Forums

Whatever your SMT plan looks like, teachers should be at the center of it. They should be involved throughout the planning process. Your program will only be as strong as the people who implement it with students, so teacher training and recruitment should never lose priority. Here is a place to discuss how to attract, retain, train and involve SMT teachers.

Financing strong SMT programs can be particularly demanding. Different communities will have different needs and capabilities, but new or improved SMT programs might require more than your district thinks it can afford. On the other hand, the time and expertise that people in your community have to offer can be as valuable as any financial resource. This forum is a place to explore what resources are available and share how your district is addressing these issues.

Science, math, and technology all play a powerful role in how our society functions and students need to be conversant with them. Yet often, public controversies arise over how these subjects are taught that are damaging to students as well as communities. As policy makers and public figures, school board members are often caught squarely in the middle of these complicated issues. This forum is a place to discuss controversies in your district and share what approaches have been successful.

The world of SMT is changing so the programs in our schools need to change as well. Dynamic programs help students grow accustomed to the dynamic world they will find after graduation. This forum is a place to ask questions and share stories about new and successful programs.

Education doesn’t happen only in schools, and teachers aren’t the only educators. Schools depend on their communities for resources and support. Building strong SMT programs depends on a community’s recognizing that SMT is important and understanding why. This forum is place to discuss ways that school boards can increase and benefit from strong community support for SMT programs.

Continuous assessment is a necessary part of improvement efforts because corrections will need to be made along the way. This is as true for SMT programs as for any other. In recent years, federal policies have required regular testing in order to ensure that standards are being met. But assessment has to go beyond high-stakes testing. This forum is a place to discuss how best to assess students in science, mathematics, and technology and evaluate SMT programs.

The SMarT Training Program for Board Members was created to help state associations of local school boards provide board development around science , mathematics, and technology education issues. The training materials consist of PowerPoing presentations, facilitator guides and participant manuals and were designed to be simple and straightforward even for those with little personal experience with these issues. Here is where trainers and board members can talk about their experiences with the materials.