Embracing Technology in the 21st-Century Classroom
Effective classrooms require the tools and resources necessary to be technologically rich environments. Professional development is required to maintain educators’ awareness and understanding of available and appropriate technology and its effective use for student learning. The understanding and use of technology are critical components of STEM education. This strand will promote the awareness, understanding, and appropriate use of technology in preK–12 and community college classrooms, vocational schools, and informal science programs to support the development of workplace skills.

Goals
To provide workshops and presentations focusing on one or more of the following:
? Effective strategies that promote student learning through use of new technologies.
? Innovative use of “old” technologies.
? Understanding and using technology in STEM education.
? Tools, resources, and funding sources that support a technologically rich classroom.
? Effective implementation models of school-wide or district-wide technology.

Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on the extent that they:
? Support the appropriate use of technology to develop workplace skills for the 21st century.
? Promote awareness and understanding of technological tools and resources.
? Align with one or more strand goals.
? Align with state and national science standards (NSES and Benchmarks).
? Are based on current and available research and issues in science.
? Involve participants through activities and/or discussion.