IEEE Teacher InService Program How to Begin
Yvonne Pelham, EAD
Manager, Educational
Outreach
2 September 2012
Brisbane, Queensland
Australia
How to Begin a TISP activity?
Build interest in
the membership
TISP
Build relationships
with schools and
school districts
The IEEE Volunteer and TISP
IEEE Members are very generous
with their time
IEEE Members are very willing to
share their experiences
Educational Outreach events get
enthusiastic volunteer support
Two types of TISP volunteers
TISP Champions - take responsibility to
establish and maintain a TISP program in
“their” school system
TISP Trainers - energetic supporters of the
initiative, willing to interact with teachers and
serve as “coaches” during TISP presentations
You need BOTH
TISP Champions
TISP Champions take the leadership of
organization, preparation, and logistics of the
program
Champion Roles:
–
–
–
–
–
Organizers
Recruiters
Presenters
Events Planner
Liaison with Section
Once energized, champions are self motivated
The reward for the TISP Champion is
immediate - they see their reward on the faces
of the teachers (and sometimes students)
Growing Your TISP Champions
Focus on TISP Champions - the TISP lifeline
Invite/Recruit/Draft potential IEEE Champions to
established events
Use TISP presentations to train future Champions
Use TISP presentations to cross-train the other TISP
Champions
How to Develop Champions
Teaching Approach: See one, Do one, Teach
one
Team Approach: Co-Champions support a
school or school system, but responsibilities
are spread among them
TISP Trainers
Relatively easy to recruit
Trainer Roles:
–
–
–
–
Supporters
Coaches
Kit Builders
Develop in-service content
Very effective, with minimal training, Genuinely
enjoy the experience
Their only responsibility is to "show up and do the
work”
Recruiting Volunteers
Articles placed in Section and Student
Branch newsletters
Announcements
– At Section and Student Branch meetings
– At Chapter meetings
– At Section Executive Committee meetings
Informal contacts with fellow students
Try to adjust the role of a volunteer to
his/her comfort level and time availability
Qualities Needed
Tactful communicator. Willing to play
the role of classroom assistant.
New methods of teaching - with less
telling and more doing.
Enjoy immediate gratification.
Sections must support the TISP
Champions
TISP Champions are rare and precious
Encourage Section to Champion communication
– Online forum and resources to share information
Encourage Champions to
– share ideas
– celebrate success
– lament failures
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate
Build Relationships with School
Districts, Principals and
Teachers
– Use the contacts that might already
exist between section members and the
school system.
– Follow also the suggestions given in the
IEEE on-line teacher in-service program
training.
Where to Start at the District Level?
People who have
district wide
responsibility for
staff development,
science, technology
and mathematics.
These positions
could be directors,
assistant
superintendents,
supervisors,
coordinators, etc.
– District Science
Education Coordinator
– District Technology
Education Coordinator
– District Administrator
(responsible for
curriculum)
– District Mathematics
Education Coordinator
– District Staff
Development
Coordinator
Where to Start at the School Level?
– School Principal
If you already
are working
with a
teacher…
Be sure to
coordinate
your activities
with the
school
principal.
– Deputy principal or
curriculum coordinator
– Technology Education
Coordinator
– Department Head for
Science, Math, or
Technology (middle or
high school)
– Lead teacher or
curriculum leader for
mathematics or science
(elementary school)
Plan Times and Places
Special Events
– Teacher conferences
– Meetings of teacher organizations
Places
– University Campuses
– Teacher conference venues
If you need funds for a special event
you can almost always get it if you
ask well ahead of time
Sample Presentation Outline
Introduction/Background (10 min)
Objectives (5 mins)
Connection to Educational Standards (10 mins)
1 or 2 Group/Hands-on Activities
– Presentation on concepts and learning objectives
(30 mins)
– Group work (45 mins)
– Debrief and discuss applications (20 mins)
Summarization (10 mins)
General Questions/Comments (10 mins)
Distribute and collect 9-item questionnaire
Complete District forms (if applicable)
Choose Relevant Topics
Choose topics of interest to members
Adjust topics to the needs of your school
system
– Ask teachers, curriculum supervisors and
curriculum specialists what topics are needed
– Tie to education standards
Emphasize “hands-on” activities
Be careful about costs to schools – under
$100USD to replicate for a class.
We have Many Lesson Plans
Take advantage of the variety of lesson plans
available on TryEngineering.org
Reviewed by engineers and teachers
If you cannot find what you want consider creating it!
Follow-up Activities/Metrics
Count the number of educators who participated
in your teacher in-service program
Be sure that teachers complete the 9 item
questionnaire
– EAD will tabulate the results
Follow-up with teachers to determine the level of
implementation of the concepts and activities
Consider a sign in sheet to include an email
address
Consider sending a follow-up postcard/e-mail to
attendees