Laying the Foundation in Teaching Technology: A Writers’ Assembly

North Carolina State University is a center for research with practical application that can transform lives. And so, it’s no surprise that the College of Education’s work in teaching technology education is nationally recognized for doing just that. This summer, technology and engineering education scholars from across the country came to Raleigh, North Carolina to lay the foundation on a ground-breaking research grant, Teaching Technology through Implementing Inquiry (T2I2).

"This project is important to the profession of Technology, Engineering & Design by creating a national professional development model that can be used by teachers nationwide to increase their students' understanding of 21st century skills in the classroom, " said Dr. Aaron Clark, co-principal investigator and professor in technology education. “Participating teachers will not only benefit from new resources to advance their professional competencies, but the standards-based content of the T2I2 program fulfills a substantial portion of the requirements for National Board Certification.”

The T2I2 resources will transform how teachers evaluate students' learning needs and adjust instruction to meet those needs. Using the interactive website, educators will be able to access resources and learn how to teach inquiry-based technology. This process will improve professional skills through self-assessment techniques included in the program.

The interactive website will be based on information researched around 18 topics, expertly studied by technology and engineering education scholars. Last week, these scholars gathered at NC State University to begin writing the foundation for this technology educator resource.

During the writers’ assembly, Dr. Ryan Brown, assistant professor at Illinois State University, worked exclusively with STEM curriculum. Dr. Brown has previously won an award for studying how STEM teachers integrate concepts of pedagogical content knowledge. “It was a productive week, well-organized, and while we were very busy writing, the workshop provided a great outlet to network with other technology educators from across the country,” reflected Brown.

Classroom quality was researched and written by Dr. Jenny Daugherty, assistant professor at Purdue University, who teaches instructional planning and evaluation. “I was interested in working with this project because it was selected by the National Science Foundation, when so few about technology education are funded,” said Daugherty. “Its result will establish a product that allows for continual learning for STEM educators across the nation.”

Transforming Teaching through Implementing Inquiry is a four-year, $2 million project funded in August 2011 by the National Science Foundation. The project team includes principal investigator, Dr. Jeremy Ernst, Virginia Tech and NC State University’s Drs. Aaron Clark, Bill DeLuca, Laura Bottomley, and Scott Ferguson. The project collaborates with partners in Kentucky, Illinois, Virginia and Ohio, as well as, local school systems, professional development providers, and teachers of technology, engineering and design education. For more information visit: t2i2.ncsu.edu.