No More Clock Watchers
John McDermott, MA; Senior Instructor, University of Colorado – Denver
John McDermott has been teaching for thirty eight years. Thirty two of these years have been in public schools in elementary, middle, and high schools where he taught Social Studies, English, and Math. He has been a full time faculty member at the University of Colorado Denver Campus for the past six years. He is the co-author of the book Clock Watchers: Six Steps to Motivating and Engaging Disengaged Students Across Content Areas. He and his co-author conduct motivation and engagement workshops around the nation and internationally. John currently teaches in the School of Education and Human Development for the Urban Community Teacher Education Program, where he was honored with the Outstanding Teacher Award. John has a passion for motivating and engaging all students and educators in the learning process.
“Education” the Foundation for Economic Development
Worthington Regional Economic Development Corporation
The economic development partners for the City of Worthington, MN have committed to building a stronger bioscience industry in their community. The definition of bioscience to this Southwest Minnesota community is “agriculture bioscience” mainly “animal health”. With the committed private sector partners along with the public and educational entities the community leaders feel they can increase the average household income. The key step in the process is to enhance the educational opportunities that lead into the bioscience industry. Partnerships and alliances have been established and continue to be created. By developing a clear career path from the Middle School Science Club through High School and into the local two year community college and connecting with multiple four year institutions success is achievable as well as sustainable. Because of the four year educational institutions involvement the private sector also gains a partner for product research and development. Communities succeed when the private and educational sectors converge – we are creating an atmosphere for this to happen.
It’s Not STEM Without the T & E: Transdisciplinary Design
Jan Morrison, Executive Director of TIES and Envision Excellence in STEM
Ms. Morrison is a recognized leader in STEM education, providing vital support to national and state STEM initiatives, most recently serving as the Senior STEM advisor to The White House and the U.S. Department of Education in development of their sweeping “Race to the Top” and “Innovate to Educate” education reform programs. Current national engagements include her work as the Senior Consultant for College Ready and Post-Secondary Success STEM Education for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; NASA STEM education initiatives; Battelle Memorial Institute; the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation; the Noyce Foundation; the Grant Makers for Education STEM Initiative; the National Governors Association; the White House Educate to Innovate National Mobilization; Siemens Corporation; Innovate-Educate New Mexico; North Dakota STEM Initiative. She also serves as an advisor on the National Academy for Engineering’s standards work with ITEEA. Ms. Morrison is currently working with Uri Treisman on a strategy for bringing the Common Core Standards in Mathematics, the Statway Project, the Algebra work in California and elsewhere together with a national vision for mathematics in STEM education. Work with National Lab Day, Change the Equation, First Robotics, TASC, Jim Henson, Inc., and others help bring Ms. Morrison’s vision and expertise to both supply-side and demand-side STEM advancement. Ms. Morrison spent 30 years as a STEM teacher, supervisor, high school principal and middle school principal. In 2002, the Fund for Educational Excellence approached TIES to found The Baltimore Freedom Academy with the University of Maryland School of Law. In two years, BFA was one of the top four schools in mathematics in the state of Maryland and continues today.
Education Transformation from a Cultural Perspective: Who Let those Anthropologists into the Classroom?
Annalies Corbin, PhD; President, Partnering Anthropology, with Science and Technology (PAST) Foundation
Dr. Annalies Corbin is the Founder and President & CEO of The PAST Foundation. PAST was established in 2000 by an international group of Anthropologists, field and research scientists, museum curators and educators with the single purpose of working to find a way to connect ongoing, scientific research with classrooms and other public arenas. From 2000-2006 Dr. Corbin concurrently oversaw the PAST Foundation and taught at East Carolina University’s Program in Maritime Studies. Well known for her Anthropological work in the area of Shipwreck Archaeology, Corbin’s research focused on the intersection of archaeological investigations and public participation, including K-12 education. Combining her passion for research with public outreach and engagement, the scope and vision of PAST evolved rapidly. In 2005 when PAST opened its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Corbin turned all efforts to building the Foundation, assembling a team that could grow the reach and mission. In 2006 PAST partnered with Metro High School, a demonstration STEM school in Columbus, Ohio to build innovative hands-on programs pivoted on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Working together, the partnership established the PAST/Metro Design Center where PAST team members, faculty and students began building problem based, innovative programs.
PAST’s mission and vision translates to innovative program design, professional development specifically related to STEM Transdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning (T-PBL), and ethnographic Knowledge Capture℠. In the endeavor to Link Learning to Life, PAST works with emerging STEM schools across the U.S. building transdisciplinary programs for K-20 education and studying the underlying cultural mechanisms that insure success through ethnographic methods. The key to the PAST Foundation is a deep understanding of STEM school’s fundamental systems and design principles. The primary tactics are two-fold; embedding experienced anthropologists throughout the entire STEM development and implementation process to provide ongoing knowledge capture and developing transdisciplinary problem-based programs that optimize content delivery in exciting ways. Anthropology by its very nature looks at the interdependencies of systems. PAST finds the resonating links within communities, business, education and regions to create unique learning environments specifically suited to place, culture, and time.
By Partnering Anthropology with Science and Technology, PAST offers a suite of educational services and products that can transform schools, districts, regions, and state educational systems. PAST anthropologists understand the need for education to transcend current boundaries and use field experiences, film, digital access, and social networking as new avenues of learning that enables and motivate students, teachers, parents, and communities to rise above current expectations and constraints.