Tech Directions - March 2008 - (Page 24)

New Orleans students from the McMain Secondary School robotics team work on their robot prototype for the FIRST Robotics Competition. visit, frequent changes in administration leadership— we averaged a new superintendent every 16 to 18 months, each with a different set of priorities—affected the level of support for implementing STEM in New Orleans. With rapid changes in leadership and subsequent shifts in focus and priorities, it was hard to sustain the effort. As is the case in many large metropolitan districts, the very size of the administrative bureaucracy impeded the speed with which we could implement a progressive educational program like STEM-based education. Further complicating the situation was the lack of adequate funding. One of the superintendents who served before the storm supported the STEM concept. Under his leadership, the district began the process of incorporating more technology instruction in the classroom, culminating in the creation of four robotics teams and plans for a formal professional development program to train teachers on how to implement STEM-based instruction. The state requires all graduating seniors to have at least three credits each of math and science, with additional elective courses available to students. But just as we started to get the professional development program off the ground, the superintendent left and the district restarted the familiar reorganization process. It became clear that something really big would have to happen to clear the way for STEM to take root in New Orleans, and that a long-term commitment by stable leadership was necessary to cultivate the program and help it grow. Katrina Sparks Opportunities Little did we know that Mother Nature’s fury would prove to have a positive impact on the quality of science and math education in the New Orleans Public Schools. But that’s precisely what has happened. By wiping out the school district’s infrastructure, Hurricane Katrina cleared the path for implementing more progressive approaches to curricula, like STEM, and for completely revamping the district’s computer, networking, and technology infrastructure. The storm’s swirling waters, in effect, washed away many of the obstacles to improving the quality of STEMbased instruction in New Orleans. Even though Katrina left the New Orleans Public Schools with a clean slate, enabling us to create the modern technology-based framework necessary for building a program from the bottom up, the rebirth of the city’s educational infrastructure and renewed focus on math and science instruction would not have happened without the leadership and support of Superintendent Darryl Kilbert. Unlike some previous administrators, Kilbert was a local principal who worked in the district for more than 30 years before ascending to his leadership post. He has made STEM-based instruction a top priority and supports all of its activities, from the growing number of robotics teams to the establishment of an active professional development program for teachers. The current district leadership has also raised the expectations for students by increasing the district’s math and science graduation requirements. Now, students must have four math and four science credits to graduate. These increased requirements exceed the state mandate and show students that the district is serious about better preparing them for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. With the support of our administration and a new More work in progress on the robot for the FIRST competition 24 techdirections ◆ MARCH 2008

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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