Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge

The White House and the U.S. Department of Education have announced a new Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge and are inviting public schools across the country to compete to have President Obama speak at their graduation.

At the beginning of the school year, the president encouraged students all across the country to take responsibility for their education, study hard, and graduate from high school. The Race to the Top High School Commencement challenge encourages schools to show how they are making great strides on personal responsibility, academic excellence and college readiness.

Applications must be completed by students and submitted by a high school principal using the Commencement Challenge Application Form no later than Monday, March 15th at 11:59 p.m.

Each school may submit only one application and high schools must be public to apply.

Following the application deadline, six finalists will be selected by the White House and U.S. Department of Education. These schools will then be featured on the White House website and the public will have an opportunity to vote for the three schools they think best meet the president’s goal. The president will select a national winner from these three finalists and visit the winning high school to deliver the commencement address to the class of 2010.

The application’s four essay questions focus on demonstrating how the school is helping prepare students to meet the president’s 2020 goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. Applications will be judged based on the school’s performance and dedication to providing students an excellent education that will prepare them to graduate ready for college and career choices. Each question must be answered in full to qualify and data that substantiates each answer is strongly encouraged.

In addition to the required essay responses, applicants are invited to submit the following optional supplemental materials:

• Video – no more than 2 minutes in length – showing the school’s culture and character and highlighting how it is a model of educational success for other high schools around the country.
• Supplemental data on key indicators such as attendance, student achievement, graduation rates and where available, college enrollment rates. This data may be presented in the form of tables, graphs or spreadsheets and should be used to help the school make the most compelling arguments possible.

Please use the Commencement Challenge Application Form to apply.

Boosting Proficiency of New Mexico Students

Reporter Staci Matlock of the Santa Fe New Mexican, wrote a great story on Sunday focused on innovative teaching to boost proficiency of New Mexico students.

New Mexico is home to two national labs, several research universities and an estimated 10,000 professional scientists. Yet New Mexico students, including Santa Fe’s, lag well behind the national average on science proficiency tests — in spite of some gains in the last five years.

In 2008, fewer than 40 percent of the state’s students in sixth through ninth grade tested proficient in science on the New Mexico Standards Based Assessments.

New Mexico students are smart enough and capable enough to excel in science. And some do, earning scholarships to top-notch research universities. So why don’t more of them?

Low science scores stem from some of the same factors as low math and reading scores — a high population of low-income students, English language learners and youngsters with special learning needs. An additional challenge in science is that not all teachers are qualified or comfortable teaching it.

Experts say a few proven steps could boost science prowess among New Mexico students: Coax professional scientists into mentoring teachers and students. Make science hands-on, fun and relevant. Encourage the natural curiosity of youth. Tie science to literacy. Beef up student access to labs, high-tech equipment and materials for experiments.

Finally, use some innovative teaching methods and set high expectations.

This is a great article with some concrete information. Continue reading the full story here.

Obama Urges States to Raise Academic Standards

President Barack Obama says America’s “primacy in the world” is at stake in the quest to substantially improve educational quality and global competitiveness, according to reports filed Monday by the Associated Press.

Speaking to governors gathered at the White House on Monday, Obama said he won’t “accept second place for the United States of America.” He noted that the United States continues to lag behind other nations in critical areas, including high school math and science skills.

Obama applauded governors for developing “common academic standards” but said more can be done. For one thing, he said, states will be asked to adopt new standards to better prepare the young for college-level math and science – and will make that a condition for receiving certain federal assistance. Obama said the effort also will require better teaching and better curricula.

Obama told governors he wants a change in law that would allow states to receive federal aid for poor students only if they adopt academic standards that are deemed to truly prepare children for college or careers out of high school. The move would require a change in the nation’s main elementary and secondary education law, which became known as the No Child Left Behind Act during the presidency of George W. Bush.

Traditionally, the federal government is a marginal player in the financing and control of education, but its role has expanded as educators and lawmakers at all levels worry about slipping U.S. competitiveness.

In a statement issued Sunday, the White House said the initiative will develop and implement new reading and math standards that prepare high school students for college and careers. “Because too many students are not learning the basic skills needed to succeed in college or work while they are in high school,” the White House said in the statement, “the nation sacrifices more than $3.7 billion a year in lost productivity and remedial education costs.”

