by Arthur Winston
BALTIMORE, MD, October 14, 1998 - One hundred engineers and educators gathered on October 9-10, 1998, at the Harbor Court Hotel, in Baltimore, MD to collaborate and reach solutions for the enhancements of technological literacy for primary- and secondary-level students worldwide. The educators and engineers were part of the Technological Literacy Counts! (TLC) workshop sponsored by the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.).
The delegates represented a cross section of math, science, and technology teachers; school administrators; curriculum developers; practicing engineers and other engineering professionals; technological literacy advocates; and community leaders from the United States and other countries. During the workshop sessions, the delegates focused on the following technological literacy issues:
“When we began organizing this workshop, we knew that we wouldn’t be able to solve the issue of technological literacy in one sitting,” says Arthur Winston, Ph.D., Vice President of IEEE Educational Activities. “Our goal in bringing these individuals together, was to put the issue on the table, let them discuss it, present their suggestions and solutions, so a global TLC network can be established.”
The objective of this workshop was to open communication lines between engineers and teachers for a high-quality primary and secondary math, science, and technology education. “We hope that these 100 people will go back to their communities and convey the message about the importance of technological literacy for the future of our society,” adds Dr. Winston.
The TLC workshop is designed to serve as a forerunner for future events related to the issue of technological literacy. For more information on how to become involved in promoting technological literacy among pre-college students, please contact Barbara Coburn, IEEE Educational Activities, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854; Phone: 732.562.5498; Fax: 732.981.1686; E-mail: b.coburn@ieee.org.
This workshop was supported by Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Ford Motor Company; S.U.N.Y. Binghamton; University of Texas at Austin; IEEE Educational Activities Board; IEEE Regional Activities Board; IEEE United States Activities; IEEE Foundation; and the following IEEE Societies: Communications Society; Education Society; Electromagnetic Compatibility Society; Electron Devices Society; Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society; Power Electronics Society; Power Engineering Society; Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society; Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics Society; and Vehicular Technology Society.
The IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional society, serving the interests of more than 320,000 members in the information and electrotechnology communities in approximately 150 countries. In keeping with its “Networking the World” slogan, the IEEE helps to foster technological innovation, enable members’ careers and promote community worldwide.
Arthur Winston is the IEEE Vice President for Educational Activities, as well as a Fellow of the IEEE. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada and received his Ph.D. from MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is the Senior Associate Director of the Gordon Institute of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA. He is a Research Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Tufts. Dr. Winston received the IEEE Educational Activities Board Major Educational Innovation Award based on his work in developing and establishing the Gordon Institute program.