ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING CAPABILITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE

Mission of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

ITEEA’s mission is to advance technological and engineering capabilities for all people and to nurture and promote the professionalism of those engaged in these pursuits. ITEEA seeks to meet the professional needs and interests of members as well as to improve public understanding of technology, innovation, design, and engineering and its contributions to human life.

ITEEA is the largest professional educational association, principal voice, and information clearinghouse devoted to enhancing technology, innovation, design and engineering through experiences in our schools (K–12). Its membership encompasses individuals and institutions throughout the world with the primary membership in North America. ITEEA strengthens the profession through leadership, professional development, membership services, networking, publications, and classroom resources. ITEEA seeks to meet the professional needs and interests of members as well as to improve public understanding of technology and engineering through integrative STEM education and its contributions to the world in which we live.

ITEEA’s overall goal is to support an infrastructure in K-16 education that ensures that all students are prepared to work and live in a global technological world. We Believe that Technology and Engineering Education:

• Is the “T and E” of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

• Is an integral part of the general education learning experiences for all students at all grade levels and abilities to help them learn about and understand the technological world in which they live.

• Promotes technological literacy (i.e., the ability to use, manage, assess, and understand technology) for all, which will prepare people to live and work in a complex global technological society.

• Encourages inquiry-based learning approaches (e.g., engineering design) to solve problems.

• Promotes career and college readiness, and 21st Century career pathways by developing interest in the human made world—its materials, products, and processes.

• Is derived from Standards for Technological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology and embraces the engineering components of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

• Promotes creativity and real-world learning in the teaching of technology, innovation, design, and engineering.

• Involves a broad spectrum body of knowledge and activities with specific content, curriculum, and specific certification requirements that enable students to apply theory into practice.

• Offers unique opportunities to apply numerous academic concepts through practical minds-on/hands-on applications giving these academic concepts relevance. This is accomplished by utilizing real-world tools, materials, processes, and systems to operationalize technology and engineering content.

In order to achieve these goals, ITEEA:

Represents more than 35,000 K-12 technology and engineering educators throughout the U.S. and internationally. This includes classroom teachers, developers, administrators, and university personnel in the field representing all levels of education. ITEEA corporate members are comprised of leading technology and engineering companies.

Conducts a wide variety of professional development programs and holds an Annual Conference—the largest technology and engineering education showcase of exhibits and educational sessions in the world. ITEEA collaborates with like-minded organizations to further strengthen the voice of technology and engineering educators.

Publishes Technology and Engineering Teacher, Children’s Technology and Engineering, the Journal of Technology Education, STEM Connections, and a variety of other publications that lead the profession by providing teaching directions, instructional ideas, and networking opportunities.

Takes part in numerous committees, task forces, and boards that coordinate all aspects of technology and engineering education and sponsor dozens of meetings, conferences, and exhibits each year.

Sponsors an active honors and awards program that recognizes outstanding teachers and programs (K-12) from states, provinces, and countries affiliated with the Association. ITEEA also presents award certificates and supports other programs that recognize outstanding efforts in the technology and engineering teaching profession.

Conducts a vigorous public policy program frequently providing information to government, agencies, associations, and other special interest groups concerning technology and engineering education. The Association strives to provide concerned publics with an understanding of the importance of technological literacy through technology, innovation, design, and engineering education to the future growth and well-being of all nations.

History of ITEEA

ITEEA is a nonprofit professional organization created in 1939 as the American Industrial Arts Association to support the study of the industrial arts in schools. That focus has shifted with the advancement of technology and the changing nature of industrial world to a mission of promoting technological literacy and innovation for all students through professionalism in the teaching and learning about technology and engineering. This focus has caused the association to be one of the prime players within the STEM education movement with primary interest in the “T & E” of STEM. The Association has been a constant advocate of strong teaching and learning methods used to advance curriculum and instruction keeping pace with our rapidly advancing, highly sophisticated technological society.

The Association’s name has been synonymous with major curriculum efforts that have spawned over decades of technology teaching, particularly during the 1960s when numerous curriculum efforts were being launched. These curriculum efforts were practiced until the standards movement came into being to describe what each student should know and be able to do as it related to technological literacy. The standards were quickly followed by a curriculum effort currently known as Engineering byDesign™. Today, those efforts continue to advance technological literacy and engineering design through ITEEA’s STEM±Center for Teaching and Learning (STEM±CTL).

TEEA has benefited from a rich history of over 77 years of continuously evolving learning experiences. In humankind’s constant quest to improve our lives, ITEEA has worked to connect science, technology, design, and engineering in forwardthinking ways. The Association’s continued efforts are engineered to make possible a next-generation technological workforce to meet 21st century needs.

ITEEA Councils

ITEEA’s Councils, including the Council on Technology and Engineering Teacher Education (CTETE), the Council for Supervision and Leadership (ITEEA-CSL), the Children’s Council, and the Technology and Engineering Education Collegiate Association (TEECA) recruit the the best and brightest in our field in order to lead the movement towards an integrative STEM education for all students and building a better future for our nation.

ITEEA’s Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators

ITEEA and its foundation, the Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators (FTEE), provide awards, grants, and scholarships to support the advancement of technology and engineering education. FTEE awards support programs that will: make our children technologically literate; transfer industrial and corporate research into our schools; produce models of excellence in technology and engineering teaching; create public awareness regarding the nature of technology and engineering education; and help technology and engineering teachers maintain a competitive edge in technology.

ITEEA’s Honorary Society for Technology and Engineering Education

Epsilon Pi Tau recognizes academic excellence of students in fields devoted to the study of technology and the preparation of practitioners for the technology professions. Epsilon Pi Tau also extends the honor of membership and advancement activities to outstanding practitioners in the technology professions, scholars with exemplary research interests in technology in society and/ or persons who have significantly supported or advanced technology professions. In addition to a recognition program that extends through members’ careers and beyond, Epsilon Pi Tau continually seeks to serve, support, and strengthen the technology professions through publications, conferences, thought leadership, and alliances with corporations, professional associations, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.