The White House said the governors have been working on the president’s Race to the Top program, which rewards school systems that raise standards and demonstrate that through tougher student assessments.

In addition to supporting ongoing state efforts, the White House said the president will commit an additional $350 million to the Race to the Top challenge to back “state-led partnerships to develop new, state-of-the art assessments aligned to college and career-ready standards.”

According to the White House, the president’s 2011 budget will call for the reauthorization of the 1994 version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which would require states to meet six tough standards to help high school graduates prepare for college or jobs. The White House said schools need to focus on better teacher preparation, improved teaching, and tougher student assessments.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was first passed in 1965 and has been routinely reauthorized every five years.

Obama’s proposed reauthorization would:

• Require the states to “adopt and certify that they have college- and career-ready standards in reading and mathematics” to be eligible for the federal money.
• Establish a $405 million outlay to help states “align teacher preparation practices and programs to teaching of college- and career-ready standards.”
• Provide grants totaling $400 million to states that adopt tougher student assessment programs.
• Dedicate $1.35 billion to the Race to the Top program in addition to stimulus money for the program.
• Allot $2.5 billion in the 2011 budget to a state grant program to support better teaching and leadership in the schools.

Who Are The Next ‘Real’ American Idols?

Awhile back we spoke with Dr. Kemi Jona regarding STEM education and published an article on WRAL Local Tech Wire based in Raleigh, N.C., that shared his insight. We would like to share that article with you now so you can gain a keen perspective of the state of STEM education in this country from a national e-learning expert.

Dr. Kemi Jona is a Research Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and Computer Science at Northwestern University and Director of the Office of STEM Education Partnerships where he leads research and development projects in curriculum design, learning technology, online science and virtual labs, and Web-based patient education and outreach. Over the course of his career, Dr. Jona designed and oversaw the development of custom learning solutions for numerous corporate clients including GE Capital, Wal-Mart, Eaton/Cutler-Hammer, Deloitte, and Accenture. He also led a multi-year partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that produced an award-winning interactive learning system currently in use throughout the U.S.

He is also President of Kemi Jona Associates, an independent consulting practice that helps learning organizations improve the quality, competitiveness, and accessibility of their offerings, take best advantage of existing and new technologies, and reduce development expenses. It was an honor for him to take a few moments out of his busy schedule to talk with us.

Dr. Jona, what is the biggest challenge(s) you see when it comes to STEM today?
There are two interrelated problems: STEM workforce and STEM education. The need for a workforce that is skilled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics areas is closely linked to the idea of American competitiveness in the global economy – and that has really gotten a lot more traction and visibility recently. High-tech companies have tens of thousands of jobs they can’t find qualified applicants to take. These are really good, high-paying jobs. Microsoft alone has something like 17,000 unfilled positions. And, the problem is only going to get worse with the upcoming wave of retiring baby-boomers. Add to that the sense that we have serious problems to solve in the areas of alternative energy and global warming, and I think the public is waking up to the importance of a having a well-prepared STEM workforce in order to keep America’s leadership position in innovation and in the global economy. This is what has really driven increased awareness in addressing the STEM education issue. You don’t magically get a STEM workforce. You have to educate today’s students in these important skills now if you want to prepare the workforce to fill these kinds of jobs.

How can we improve the retention and graduation rates of STEM students?
Retaining students in STEM fields is a tough problem and can’t be solved with a single solution. A good start, in my opinion, would be to start developing project-based curriculums that are based on the kinds of real-world activities STEM professionals do. This will help students see the relevance of what they are learning and get exposed to a variety of interesting career roles at the same time. Plus, students learn best by doing, so active project-based learning is far more motivating and effective than boring lectures. I’m also a big advocate of job shadowing, internships and summer job opportunities. We need to be doing a better job partnering with industry to make these kinds of programs more widely available to today’s students.

How can we get more students and parents, etc., excited about STEM?
A lot of the same things that I mentioned for retaining students in STEM also are effective for getting folks excited about STEM. For parents, I think a media campaign that encourages them to get their children into STEM learning, both in and out of school, and highlights the great STEM career opportunities available to them is a great place to start. We need an “American Idol” for STEM superstars, not just singers.

