Enlarge Teresa Dahlberg, Yi Deng and Cindy Moss @ "Bridging the Science and Technology Knowledge Gap."

Posted: October 24th, 2009 Andria Krewson

Between 2002 and 2006, the number of high school students taking Advanced Placement tests rose 23 percent, according to Teresa Dahlberg, professor of computer science at UNC Charlotte.

At the same time, the number of students taking AP tests in computer science fell 14 percent. Of those taking that test, girls made up only a tiny fraction.

Globally, the numbers are different, with intense interest in other countries in science and technology in the schools.

“We’re losing our global leadership in science and technology,” Dahlberg told a crowd of about 50 people at a meeting Oct. 21 jointly produced by the Levine Museum for the New South and UNC Charlotte. Experts say the trend threatens U.S. national security, she added.

Dahlberg joined Cindy Moss of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and Meghan Gray of Citizen Schools North Carolina in a presentation, “Bridging the Science and Technology Knowledge Gap.”

Yi Deng, dean of UNCC’s College of Computing and Informatics, introduced the speakers and wrapped up the event. He noted that we are now in an “innovation-driven economy,” which makes science and technology crucial to business.

The event was part of a series presented in conjunction with the Levine’s Changing Places exhibit and sponsored by Charlotte Magazine.

During the evening, speakers moved beyond scary statistics to share information about programs that are making a difference and working to foster more interest in science, technology, engineering and math from under-represented groups. Dahlberg highlighted the STARS Alliance, with more than 250 students in 30 colleges serving as mentors and role models to younger students.

“Participation in the corps directly increases their engagement in their major,” said Dahlberg, director of the Diversity in Information Technology Institute at UNCC. The program teaches teamwork, communications and hopefully fosters a life-long desire to give back, she added.

Moss, director of science, technology, engineering and math, shared results for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in a MathForward initiative, which provided money for technology to be used in Title 1 schools, or those with large concentrations of low-income students.

The initiative, with support from Texas Instruments, provides white boards, calculators and laptops as well as training and coaches for teachers. Students work on math problems associated with real-life issues, such as how quickly supplies can be delivered to an area facing a natural disaster.

“They don’t even know they’re doing math; they’re just playing with the technology,” