NEWS FROM IEEE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND THE HISTORY CENTER

(3rd Quarter 2005)

 

IEEE XELL [a.k.a. EXPERT NOW IEEE] GAINS SOCIETIES’ SUPPORT

IEEE XELL [a.k.a. Expert Now IEEE] is a new, innovative product line being developed by IEEE Educational Activities (EAB) in collaboration with Societies and Councils to produce interactive, on-line educational modules. Topics for these modules come from the tutorials offered at IEEE Conferences and they are being presented by the actual “experts” themselves. These modules are designed in a way that makes them very accessible to most members and can help meet their Continuing Education needs. Through 2005, Expert Now IEEE development is being supported by IEEE New Initiative funding and EAB budget contributions. In 2006 and onward, the IEEE Technical Societies and Councils will allocate funds in their budgets for the continued development of Expert Now IEEE modules. At the same time, Societies and Councils will receive the full net distribution from the sales of Expert Now IEEE to corporations, government and academia. As of June 1, EAB has received preliminary commitments from 13 Societies (in addition to possibly funding from IEEE GOLD for two modules) resulting in the allocation of approximately $440,000 for developing modules in 2006. We are well within reach of our target of $600K which is needed to produce 30 modules at $20K a piece. The overwhelming support (both financially and in contributions of content) provided by the Societies helps to demonstrate the importance of this project to IEEE and its members and customers. We are looking forward to receiving confirmation from other Societies regarding their participation in the project. IEEE and the Thomson Corporation are currently working as partners on a strategy to market and sell the product worldwide.

 

For more information on IEEE Expert Now and how it relates to the Societies and Councils, please visit www.ieee.org/education/xell/society.html or contact Tara Gallus at 732.562.5499, t.gallus@ieee.org or Marilyn Catis at 732.562.5323, mg.catis@ieee.org.

 

THE IEEE VIRTUAL MUSEUM

As mentioned last issue, The IEEE Virtual Museum (VM)—IEEE’s award-winning outreach site for pre-college youth and the general public that uniquely combines engineering principles with the history and social context of technology—can be a resource for Section members, their families, and their local community.  The VM has now opened its eighth exhibit, “Songs in the Key of E,” about electronic music.  Be sure to visit the VM at (http://www.ieee.org/museum).

 

IEEE REGION 3 LEADS EXPANSION OF TEACHER IN-SERVICE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

IEEE Educational Activities and Region 3 are working together to increase Section partnerships with their local school systems through the implementation of the Teacher In-Service Program (TISP). TISP features IEEE volunteers developing and presenting technologically oriented subject matter to educators in a professional development or “in-service” setting. In the last four years, IEEE volunteers have made 30 presentations to 581 pre-college teachers within 4 Regions in the United States and South Africa.

 

The institutionalization of TISP is an important component in the recently launched Center for Pre-College Engineering Education, which is an umbrella organization of engineering professional associations and educational professional associations, dedicated to increasing the propensity of young people worldwide to choose engineering as a career path.

 

A training session for Section volunteers who are willing to champion the program will be held on 23 July 2005 at the Hilton Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. The training session will cover how to organize volunteers for TISP, and how to work with local school districts regarding the program.

 

Participation in the TISP is not only an excellent opportunity for volunteerism, but also an optimal way to enhance a local community’s knowledge of engineering concepts and the benefit of engineers. TISP benefits teachers by providing hands-on experience and knowledge of a technical subject, materials to use in class with their students, and a greater understanding of engineers and the engineering profession. Teachers that participate in TISP can enhance the quality of their technical teaching skills and increase the probability of introducing their students to the engineering profession.

 

For more information on the upcoming TISP training session or TISP participation, please contact: Doug Gorham, +1 732 562 5483, d.g.gorham@ieee.org, or Allison Ickowicz, +1 732 562 5496, a.m.ickowicz@ieee.org.

 

MILESTONES

Sections are urged to get involved in local history, particularly through the Milestones Program which is designed to help Sections promote the importance of the engineer and engineering in their local communities (see http://www.ieee.org/organizations/history_center/milestones_program.html).  For example, a number of members of the IEEE Santa Clara Valley Section are involved in trying to create a museum honoring the development of magnetic disk storage. The dedication of the RAMAC as an IEEE Milestone on 26 May 2005 has led the San Jose City Council to pass a resolution supporting the idea of the museum (http://www.magneticdiskheritagecenter.org/).  

 

Meanwhile, in addition to the three Milestones approved by the IEEE ExCom at their February meeting, mentioned in the previous e-newsletter, another was added at their April meeting: “Taum Sauk Pumped Storage Electric Power Plant, 1963” (IEEE St. Louis Section, Region 5).  Three more nominations are on the ExCom agenda for June. It looks like 2005 is going to be another record year for the program.  General info on the program is at: http://www.ieee.org/organizations/history_center/milestones_program.html.