What changes in skills are expected for professionals in the near future, and how are these skills communicated to our students working in today’s educational system?
Most of these skills are already pretty clear and in use today: teamwork, collaboration, strong verbal and written communication skills, information organization and critical analysis. The problem is that almost none of these skills are part of the education system today. Students spend most of their time working individually, not in teams. Looking at someone’s document in school is called cheating. In the workplace it is called collaboration. Much of the educational system is shaped by how well students can memorize facts and spit them back out on tests. Barely any jobs require those particular skills. Yet that is what we are training the current generation of students to be good at. One new set of skills that cuts across many jobs, especially in the sciences, is the use of what is called cyberinfrastructure, which uses computational tools like networks, databases, computer models, simulations, data analysis, and visualization. Nearly every field is being reshaped this way and those students who know how to use it are going to have a big advantage. But again, none of this is currently being taught in schools.

When referring to growing international cooperation in research and education, what are the effects STEM education will have for U.S. students now and tomorrow?
Most major new scientific research and large-scale corporate efforts involve multinational networks of partners enabled by cyberinfrastructure. This is how Boeing designs and builds airplanes and Lenovo designs and builds laptops. If you want to be successful in research or business in the future, you are going to need to understand how to work within this kind of networked, multinational organization. In fact, you will probably be part of several of these real or virtual organizations at one time. If we don’t do a better job preparing our students in STEM and in the skills needed to work in this type of environment, they will be at a significant disadvantage in the future workforce.

What are real or practical uses of new technologies (including cyberinfrastructure developments) in both education and research?
Cyberinfrastructure allows you to do work in ways that simply couldn’t be done before. Scientists now use huge sensor networks to collect data from all over the globe and feed it into giant databases that are shared by researchers in many countries. These “large-scale observatories” were never feasible before. For example, I am working on a project called GLOBE Watershed Dynamics to help connect kids and teachers to these kinds of scientific databases so that a high school student can analyze the same data the scientists have. This can really change the way that science education happens in classrooms by making it look a lot more like what real scientists do, and also teach students about how to work with cyberinfrastructure. Once the investment is made in creating this kind of cyberinfrastructure for scientists, why not take advantage of it for education as well?

How can we advance the understanding of the cause/effect scenario when it comes to broadening participation in STEM education?
Parents, employers, teachers all need to do their part in helping make students aware of the breadth of STEM careers, and the excitement of the kinds of challenging problems you get to work on with these jobs. Then we need to make STEM education resemble these exciting job roles as much as possible to close the gap between what STEM jobs look like and what STEM education looks like. That will motivate students and help them see the relevance of what they are learning to possible future career options. There is no bigger turnoff than having to memorize facts and formulas that aren’t made relevant to solving realistic problems. That’s not what a STEM job is about and it shouldn’t be what STEM education is about either.

Thank you, Dr. Jona, for your insight and time.

More than a conference, April event is a movement

Join us for our annual conference. Innovate-Educate and NMSTE are pleased to announce the IE/NMSTE Conference 2010 to be held on April 22 and 23 in Albuquerque, N.M. This two-day conference will focus on the integration of technology and STEM for advancement in innovations in teaching and learning.

Last year, more than 700 executives, educators and government officials from all over the country packed the Albuquerque Convention Center for the inaugural event. We expect another successful sell-out event that will bring teachers, principals, superintendents, technology in education experts, and others together to share the most successful innovations in teaching and learning.

Innovate-Educate is recognized as one of the top non-profits in the country focusing on the alignment of industry, education and government to advance education, with a focus on STEM. Industry is a catalyst in 21st century education and workforce development, and the thought leadership and vision of the Innovate-Educate Board of Directors is creating a national movement to trigger true collaboration between these fields by highlighting what’s really happening in our country and helping to advance our future workforce.

Don’t miss your chance to participate! With more than 60 exhibitors, nationally-recognized speakers and engaging panel discussions, this conference will focus on what has to happen to truly address the education needs of our country. U.S. leadership participating include: Intel, Blackboard, Cisco Systems, SAS, Lenovo, HP, Dell, Microsoft Corporation, Apple Computers, AT&T, IBM, Oracle, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Workforce, STEM consultant to GATES Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, and the National Science Foundation just to name a few. Each organization will speak on their commitment to education and what they are doing in addressing our nation at risk.

You can register online now for this year’s exciting event on our Upcoming Events page. We also have a broad range of Sponsorship Opportunities still available. Hurry now. Limited space remains. Also, if you are interested in presenting, we are accepting Presentation Proposal Applications now for this year’s event – a great opportunity to get involved.

