7/13/2011 - NSTA Reports—Patricia Simmons (NSTA President)
If one is to believe the Chinese proverb, “Learning without thinking is labor lost—thinking without learning is dangerous,” then it could be said many elementary, middle, and high school mathematics and science students may be wasting their time in a potentially damaging enterprise. When asked, many middle and high school students will say they are bored with these subjects and do not see how they relate to what their lives are about now or what their futures might hold. As science educators, we must address the issues raised by countless recent reports, statistical analyses, studies, surveys, commission reports, and policy recommendations about the status of science education and science and engineering workforce needs for the future. Just as importantly, we must not shy away from asking the “hard questions” of ourselves, about what and how we are contributing to advancing the best science teaching and learning for all of our students.
My main goal this year is to move our work together to the next level and strengthen our profession. We must provide a world-class science education for all students; we need “Science Education for a Smarter Planet.” The theme for my presidential year builds on the driving forces behind creative problem solving and thinking (innovation) that led to the landings of Spirit and Opportunity on the surface of Mars. By capitalizing on this same innovative spirit and opportunity, we can advance NSTA’s mission: excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.
Expanding the professional development opportunities for NSTA members across the teaching continuum. The most effective professional development experiences are those that 1) build on teachers’ prior knowledge and experiences; 2) provide sustained opportunities to continue experimenting with new ideas in “study groups” or networks; 3) continue collaborations with peers within and outside of their schools; 4) include active learning environments; and 5) include school-based and job-embedded strategies. The most recent statistics show most new teachers entering our profession will leave within five years: This is unacceptable. We must continue to work with new teachers to provide mentoring networks and support so they will remain in our profession.
Shaping policy initiatives driven by meaningful research and exemplary science teaching practices. This year we will host the first K–12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Policy Conference in July in Washington, D.C., to address driving policy issues such as “What is the future for STEM education, and what is the role for science education?” Participants will meet with representatives of leading U.S. federal agencies and Congressional staff members to discuss the rapidly changing political landscape in STEM education, and visit with Capitol Hill lawmakers. The NSTA Task Force on STEM Education is working diligently to clearly define what STEM can mean and how we can implement the best research-based practices for a STEM-literate society. In the coming year, STEM education and NSTA’s potential role as a leading collaborator in this arena will be a main focus. Many schools at the elementary level are being designated as STEM schools. This represents a unique opportunity for teachers to design and implement creative and innovative STEM learning activities and experiences for their students. To determine what practices work best and how, we must have strong empirical data identifying what these practices are, how they work, and how we can transport or scale-up these practices and tailor them to the uniqueness of each classroom.
Advancing NSTA’s role in leading P–20 initiatives, and collaborating with science and science education organizations around common science education goals. NSTA represents the voice of a powerful constituency advocating for excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. We continue to strengthen our networks within our chapters and associated groups by providing leadership training at the National Congress for Science Education. We will feature national conversations at the National Congress and at NSTA’s area and national conferences on science education about the influence and impact of the newly released Science Education Framework and anticipated Science Education Standards.
Making a difference in the lives of students and teachers by advocating strongly for the importance of science and the profession of science teaching. NSTA is the largest organization in the world dedicated to science teaching and learning. We must be the advocate for our profession and the dedicated teachers who, day after day, provide the best science teaching for their students with fewer and fewer resources. We continue to make thousands of resources available free of charge to all teachers through the NSTA Learning Center. With the proliferation of online education, we can establish global learning communities focused on the best research-based science teaching.