200 grant for equipment and training to integrate basic electronics and simple programming into your class to create a custom LED display and compete for a $2K grand prize, plus a trip to San Francisco to attend the Embedded Systems Conference! Deadline to apply: December 15, 2010. Check back soon for contest details and the grant application form.