See you April 22 and April 23.

President’s 2011 Budget Aims to Boost STEM Investments in New Mexico, nationwide

The prosperity of future generations depends on what we do now to educate our students. President Barack Obama unveiled the FY-2011 Budget on Monday demonstrating a strong commitment to education in STEM fields nationwide, with an unprecedented set of investments particularly in K-12 STEM education.

The 2011 Budget would increase total education spending nationwide by about 6 percent. The proposal currently would invest a total of $3.7 billion in STEM education programs across the federal government, including an historic $1 billion commitment to improve math/science achievement among K-12 students – an increase of over 40 percent.

Under the President’s proposed budget, New Mexico may see tax cuts for 700,000 families; $262.1 million for schools, students, and teachers; $871 million in new funding for Pell Grants to help families pay for college; and a pay raise for the 14,400 men and women in New Mexico serving in our Armed Forces. According to White House calculations, the proposal contains at least $437.6 million for New Mexico’s elementary and secondary schools, students, and teachers.  It also proposes $245.8 million in Pell Grants to help more than 61,500 New Mexican students afford college.

The president also stressed that every child deserves a world-class education in New Mexico.

Here are the highlights:

• The president’s budget makes college more affordable for an estimated 77,000 New Mexico residents by increasing the maximum Pell Grant for college students for the next school year to $5,550.
• The president also wants to eliminate middlemen in student loans, bypassing banks and putting the funds directly in the hands of students. This would save an estimated $5 billion next year in subsidies for the banks, and $48 billion during the next decade. The savings would be invested in our students, increasing Pell awards across the country.  In New Mexico, the President’s plan would boost Pell funding by $871 million between now and 2019.
• The budget makes permanent the $2,500 American Opportunity Tax Credit for people attending college while also proposing to cut the red tape on financial aid, making it easier for students and their parents to apply for assistance.
• The budget invests $123.1 million for state and local educational initiatives throughout New Mexico which strengthen student achievement in low-income areas. These funds would provide additional assistance to teachers and schools as they implement innovative approaches to raising student performance.
• The budget provides New Mexico $23.1 million to help increase students’ academic achievement by boosting teacher training efforts and expanding recruitment efforts for teachers and principals in “high-need” school districts.
• The budget provides $12.4 million for the School Breakfast program and $55 million for the School Lunch program.

These proposed investments within the president’s budget support the next generation of learners by helping states develop and implement math and science instructional practices that are aligned to rigorous college-and career-ready standards and by supporting districts and non-profit organizations that develop, implement, and evaluate promising and effective programs. It also aims to increase STEM literacy so that students learn deeply and think critically by strengthening STEM education opportunities for all students.

This boost in investments towards STEM outcomes will help drive economic growth in the coming decades. The proposed budget provides $300 million in new grants to states to develop and implement instructional practices and improve teaching and learning in science and math aligned to new high standards. The budget also dedicates $150 million within the Investing in Innovation Fund to competitive grants for school districts, non-profits, and other organizations to test, validate, and scale promising strategies to improve teaching and accelerate student learning in STEM subjects.

The president’s budget proposes a bold strategy to foster educational excellence, advance equity and opportunity, improve student achievement, reward successful outcomes, invest in innovation, and prepare our nation’s children for global competitiveness. If approved as presented, it will have a substantial impact on the lives of our students.

But, there is a need for urgent action.

Our nation’s eighth graders are scoring below their peers from many Asian and European countries in math and science, and we are neither adequately closing the achievement gaps in math and science nor providing adequate opportunities for many students from diverse backgrounds.

Among the many challenges the U.S. faces today, few are as important as finding, encouraging and training more students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. If we are to stem the flow of jobs and foster innovation in our state and throughout the nation, STEM education simply must be a higher priority.

Innovate-Educate Announce Education Grants

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Dec. 21, 2009) – Innovate-Educate New Mexico (IENM), a statewide catalyst in 21st century education and incubator state to national education leader Innovate-Educate, announced today on behalf of Qwest Communications and New Mexico’s Affiliate Chapter of the International Society for Technology in Education (NMSTE) have awarded five grants totaling $25,000 to qualifying education projects in New Mexico.

