Friday, October 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Waiting for Superman
There is still a long way to go in giving every single American a fair chance of good education. On the average the proficiency on Math is poor and puts America globaly somewhere in second league.
The documentary by Davis Guggenheim (the inconvenient truth) is, and I quote the Huffington Post:
"Nothing less than a wake-up call to all Americans. It is both a searing indictment of our education system and a desperate call-to-action to save our struggling schools."
For whom it may concern, Waiting for Superman is a must see documentary.
Click here for the trailer
Monday, October 11, 2010
Chicago Musuem of Science and Industry
Dr Rabiah Mayas (Science Director at Center for the Advancement of Science Education, Museum of Science and Industry) did mention it a couple of times. The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry is the largest on the western hemisphere.
And you know what? I even think that its the most impressive I've seen.
You will need a day to explore but its worth it. From a Marvel comic style locomotive up to the stunning state of the art exhibition 'Science Storms'.
Afterwards a informal meeting with the Education team. Hands on science. Science Rocks!
And you know what? I even think that its the most impressive I've seen.
You will need a day to explore but its worth it. From a Marvel comic style locomotive up to the stunning state of the art exhibition 'Science Storms'.
Afterwards a informal meeting with the Education team. Hands on science. Science Rocks!
The Mesa project (there are always two sides of the story)
This morning we met Mr C.J. Dancer at the University of Washington. Mr Dancer is the Director of the Seattle Mathematics Science and Engineering Achievement (MESA) and he is the living example of what MESA can do for you.
Seattle MESA prepares the underserved minorities for college in STEM fields starting in elementary school, and continuing through high school.
During this tour we met al lot of people and companies involved with improving the educational system. Most bigger companies put a lot of effort and money into even more initiatives. And it is not always about the money. Most funding programs are well managed. Improving STEM education for the underserved minorities, it is number one on the list. As well as supporting the parents.
With all respect, there are some gaps.
In the Seattle area there is a lot of poverty. Although most schools look nice, student/teacher ratio can be up to 35/1. Often enthusiastic teachers but uncertified. No books.
Most of the children raised by one parent doing two / three jobs to survive.
Older kids more or less raising their younger brothers and sisters.
Why?
A closed mouth won't get fed.
After all the meetings we had, I'm sure that the intentions are legitimate but there is still a lot of work to be done.
MESA gives the students some after school structure trying to get the kids of the streets.
Success stories? Mr Dancer is and was one of these kids.
Seattle MESA prepares the underserved minorities for college in STEM fields starting in elementary school, and continuing through high school.
During this tour we met al lot of people and companies involved with improving the educational system. Most bigger companies put a lot of effort and money into even more initiatives. And it is not always about the money. Most funding programs are well managed. Improving STEM education for the underserved minorities, it is number one on the list. As well as supporting the parents.
With all respect, there are some gaps.
In the Seattle area there is a lot of poverty. Although most schools look nice, student/teacher ratio can be up to 35/1. Often enthusiastic teachers but uncertified. No books.
Most of the children raised by one parent doing two / three jobs to survive.
Older kids more or less raising their younger brothers and sisters.
Why?
A closed mouth won't get fed.
After all the meetings we had, I'm sure that the intentions are legitimate but there is still a lot of work to be done.
MESA gives the students some after school structure trying to get the kids of the streets.
Success stories? Mr Dancer is and was one of these kids.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Meeting at the BOEING compagny
Again arriving at a large globally represented company, the professionalism is on a high level. Including a to the point presentation. STEM education is widely supported and Boeing has a strong strategy on that.
First let me share some facts to visualize the magnitude of the Boeing company.
Boeing employs 157.000 employees over 49 states and 70 countries. They've got costumers in 90 countries with a total revenue of 68.3 billion dollar. (voor de Nederlanders onder ons, dit is 68.3 milard dollar).
Like most of the bigger companies we visited it is not only about granting (the money). They all show a commitment to collaborate with all the parties involved. But everyone has its own strategy. (Obviously)
Boeings main STEM education principals are:
First let me share some facts to visualize the magnitude of the Boeing company.
Boeing employs 157.000 employees over 49 states and 70 countries. They've got costumers in 90 countries with a total revenue of 68.3 billion dollar. (voor de Nederlanders onder ons, dit is 68.3 milard dollar).
Like most of the bigger companies we visited it is not only about granting (the money). They all show a commitment to collaborate with all the parties involved. But everyone has its own strategy. (Obviously)
Boeings main STEM education principals are:
- STEM for everyone( Minorities and underserved youth)
- Strong parent involvement
- Social, emotional and cognitive skills to develop in the first 5 years!
- Learning starts at Birth
- Become and remain economoly self sufficient
- communicative effective
- Participate in civic programs
- Learn, Unlearn and Relearn. (flexible but interesting!)
- Focus on future.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Glenbrook North High School
The people at Glenbrook arranged a special program which enabled us to visit any science class at random (Phisics and Biology)
Again we witnessed some enthusiastic teachers. Given just the right amount of answers and information to let the students solve the problems by themselves.
The classroom atmosphere is good and the students really did want to get into the matter. (not only because the 'United Nations' watched their back;-)
Immediately afterwards I was being interviewed by some nice students for (I guess) the school newspaper. (could some of you guys please contact me?)
It is always nice to see a enthusiastic team in action.
Again we witnessed some enthusiastic teachers. Given just the right amount of answers and information to let the students solve the problems by themselves.
The classroom atmosphere is good and the students really did want to get into the matter. (not only because the 'United Nations' watched their back;-)
Immediately afterwards I was being interviewed by some nice students for (I guess) the school newspaper. (could some of you guys please contact me?)
It is always nice to see a enthusiastic team in action.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
For those who think I am having a kind of vacation.
I'm here for one and a half week. (Also halfway the programm)
We had 26 different meetings till now. Beat that!!!
Did I mention we had 26 meetings?
We had 26 different meetings till now. Beat that!!!
Did I mention we had 26 meetings?
The last two days in Chicago
Just a glimp of a normal workingday for me in the U.S.
- 7.00 am Have some breakfast with my collegues
- prepare todays meetings and Videoskype with my wife and kids!!!
- 9.00 am Meet Pontarelli limo service in front of the hotel
- 10.00 am First meeting at the Motorola Foundation with Matthew Blakeley (Manager) and Eileen Sweeney(director of Motorola giving and Philantropic Relations)
- 11.00 am Meet Pontarelli Limo (our great driver is Dereck)
- 11.45 Arrive at DePaul University for a Luncheon with Julie Emms, Communications Manager. and representatives from DePaul Math & Science Education Faculty.
- 12.45 pm meet Dereck to go to the next appointment.
- 1.30 Visit to the Glenbrook North High School. Here they arranged a special program which enables us to visit any science class at random (Phisics and Biology)
- 3.30 pm Meet Dereck again to get to Chicago again for dinner at our hotel.
- 5.00 pm Beat the traffic and arrive at The Homewood Suites Hotel
- 6.00 pm Dinner at the hotel.
- 7.00 pm visit the john Hancock tower for a nightview of Chicago. Awesome by the way!
- 9.30 pm Update the Blog, Facebook and mail my family and friends.
- twelfish. Take a shower, read some and fall alsleep.
Lucheon at DePaul University.
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