Pictures Represent Opportunities For Inspiration in Technology



We need to educate children for their future, not our past
~Arthur C. Clarke

The PROFIT project is centered on the idea of introducing computer vision and imaging experience into the core curriculum of mathematics. It was designed as a novel model for training mathematics teachers to use pictorial IT, for transferring exciting, appealing modules into core curricula, and as a model for mentoring students through the last of their pre-collegiate years and attract them into IT-STEM careers.

Goals:

  • Introduce modules that are technologically based using an interactive, dynamic geometry software program into the high-school mathematics curriculum. The modules are closely aligned to the Florida Sunshine State Standards for teaching Geometry.
  • Provide teachers with exciting, appealing modules developed around technology to encourage teachers to change their current method of instruction to include technology and interactive software.
  • Expose students to new and relevant technologies that will peak their interest level.
  • Mentor students during their pre-collegiate years to increase their interest in taking higher-level mathematics and science classes, with the ultimate goal being to spur their interests into IT-STEM careers
  • Provide effective professional development workshops for 60 different OCPS students and 20 OCPS teachers yearly for three consecutive years.
  • Create modules that can replace standard textbook lessons to make math more relevant and interactive. The modules are developed in such a manner that any Geometry teacher in Florida can use them to teach core curriculum.

Program Description:

The program is designed to provide experiences for 60 secondary mathematics teachers and 180 students over 36 months. Using a conservative estimate that the participating teachers each teach 100 students each year, it is estimated that 2,000 students a year will benefit from the instruction the teachers receive from PROFIT.

Each year during the three year period, 20 different secondary mathematics teachers are selected from schools form the Orange County Public School District to participate in PROFIT. The 20 teachers then select three female or minority mathematics students from their upcoming class to participate in the program.

The teachers attend a two-week PROFIT Summer Teacher Institute at UCF to learn the new software, create a lesson plan they will use in their classroom, and to have introductory lessons into pictorial computing. Later in the summer the teachers came back to UCF along with the 60 students to complete the two-week PROFIT Summer Youth Institute. During the PROFIT Summer Youth Institute the teachers are given the opportunity to teach the lesson plan(s) they created to the entire group of students. By giving teachers a practice teaching session using the newly-learned software, with the PROFIT Summer Youth Institute Students they are able to become comfortable using technology as a teaching tool- making them more likely to use it in the actual classroom during the school year.

The Summer Youth Institute provides the 60 OCPS students many valuable opportunities as well. As these students preview the lessons being taught by the PROFIT teachers they gain an early exposure to the material they will be required to master during the school year, which can ultimately lead to better math grades. The students also are introduced to pictorial computing programs and applications from the Computer Science side of the program. They learn to: use computers with cameras, transform video input, run computer-vision algorithms to manipulate images, insert audio with pictures, and to produce graphic images using visualization tools. Guest speakers from industry visit the program and give inspirational and informative lectures on careers in IT-STEM fields. The students tour the UCF campus, learn about what they will need to do to be accepted at a college, hear about scholarships, student loans, and grant opportunities for funding their education, and see presentations from the UCF Career Placement Office regarding IT-STEM careers.

After the teachers and students start the new school year they required to attend monthly sessions that further their knowledge in Computer Science. Every third month the teachers, students, and the students' parent all come to UCF for Parent Socials. These socials are sponsored by businesses with a vested interest in increasing the pipeline of IT-STEM workers. The sponsors provide speakers from their company to address the entire group regarding career opportunities in IT-STEM and to include the story of their personal career path. The Parent Social Meetings also includes time for question and answer sessions with the guest speakers so the students, their families, or teachers can ask questions.. Another aspect of the Parent Socials is that PROFIT students' work is highlighted. At each meeting different students are selected to present their accomplishment to all of the students, parents and their teachers. At the end of the Parent Social Meeting everyone is invited to stay for a luncheon, paid for by the business sponsors. The luncheons allow time for our guest speakers to interact with the students, their parents, and the teachers to on a one-to-one level.

Both the PROFIT students and teachers are encouraged to visit UCF during the school year, at any time that is convenient for them. Many students and some teachers elect to attend optional Saturday session that help strengthen their computing knowledge. Field trips are scheduled in the spring to local IT companies, so that the students can see first-hand what they have previously only heard about.