The qualification process opened in the fall with several applicants. Through the selection process, three projects each were funded at $5,000 along with one at $4,000 and another at $3,000. The remaining $3,000 will be used towards travel and expenses for grant recipients at this spring’s statewide teacher conference in Albuquerque.

“Innovate-Educate applauds Qwest for their partnership in advancing innovations in teaching and learning and recognizing the tremendous needs for funding and resources for their projects,” said Jamai Blivin, Executive Director of Innovate-Educate and Innovate-Educate New Mexico. “We commend New Mexico teachers for their vision and passion for technology and STEM education.”

“Improving education in the communities where our customers live and work is a priority for the Qwest Foundation,” said Loretta A. Armenta, Qwest’s president for New Mexico. “At its heart, the Qwest Teachers and Technology grant program is designed to better prepare New Mexican students to compete and succeed in our technology-driven world by helping teachers get technology into their classrooms to introduce and reinforce key concepts.”

“NMSTE was thrilled to see so many high-quality applications from teachers across the state of New Mexico,” added Jill Brown, NMSTE President. “We want to thank Qwest and Innovate-Educate for this wonderful professional development opportunity. We also want to thank the winning teachers and fellow professionals who will use this to continue to help prepare productive citizens for New Mexico in the 21st Century.”

Receiving a $5,000 grant was Sierra Media Magnet for their Las Cruces Heroes Film Project at Sierra Middle School. No other middle school in the southern part of the entire state offers this amount of intensified curricula – featuring magnets for media, dance, science, theater, and piano just to name a few.

Math for a New Generation at Peñasco Middle School received $5,000 towards increasing the ratio of computers to students in math to 1:1 while exploring real-world issues and the use mathematic and technologic tools to engage in issue-related discussions; and familiarize students with technology-driven learning environments.

The third $5,000 grant was awarded for the 21st Century Guide to Roadside Geology at Vista Grande High School. Dubbed the “Best Virtual Fieldtrip on the Internet,” the junior and senior classes will be leading an expedition into the roadside geology of New Mexico; from which they will share their knowledge through a digital recreation of the Halka Chronic book, “A Roadside Guide to Geology of New Mexico.”

Online Advanced Placement Computer Science and Supercomputing Challenge received $4,000 for their ongoing commitment to offering Advanced Placement Computer Science (APCS) to schools throughout New Mexico. The overarching goal is to give all students throughout New Mexico, both rural and urban, an opportunity to prepare for post-secondary academic programs that require a fundamental background in computing principles.

Picacho Middle School will receive $3,000 to create Media Public Service Announcements. The team-teachers will facilitate student experiences in creating announcements to be played on closed circuit television and low-powered AM radio. Students will create video and audio about important topics that affect middle school students and the community at large.

Innovate-Educate also is pleased to announce the dates to the NMSTE/IENM Innovations in Leadership & Learning Conference on Thursday, April 22 and Friday, April 23, at the Marriott Pyramid in Albuquerque. This annual event brings together state and national leaders in industry, education, and government to coordinate existing efforts and collaborate on new ideas that engage students in the science and engineering fields to prepare a competitive workforce in the U.S. Last year, nearly 700 attended this event.

IE Driving National STEM movement

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (May 12, 2009) – Innovate-Educate New Mexico (IENM), a statewide catalyst in 21st century education, today announced that nearly 700 technology industry executives, educators and government officials from all over the country participated in the inaugural IENM conference earlier this month at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The non-profit group also sees this event as just the beginning to a bigger, national movement that supports improvements in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

IENM 2009 provided three days of dynamic collaboration and brought together state and national leaders in industry, education, and government to coordinate existing efforts and collaborate on new ideas that better engage students specifically in STEM fields. Organizers also did it an interesting way – including talk show formats such as “The View” and “The Late Show with David Letterman” (which surprisingly featured a live band) as well as a presidential-style debate and remarks from several of the state’s top elected officials.

New Mexico Lt. Gov. Diane Denish opened the conference and talked about the concept of an “Edu-conomy” – her vision of a seamless intersection of education and the economy. “We need an exemplary investment in education and human capital in New Mexico,” said Denish. “Together, we can build and invest in every citizen in the state through collaborative efforts just like we are seeing here today at Innovate-Educate New Mexico.”

