While solving problems, students learn basic science and math. CTE provides lessons that are interesting, real world and relevant, complex but stimulating, and hands-on. Our methodology is to offer teachers the opportunity to attend short courses at UCF, which are taught by engineers, researchers, scientists, teachers and mathematicians. Teachers learn hands-on how to integrate technology into their curriculum. Short courses are designed to be fun and interactive where teachers supplement their lesson plans with the use of hardware.
Teachers also receive in-service points.
We have conducted a survey of teachers and county technology and science coordinators. The survey included a question on whether there are sufficient training opportunities available to teachers. The response is that although there are many training workshops available, there is a great need to incorporate hands-on training. Many teachers and coordinators alike say that workshops many times provide theories and knowledge but the teacher still has to spend a lot of time converting what they learn into actual lessons for the classroom. The difficulty is that most teachers do not have the time to do that and so typically most of what they learn at workshops end up as head knowledge but not put to use in the classroom.