COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 5

February 8, 2005

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Linda M. Wallinger Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Childrens Engineering Convention

The Virginia Technology Education Association, the Virginia Childrens Engineering Council, Technology Education Service, and the NASA Center for Distance Learning are co-sponsoring the Childrens Engineering Convention for teachers and administrators who provide leadership at grades K-5. The convention will be held at the Marriott West at Innsbrook, Richmond, February 24 26, 2005.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, Secretary of Education. Best Practices and classroom strategies that support achievement of the Virginia Standards of Learning through hands-on designing and building; critical thinking skills and problem solving will be highlighted within the convention sessions. These instructional experiences will assist participants in preparing children to:

• Explore how people create, use, and control technology,
• Apply knowledge in mathematics, science, English, history, and social studies in solving problems associated with technology, and
• Use tools and materials to develop technological literacy and self-confidence.

Conference registration has been extended to February 15. The conference overview and registration form are located at www.vtea.org/ESTE/. For more information, contact George Willcox (George.Willcox@doe.virginia.gov) technology education specialist, at (804)225-2839 or Mrs. Linda E. Harpine (lharpine@earthlink.net), (540) 282-3278.

LMW/EMR/sgj