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico) via video presentation talked about the success of the America COMPETES Act as well as new legislation currently in House committee called the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation Act of 2009 (H.R. 558). “Science and technology are at the heart of nation’s ability to compete in a global economy and to solve our most pressing challenges,” added Bingamam. “Our future hinges on the next generation of scientists and engineers. I look forward to continuing to work with Innovate-Educate New Mexico.”

Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) commented that New Mexico schools and our economy will perform at a higher level if students know that every day puts them one step closer to a good job in a growing industry. Udall added, “Innovate-Educate New Mexico has put together an impressive team that will give our students a crucial advantage and ensure that our country remains competitive. I look forward to our continued work together.”

Representatives from nearly 20 of the world’s top IT companies have joined the IENM Board of Directors and will provide the thought leadership needed to steer the organization in today’s global economy. IENM Chairman and Intel’s Corporate Affairs Director for New Mexico and Texas Jami Grindatto says he sees IENM as a major step in the work to advance education in New Mexico and nationwide by helping to build a motivated and prepared workforce. Adds Grindatto, “We are all in this together, and we must work together in a collaborative, systematic way to ensure our students receive the education that stimulates their intellectual curiosity and maximizes their creative talents.”

Education continues to play a central role in addressing the challenges of the 21st century and is crucial for the development of knowledge-based economies. By IENM initiating such a unique educational effort that creates new opportunities and fosters new ideas on a state and national level, it may just serve as a the first straightforward model this county has seen for delivering systematic improvements in engineering and science education by applying best practices in a coordinated and methodical way.

Dr. Ray Johnson, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Lockheed Martin commented on the event, the role Innovate-Educate New Mexico will have in the future, and the critical nature of improving today’s educational system. “At Lockheed Martin, we clearly understand the need to nurture an interest in STEM education to develop a new generation of students to become tomorrow’s technology leaders. A younger generation, with an aptitude for science and a desire to pursue technical career fields, is vital to our corporation and essential to our competitiveness as a nation,” says Johnson. “Lockheed Martin is proud to be partnered with Innovate-Educate New Mexico in preparing the statewide vision for STEM education and technology literacy in New Mexico schools.”

New Mexico has made great strides in learning and promoting STEM education, including the creation of the New Mexico Public Education Math & Science Bureau in July 2006. However, New Mexico will face a severe shortage of scientists and engineers over the next decade if we can’t reach students quickly and effectively.

IENM Executive Director Jamai Blivin concludes that IENM will seek to have a positive effect on our education system by continuing to support invigorating and inspiring curriculum, internships, mentorships and industry involvement. “This can be accomplished through collaboration throughout the state as well as across the U.S.,” adds Blivin. “We are honored to have the leadership of IT experts from across the country as well as top education advisors from across New Mexico involved. Technology has been the driving force of our economy for the last 50 years, and it will continue to be for the next 50. In order for New Mexico to remain competitive today, we must build systems that increase education attainment and success.”

Industry Supports Innovate-Educate

Blackboard, Cisco, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Qwest among the many endorsing inaugural event

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (April 22, 2009) – Technology industry leaders from across the United States will join forces next week to support innovation and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in New Mexico at Innovate-Educate New Mexico (IENM) Conference 2009 scheduled April 30 through May 2 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Representatives from nearly 20 of the county’s top IT companies have joined the IENM Board of Directors to provide a statewide vision for preparing New Mexico students to compete in today’s global economy. These companies also will partner with other education visionaries from across the state to provide a framework for the future. Next week’s conference is the first major step in the work to advance education in New Mexico by helping to build a motivated and prepared workforce.

Jessie Woolley-Wilson, president of K-12 education for Blackboard, Inc, will provide the keynote during the N.M. Public Education Ed Tech Bureau portion of the conference on April 30. She also is scheduled to speak during IENM Conference 2009.

“Today’s students have to be prepared for jobs and industries that don’t even exist yet, and they must continually refresh and update their skills as the global context changes,” explains Woolley-Wilson. “These are very real challenges, but fortunately we have real solutions with which to address them, To that end, Blackboard is pleased to be partnered with IENM in an effort to find ways to increase educational opportunity and engagement to help accelerate the adoption of 21st century skills for learners at all levels.”

