Teaching Technology from Everyday Stuff: Sustaining Professional Development Online

Cuny City College, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

This proposal is for the development of an internet-based professional development model that would supplement hands-on workshops. The model would promote conceptual change and would be broadly accessible to elementary teachers. The efficacy of the model would be tested through an evaluation process. The focus is on using "everyday stuff" to teach children about the designed world. The project features collaboration of engineers and teachers in the development of curriculum. The project focuses on five topics of design that have previously been the basis of prior NSF-supported curriculum development by the PI, namely: "Environmental Analysis and Design;" "Mechanisms;" "Circuits and Controls;" "Packaging and Structures" and "Signs, Symbols and Codes." The project includes a pilot phase that focuses on facilitator training in the conduct of online forums for teachers, at five professional development sites. Two hands-on workshops will be conducted at these sites. A field-test phase follows, involving scaling-up to 15 sites nationally. The primary deliverable is a tested professaional development package.