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 » DUNES - Nanotechnology

Colorado Emerging Technology Education Conference

Building a Strong Workforce in Colorado

University of Northern Colorado

January 6-7, 2005

Greeley, CO. The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) is dedicated to preparing tomorrow's teachers. In an effort to better educate Colorado's workforce in emerging nanotechnology and nanoscience, UNC hosted a conference aimed at building collaboration among high school, community college, and university faculty in developing innovative curriculum and pedagogy. The conference goals included:

• Establishing educational goals for Colorado students with respect to emerging technologies,
• Formation of a strategy for designing curriculum and internships for high school, community college, and university students,
• Formation of a professional development strategy for preparing high school, community college, and university faculty in emerging technologies
• Establishment of working groups for the purpose of curriculum development, collaborative funding, outreach programs, and professional development programs

The conference included invited presentations from nationally recognized researchers, who integrate emerging technologies into their teaching. Invited speakers included Dr. Wayne Jones from Binghampton University (New York) and Eric Shulenburger from the University of Washington. State leaders from Colorado Development Work Force also attended. In addition, conference attendees were encouraged to submit posters for a poster session covering topics from the latest technologies to curriculum and teaching practices.

The conference was co-sponsored by the Colorado Alliance for Science (CAS) and the Math and Science Teaching Institute (MAST) at UNC. The mission of CAS and MAST is to stimulate public interest in support of science, technology and mathematics education, and to support collaborative partnerships. Additional conference sponsors included Colorado Nanotech, Colorado Photonics Industry Association, Colorado Bioscience Association, and Colorado Alliance for Bioengineering. If you would like more information contact Dr. Michael R. Taber (michael.taber@unco.edu), Director for the Colorado Alliance for Science.

Conference Agenda

Thursday, January 6

AM

8 - 9:00 AM Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 9:10 AM Welcoming remarks - Allen Huang, Provost University of Northern Colorado

9:10 - 9:20 AM Conference Charge - John Moore, Director for the Math and Science Teaching Institute

10:00 - 10:15 AM Break

10:15 - 11:15 AM Booker T. Graves, Colorado Workforce Development Council (Invited) "Preparting Colorado's students for tomorrow's workforce" (Right click on title link and save PowerPoint file to your computer for viewing)

11:15 - 11:45 Breakout session (by discipline) "What are th educational goals/objectives in your content discipline? What are the critical needs in content and technological knowledge?

(Right click on title link and save Word or PowerPoint file to your computer for viewing)

11:45 - 12:00 PM Breakout session reports (one powerpoint slide per group)

PM

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch (provided) Sponsored by Roche Constructors, Greeley, Colorado

1:00 - 1:45 PM Wayne Jones, Binghamton University (Invited Keynote)- "Student Centered Learning: Approaches to Integrating Research, Scholarship, and New Technologies into the Curriculum" (Right click on title link and save PowerPoint file to your computer for viewing)

1:45 - 3:15 PM Breakout session (concurrent based on expertise): What are the critical needs for k12, 2 year, 4 year, and curriculum developers? What are the effective strategies for meeting the needs? Groups assigned by expertise: 2 year institutions, 4 year institutions, curriculum development, and k12.

(Right click on title link and save Word or PowerPoint file to your computer for viewing)

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM Break

3:30 - 4:10 PM Breakout reports (10 minutes per group)

4:15 - 5:30 Wine and cheese reception (Poster session cancelled) Reception sponsored by Kenny's Steakhouse (Greeley) and Orchard Valley Farms and Blackbridge Winery, Paonia, Colorado.

Friday, January 7

AM

8:30 - 8:55 AM Continental Breakfast

8:55 - 9:00 AM Charge for the day - John Moore

9:00 - 10:00 AM Panel (left to right - Jim Reisberg, State House Representative from Greeley; Louis Hornyak, University of Denver; Celia Norman, Arapahoe Community College; Wayne Jones, Binghamton University) discussion, "What works in preparing teachers and students for tomorrow's workforce in nanotechnology and nanoscience?

10:00 - 10:15 AM Break

10:15 - 12:00 PM Breakout session: Using goals, needs, and strategies (from Thursday) draft a recommendation for action. Each group is asked to produce a short white paper outlining the critical needs, goals, strategies, and plan of action for

• k-12 curriculum development
  
• Undergraduate curriculum development
  
• Collaborative funding - what works? Sources, etc...
  
• Collaboration with business and industry on internship opportunities at all levels
  
• Professional development for 9-12 teachers
  • Endorsements
  • Certificate programs
  • Master's degrees
• Professional development for undergraduate faculty
  

(Right click on title link and save Word or PowerPoint file to your computer for viewing)

PM

12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch (provided)

1:00 - 2:45 PM Continuation of morning breakout session

2:45 - 3:00 PM Break

3:00 - 4:00 PM Breakout Reports (15 minutes per group)

4:00 PM Final comments - July conference in Broomfield

4:15 PM Adjourn