Pete Cevenini, K-12 Education Lead for Cisco System’s U.S. Public Sector, notes the critical importance of STEM education and students being prepared for the future workforce. “With the increased competition from every part of the globe, New Mexico is working to provide New Mexico students with the key skills that will keep them competitive,” says Cevenini. “Cisco is proud to be a partner in this movement.”

Dr. Chris Dede of Harvard University and one of the nation’s foremost experts in innovative learning technologies will participate in The Great Debate during the second day of the conference on May 1. Dr. Dede, along with other national leaders, will debate “presidential style” as to what must happen to transform education in both New Mexico and in the U.S. “This is a time when states have exciting opportunities for transformational use of new technologies to improve students’ educational outcomes,” states Dede. “This conference will provide an exciting focus for innovations that enhance curriculum, instruction, assessment, and community involvement in learning.”

Microsoft Corporation also has signed on as an organizational partner and remains committed to partnering with New Mexico to help young people develop the science and technology skills that will facilitate their full participation in the U.S. workforce. Carla Faini, K-12 Academic Programs Manager at Microsoft says, “Students that graduate from high school and college with strong skills in these fields will play a key role in helping businesses innovate and drive out of this difficult economic environment.”

Organizers are expecting nearly 600 in attendance. IENM Conference 2009 will provide three days of dynamic collaboration that includes both keynote addresses and panel discussions by leading local and national experts. Participants also will have the opportunity to network and visit exhibits displaying programs that students across New Mexico are working on now to prepare themselves for the future.

Focus areas include higher education; K-12 educators and leadership; industry, technology leaders and chambers of commerce; government officials; economic development leaders; and state/national legislators. The last day also features the eighth annual RoboRAVE Robotics Competition.

Space is limited, and the event is nearly at capacity.

Qwest Supports IENM 2009 Conference

Innovate-Educate New Mexico Announces Speakers for Inaugural Event

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 26, 2009) – Qwest Communications has joined other visionary companies across the U.S. today in support of Innovate-Educate New Mexico’s (IENM) first national conference to advance STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and ICT (information, communication and technology) digital education on April 30, May 1 and May 2 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

“Qwest is proud to partner with Innovate-Educate New Mexico to positively impact students in the areas of engineering and science education,” said Loretta A. Armenta, Qwest president for New Mexico. “This relationship continues and expands our commitment to education, educators and students in New Mexico in order to better equip students for the future.”

The goal of IENM 2009 Conference is to initiate collaboration between industry, education and government to advance 21st century technologies in the classroom, engage students in areas that will peak their interest in science and technology fields, and keep them engaged so they remain enrolled in the school system and pursue a higher education degree. Participants will have the opportunity to network and visit exhibits displaying innovative programs, engaging education platforms, and state-of-the-art technologies being used in 21st century classrooms across the U.S.

Some of the conference’s confirmed speakers from across the U.S. include:

Bill Valdez, Director, Office of Workforce Development, U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Office of Science; Judith D’Amico, Director, U.S. Relations, Project Lead the Way; Jan Morrison, Executive Director TIES and Senior STEM Consultant for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Merrilea J. Mayo, Director of Future Learning Initiatives, Kauffman Foundation; Michael Belcher, Education Solution Director, HP; Senator Eric Reeves (N.C.), Schooldude; Jessie Woolley-Wilson, President, K-12 at Blackboard Inc.; Andy Bell, Robotics U.S. Education Director, LEGO Education North America; Michael Schmedlen, Global Education Director at Lenovo; Pete Cevenini, Cisco Systems, U.S. Lead, (Internet Business Solutions Group); Dr. William Graves, Sungard Higher Ed, Senior VP, Academic Strategies; Kim Adams, Vice President of Human Resources, Lockheed Martin, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Norm Hollyn, USC School of Cinematic Arts; Celeste Alleyne and Dr. Carla Faini, Microsoft Corporation; Colleen Jenkins, SAS, U.S. P-20 Industry-Education Strategist; and Bill Bowman, Regional VP, Apple, Inc.

CLICK HERE to view our full speaker line-up and biographies.

This will be an eye-opening event with a dynamic agenda to engage K-12, higher education, non-profit education, industry and government participants. Focus areas include higher education, K-12 educators and leadership, industry, technology leaders and government officials, economic development leaders and state/national legislators. The last day features the 8th Annual RoboRAVE Robotics Competition where more than 350 middle and high school students will compete for cash, awards, trophies, banners and prizes with line-following robots.