Tech Directions - April 2008 - (Page 5)

direct from washington Anne C. Lewis anneclewis@earthlink.net National Research Center on Career and Technical Education Research In its “tour” around the country, the National Research Center on Career and Technical Education has landed at the University of Louisville. Familiar leaders and institutions, however, will direct the fiveyear, $20.5 million grant. In an exclusive interview for Tech Directions, Jim Stone, director of the center and professor in the university’s College of Education and Human Development, outlined the major areas of research the center will pursue, as well as changes in the organization of the work. Stone directed the center when it was at the University of Minnesota. Previously, the center, which is authorized by the Perkins Act, had been at the University of California/Berkeley and at Ohio State. To dovetail with No Child Left Behind Act priorities, Perkins— and the center—have a sharper focus on student achievement, Stone said. Foremost, however, will be an emphasis on researching how career and technical education (CTE) improves student engagement in high schools, “their holding power.” A second emphasis will be on using CTE to improve student achievement. While at Minnesota, Stone conducted studies on using high-level math in CTE programs, and while he is continuing to collect data on this project, it has moved more to the technical assistance phase. Several sites are using the research to improve math instruction, he said, and while his research tested one way of integrating advanced math in CTE, “we need to Anne Lewis, one of the country’s most respected writers on education policy, works in the Washington, DC, area. test other ideas, as well.” The center will turn its focus to conducting similar research in science and literacy, “and in both cases find out how to move toward experimental testing of curriculum integration.” The pattern that evolved in the math integration, according to Stone, “tried to get everyone involved around the table.” The research developed a framework that began with the integration of math in general education, then moved to cluster-level skills and “worked its way up to greater specificity.” One of the problems, Stone said, is that educators think about skills from the bottom of a pyramid, while business www.techdirections.com WASHINGTON 5 http://www.intelitek.com http://www.techdirections.com

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Tech Directions - April 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology's Past Technology Today Mastering Computers A Bridge to the Future Aeronautics Study Takes Off! Glider Design for Beginners Project Engineer in the Heavy Construction Industry for Renewable Energy Annual Buyers' Guide More than Fun

Tech Directions - April 2008

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