NCTL K-12 Initiatives
Implementing our mission
K-12 initiatives

Museum of Science’s National Center for Technological Literacy and Valley City State University to Partner in National Education Initiative, “Closing the Technology & Engineering Teaching Gap”
BOSTON, MA-VALLEY CITY, ND -- The Museum of Science’s National Center for Technological Literacy® (NCTL®) and Valley City State University (VCSU) have completed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) leveraging their strengths to bring quality standards-based engineering and technology education to K-12 schools throughout the United States. The goal is to improve the technological literacy of K-12 teachers and prepare qualified teachers to address the national shortage of technology educators.
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Advancing Technological Literacy and Skills (ATLAS) of Elementary Educators
Educating and exciting a next generation that is technologically literate requires that we engage young children in engineering and technology activities. Educators at all levels need to be comfortable bringing engineering activities and related content and pedagogy into their classrooms. The Advancing Technological Literacy and Skills (ATLAS) of Elementary Educators program works with community college faculty to infuse content related to technology and engineering into elementary and early education coursework and programs.
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The Gateway Project
Although Massachusetts has strong state standards for technology and education, it is a long way from standards to effective programs for every student. The Gateway Project aims to help Massachusetts school districts align their curriculum, teacher education, and assessment systems with the state technology/engineering curriculum standards. The Institute of Museum and Library Services has provided a half-million dollar grant for us to support 50 school district leadership teams over three years. Participant district leadership teams collaborate during summer institutes, call-back days and online forums with other Gateway teams.
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Engineering is Elementary
Engineering is Elementary: Engineering and Technology Lessons for Children (EiE) capitalizes on youngsters' natural fascination with building, taking things apart, and figuring out how things work. The program integrates engineering content with elementary science concepts. Each unit focuses on a field of engineering—or example, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, and environmental engineering—and includes a child's illustrated storybook, lesson plans, and student materials. The lessons are correlated with technology/engineering curriculum standards.
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Engineering the Future
Engineering the Future: Science, Technology, and the Design Process™ (EtF) is a full-year high school course developed by the Museum of Science, Boston. The course is intended to show students how they will influence technological developments as workers, consumers, and citizens—whether or not they pursue technical careers.
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Why K-12 Engineering? (QuickTime video, NJN News, May 11, 2007)

NESSIE Workshops and Programs
New England Space Science Initiative in Massachusetts (NESSIE) is a NASA initiative that fosters collaborations among space scientists and educators throughout New England. NESSIE is NASA's regional clearinghouse for space science research and education.
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