 

 2005 IEEE FOUNDATION IEEE PRESIDENTS’ SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Designing, building and optimizing a low cost, compact gyro-based servo stabilization device for a professional hand-held motion picture camera earned Adam Daniel Sidman, a 17 year old junior from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado the 2005 IEEE Foundation IEEE Presidents’ Scholarship. The winning project, “Camera Stabilization: Take 2” was awarded at the 56th Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) which was held in Phoenix, Arizona from 8-14 May.

 

Adam’s father, Dr. Michael D. Sidman, serves as an engineering consultant and is an IEEE Senior Member. This is the first time the Presidents’ Scholarship has been awarded to the child of an IEEE member.

 

A high school junior, Adam has not yet selected a university, but ultimately intends to study both film and engineering in college. He believes that engineering and film can be applied together, and feels that his future career lies in the conjunction of the two disciplines.

 

Further details of Adam’s project will be discussed in an article in the upcoming on-line issue of The Institute.

 

IEEE MEMBERSHIP PORTAL

We hope all Section members are taking advantage of the new IEEE Membership Portal.  The IEEE History Center is supplying interesting content which will be featured on the main page.  Visit it at http://www.ieee.org/myieee.

 

A FEW GOOD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 2005 NATIONAL SCOUT JAMBOREE

A few good volunteers are still needed to teach scouts the basics of electricity and electronics this summer at the 2005 National Scout Jamboree.  Volunteers are needed for the IEEE Electronics Merit Badge Booth.  IEEE and BSA members from around the country have already volunteered to help.  Interested volunteers can sign up at www.emeritbadges.org. Volunteers that can help for a day or two are needed.

 

The Jamboree will be held in Carolina County, VA at Fort A. P. Hill from 25 July – 3 August 2005.  Questions should be sent to Ralph W. Russell, II at emeritbadges@ieee.org.

 

 

ESSENTIAL TEACHING SEMINAR 23 -25 JUNE

ASME, ASCE, IEEE and AIChE are pleased to offer the Essential Teaching Seminars for Engineering Faculty (ETS), designed to enhance the instructional leadership skills of engineering and engineering technology faculty and focus their actions on strategies critical to improving the quality of student learning.  Information on the Essential Teaching Seminars can be found at http://www.asme.org/education/prodev/teach/index.html.

 

Our next Essential Teaching Seminar is going to be held June 23-25, 2005 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.  These workshops can enhance the art and craft of teaching for engineering and engineering technology faculty - regardless of their experience or engineering discipline - and will help them to apply the theory and principles behind effective learning, increase their repertoire of techniques, and practice planning and teaching techniques in a supportive collegial setting.

 

Participants will prepare and teach actual classes in small group settings, with each class videotaped and assessed by faculty mentors and other participants. This collaborative "learn by doing" format ensures that participants will make substantive gains by the end of the workshop. Each workshop is limited to 30 participants, and participants will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis.  If you have any questions about the workshop application process, please contact Marian Heller at mailto:hellerm@asme.org or (212) 591-7079.

 

The $300 registration fee includes all workshop materials and scheduled meals.  Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodations.

 

Hotel Information: Four Points by Sheraton, BWI Airport.  When making your reservation, mention that you are attending the ASME seminar to receive the UMBC rate of $129 per day.  Please make your reservation before June 1, 2005 to receive the group rate.

 

7032 Elm Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21240, Phone (410) 859-3300, Fax (410) 859-0565.

 

TO REGISTER FOR THE ETS NOW: http://www.asme.org/education/prodev/teach

 

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ABOUT IEEE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

The IEEE Educational Activities Board is responsible for coordinating the educational activities of the IEEE. The volunteer and staff members of IEEE Educational Activities carry out this responsibility by developing educational programs to ensure (1) The technological literacy of pre-college students, (2) the continuous maintenance and improvement of engineering education programs through active participation in accreditation activities, and (3) the development of continuing education products and services that serve the professional development and lifelong learning needs of electro-technology professionals worldwide.  For more information, visit http://www.ieee.org/organizations/eab/ or email education-services@ieee.org.

 

ABOUT THE IEEE HISTORY CENTER

The IEEE History Center is a staff unit of IEEE that is located not at the IEEE Operations Center, but on the nearby New Brunswick campus of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, which cosponsors the Center’s activities.  The Center’s mission to preserve, research, and promote the legacy of IEEE technologies is overseen by the IEEE History Committee, a standing committee of the IEEE Executive Committee.  Since most of the activities in carrying out this mission are educational in nature, the Staff Director of the History Center reports to the IEEE Managing Director for Educational Activities, and Center staff work closely with EAD staff on many programs.  Those interested in more information are invited to view the Center’s website (http://www.ieee.org/history_center) or to email the Center at ieee-history@ieee.org.   

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