Technology, Engineering, and Design Educator Professional Development System Implementation: Initial Pilot Results

The Transforming Teaching through Implementing Inquiry ((TI2)-I-2) project is a four-year research and development effort, funded by the National Science Foundation, to create and research an online professional development system for grades 6-12 technology, engineering, and design educators. The system content targets implementation and instructional practice, as defined by National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), in support of quality classroom indicators for the promotion of student learning. Randomly selected middle school and high school technology, engineering, and design educators in five states (IL, KY, OH, NC, and VA) served as participants by: 1) completing the T2I2 online professional development materials, 2) submitting artifacts/evidences of practice, 3) administering a student STEM pre-assessment, 4) implementing a single consistent unit of instruction, 5) administering a student STEM post-assessment. Pilot Year 1 (2012-2013 academic year) teacher outcome data, as measured by NBPTS criterion referenced metrics, is analyzed and reported in terms of ability to manage a learning environment, monitor a learning environment, adjust a learning environment to improve instruction, conduct self-assessment, and contribute to a learning community. This project is set to be an ongoing effort with the overall goal to improve instructional practices for K-12 engineering education.