Tech Directions - March 2008 - (Page 23)

STEM Progress in Katrina’s Wake Devastating natural disaster clears the way for a transformation in science, technology, engineering, and math education By Dana Gonzalez end of the 2006-2007 school year, was even worse. While some buildOU only need to recall and down from a student population ings were salvageable, the damage the startling television of 56,000 before the storm to 15,000 to the district’s computer, networkimages of a flooded, bein the state recovery district and ing, and technology systems repreleaguered New Orleans to 10,000 students in New Orleans sented a total loss. Much of this begin to understand the Public Schools today—in other infrastructure was under water, and devastating impact that Hurricane ways, most noticeably the enhanced even the equipment located in Katrina had on the Crescent City’s quality of the technology infrastrucschools that did not receive flood public education system. Although ture and the progressive science, damage became frazzled and inopermedia coverage focused on the lifetechnology, engineering, and and-death struggle of many of math (STEM) curriculum, the the city’s residents and the old New Orleans Public widespread destruction of Schools district has vastly property, the devastating improved. storm and its aftermath completely wiped out the educational infrastructure of Slow Progress on STEM the New Orleans Public Before the Storm Schools, making one of the The effort to implement country’s largest metropolitan STEM-based education in the school districts virtually disNew Orleans Public Schools appear. was in its infancy before the Flood waters inundated storm struck. STEM instrucmany of the district’s 124 tion is an emerging movement schools, with the worst damin American education that is age occurring in the Lower 9th supported by the National While some buildings were salvageable, the Ward, where there were two Science Foundation (NSF). The damage to New Orleans’ computer, networking, feet of water on the second concept recognizes that global and technology systems represented a total loss. floor of the school building. competitiveness requires Even though the Federal Emergency able due to heat, moisture, and hutechnological literacy among today’s Management Agency (FEMA) disasmidity problems related to the longstudents to ensure the success of ter relief funds supported repairs to term power outage and lack of airtomorrow’s employees, entrepremany buildings, the damage to some conditioning. neurs, and business leaders. schools was irreparable, and many Hurricane Katrina was truly a A core STEM component is to facilities will not be put back on line monumental catastrophe that not integrate “pure” math and science due to the severity of the damage. only crippled a vibrant, bustling city with the disciplines in which they The effect on the district’s combut also decimated the city’s educawill ultimately apply and to use puter and technology infrastructure tional infrastructure. Two years technology applications as a means later, the journey to rebuild continfor generating interest in and acquiues, and although in some ways the sition of math and science skills. Dana Gonzalez is a science and New Orleans Public Schools district Robotics clubs and competitions are math specialist, New Orleans Public is a shell of its former self—down an important, growing aspect of the Schools, and director, New Orleans from 124 schools after a state takeSTEM movement. Regional Science and Mathematics over to 17 facilities operating at the Before Katrina made her fateful Resources Center. Jeanne Brooks Y www.techdirections.com STEM 23 http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - March 2008

Tech Directions - March 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers HDTV—Understanding the New, Dealing with the Old Technical Studies Lead to Dream Career Fill and Fund Your CAD Classroom with These Exciting Strategies STEM Progress in Katrina’s Wake School Web Site of the Month Spring Spotlight More than Fun

Tech Directions - March 2008

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