1. Challenges and Opportunities in California Schools Melissa Gilbert Assistant Professor Mathematics Education Dennis Smithenry Assistant Professor Science Education

2. When a teacher looks at any new lesson, she asks... How will this lesson address State Math or Science Content Standards? What actual concepts would my students be learning from this lesson? My curriculum is already overloaded, how much time will it take? Will it help my students improve their performance on standardized tests? How can I differentiate it for students with special needs (English Language Learners [ELL], identified learning disabilities, gifted)?

3. Challenges Overloaded Curriculum (TIMSS) State Content Science and Mathematics Standards National Science Education Standards/National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Principles and Standards Diverse Student Populations Narrow View of Science and Mathematics Learning (teaching towards the test)

4. California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) Academic Performance Index (API) NCLB Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Standardized Tests

5. Positives in IEEE Lesson Plans Focus on hands-on activities Fostering collaboration skills Place problems into real-world context Variety of lesson topics Motivated community of IEEE volunteers with resources

6. Teachers think of lessons in terms ofconcepts that students must learn. Engineers think of lessons in terms of interesting activities that introduce students to design, teamwork, and problem solving Minding the Gap

7. Opportunities Impact of the IEEE lesson plans could be enhanced by: Identifying the specific concepts being taught through the activities Making direct connections to the concepts identified in the State Standards Making direct connections to the concepts identified in the State Standards Collaborating with teachers to tailor lesson plans to their students needs Working side-by-side with teachers to enact lessons

8. Opportunities IEEE could learn more about current needs of schools by: visiting and observing classrooms talking with curriculum coordinators at the district level go to local, regional, or national science or math teacher conferences read publications by NSTA, NCTM, AMTE, or ASTE

9. Discussion/Q & A Form groups of four to five people Discuss what youve heard and whats on your mind (10 min.) Develop one or two questions for us as your group Write questions on note cards We will attempt to answer your questions

10. Further Questions? Dr. Melissa Gilbert, mcgilbert@scu.edumcgilbert@scu.edu Dr. Dennis Smithenry, dsmithenry@scu.edu dsmithenry@scu.edu