Technology Education Initiatives and Statewide Curriculum Integration in Michigan.

Overview & Synopsis

Michigan's curriculum framework is a resource for helping the state's public and private schools design, implement, and assess their content area curricula against state and national content standards. The framework emphasizes the following: using continuous school improvement to align all school district initiatives to increase student achievement; building a curriculum based on rigorous content standards and benchmarks; using student achievement data to make decisions about school improvement, curriculum, instruction, and professional development; and incorporating research-supported teaching and learning standards into daily instructional practice. Technology education fits into the curriculum framework through two initiatives: the Michigan Technology Content Standards and Benchmarks and the Michigan Technology Education Curriculum Guide, which advocates the use of a portfolio ("techfolio") process to guarantee students' engagement with the four standards of authentic learning. Other indirect initiatives that support and complement the framework are as follows: technology education teacher certification standards; teacher preparation standards for technology education teachers; and technology education as a component of and channel to career preparation programs. Technology education teachers participated in the initiatives as members and representatives of the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society, the state International Technology Education Association affiliate, and the Learning Institute for Technology Education. (MN)