Education Experts to Brief Congress on Revolutionary Science, Math And Engineering Initiatives for K-12 Classrooms

    WARRENDALE, Pa., March 30 Two university professors with
novel ideas about how to teach math and science effectively in K-12 classrooms
of the U.S., will educate Congress and top Congressional staffers at a special
breakfast briefing in the Rayburn House Office Building from 8-9:30 a.m. on
Wednesday, April 4.
    Moderated by Michigan Congressman Dr. Vernon Ehlers, chair of the House
Science Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards, "Engineering
Our Future With Partnerships" is designed to inform House members and their
staffs about the latest techniques for getting elementary, middle and high
school students interested in pursuing careers in math, science and
engineering.
    Ioannis Miaoulis, Dean of Engineering, Tufts University will discuss his
innovative plan of "elementary engineering," that has already been adopted by
the state of Massachusetts as a mandatory part of the pre-school through 12th
grade education curriculum.  Miaoulis wants to identify at least one
engineering school in each state that would join Tufts in a partnership to
bring engineering into a child's experience.
    Dr. Charles Lovas, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, at
Southern Methodist University, will describe how he is implementing The
Science, Math, Engineering and Technology (SMET) program in Texas schools.
SMET is a cooperative effort of industry, engineering societies, school
districts, community, and K-8 teachers of English, math, science, social
studies and technology.  Lovas' program uses the nationally acclaimed A World
in Motion (AWIM) materials developed and classroom-tested by the Society of
Automotive Engineers Foundation as the vehicle for introducing science, math
and technology.
    During the A World in Motion experience, students work together in
"engineering design teams" as they explore mathematics and physics through a
series of hands-on, inquiry-based learning activities.
    Seven different engineering organizations are sponsoring the breakfast
briefing.  They include the American Association of Engineering Societies
(AAES), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE), the International Technology Education Association (ITEA),
the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE).
    For more information or to attend this special briefing, call Patti Burgio
at 202-785-7385.