Introduction

The status of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States has been well publicized and documented. The United States is not meeting its current or projected needs for engineers and scientists with ominous portents for our nation’s future and posterity.

Headquartered at the Fayette Institute of Commerce and Technology in Uniontown Pennsylvania, nCASE is an outgrowth of the Center for the Advancement of STEM Education (CASE), established in June 2006 with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), National Defence Education Program (NDEP). nCASE continues to be a response to President Bush’s 2006 State-of-the-Union Address during which he announced the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) to encourage American innovation and strengthen our nation’s ability to compete in the global economy. This ambitious strategy increased federal investment in critical research as part of its efforts to ensure that the U.S. continues to lead the world in opportunity and innovation and provide American children with a strong foundation in math and science.

nCASE believes that a comprehensive and balanced program is needed; one that excites the curiosity of learners and that trains and supports teachers as they adopt new, dynamic instructional strategies.

One promising teaching innovation is inquiry- and design-based instruction (I&D). Although the methodology has roots that can be traced back to John Dewey, it has never been practiced on a wide scale in America’s STEM classrooms. The approach is now experiencing a resurgence of interest and vitality. Teachers are being trained in the method, and instructional materials are being created to support their efforts in the classroom.

Dynamic customized training programs include the latest technology and cutting-edge best practices to better prepare teachers for the 21st-century classroom. A variety of instructional tools are utilized, including Materials World Modules (MWM), developed by Dr. Robert Chang at Northwestern University, and DimensionM, developed by DimensionU, Richmond, Virginia. nCASE is training teachers to integrate current technology, such as: robots, 3D printers, iPads/tablets, cell phones, educational "games," digital cameras, etc.

The youth of today are completely comfortable with every aspect of technology. This millenial generation are technically literate like none before it. Thus, classrooms cannot be conducted as they were in the past. Teachers have no choice but to fully integrate technology into their curricula if they hope to keep their students excited about learning.

A unique component of nCASE’s training is its incorporation of STEM professionals. nCASE works with designated DoD laboratories and corporate partners across the nation to integrate their scientists and engineers (S&Es) into the training process with the educators. This creates mutual respect for one another’s perspectives, experiences and areas of expertise. Following training, the S&Es visit the classrooms of their local nCASE-trained teachers (when possible) and provide a "real-world" perspective to the classroom, which brings the STEM instruction to life.

A support system includes a variety of mechanisms designed to ensure that the teachers and students are able to use the new tools and techniques they have learned. Support includes demonstration projects, additional training, research opportunities, administrative oversight, and ongoing assistance from nCASE trainers.

nCASE works with local, regional, state, and national partners from around the country representing education, government, armed forces, economic development, non-profit, and private business sectors to create training programs that immerse teachers and students in activities associated with inquiry- and design-based learning, supplement the normal science and mathematics curriculum and introduce engineering processes to the classroom learning environment.

nCASE is always interested in accepting new clients, establishing new partnerships and developing new initiatives that support its primary goal of increasing the number of students seeking STEM careers, making STEM more diverse, and improving student achievement in STEM courses.

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