High-Quality STEM Education for English Learners: Current Challenges and Effective Practices

 

    On July 11, 2011, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for English Language Acquisition (OELA) hosted an forum on educating English learners in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Dr. Okhee Lee (University of Miami) and José Franco (WestEd) facilitated the meeting.

     

     

     

     

    image of participants in the forum

     

    Opening Remarks

     

    Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) 

    U.S. House of Representatives

     

    Assistant Deputy Secretary Rosalinda B. Barrera, PhD

    Office of English Language Acquisition

    U.S. Department of Education

     

    Okhee Lee, PhD 

    Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning 

    University of Miami

     

    Panel 1: Data and Research

    Panelists discuss the status of ELs’ learning and achievement in STEM education.  Panelists also address data collection and analysis methods.

     

    Guillermo Solano-Flores, PhD 

    Associate Professor 

    University of Colorado at Boulder

     

    Yuwadee Wongbundhit, PhD

    Curriculum and Instruction

    Miami-Dade County Public Schools

     

    Angelica Infante

    Executive Director, Office of English Language Learners 

    New York City Department of Education

     

    Julio Lopez-Ferrao, PhD

    Program Director, Division of Research on Learning

    National Science Foundation

     

    Panel 2: Teacher Education and Effective Practices

    Panelists discuss the current status of teacher preparation for the STEM subjects as well as provide suggestions for effective professional development for teachers of ELs. Practitioners on this panel present effective practices they have implemented in the classroom.

     

    Cory Buxton, PhD
    Associate Professor
    University of Georgia


    Michelle Shearer
    2011 National Teacher of the Year
    National Teacher of the Year Program


    Erick Pérez
    Teacher, Harbor Heights Academy (MS349)
    New York City Department of Education


    Patricia Simmons, PhD

    President of National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and
    Department Head Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education, North Carolina State University

     

    Panel 3: Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

    Panelists discuss the importance of parent, family, and community engagement and its long-term effects on EL academic achievement. Practitioners share effective practices.



    Sharon Nelson-Barber, EdD
    President  and CEO
    Pacific Resources for Education and Learning


    Ricardo Rincon

    Teacher, Monte Vista Elementary School
     Las Cruces Public Schools


    Aurelio Montemayor
    Senior Education Associate
    Intercultural Development Research Association


    Charles Galindo Jr.
    Principal Scientist, Astrobiology Lab Manager
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration

     

    Panel 4: Public/Private Partnerships

    Panelists discuss the impact of collaborative endeavors and partnerships for reforming and transforming STEM education for ELs. 

     

    Rogelio Botello
    Lead Engineer

    Motorola Solutions Inc.


    Gerard Kovach
    Teacher, Ruben Salazar Bilingual School
    Chicago Public Schools

    [Note: Rogelio Botello and Gerarch Kovach collaborated to produce a single presentation.]


    Paula Hooper, PhD
    Senior Science Educator, Learning Research Scientist Institute for Inquiry
    Exploratorium Museum of Science


    Juan (Tony) Castilleja Jr.

    Founder
    DREAM Program at Rice University

     

    Further Resources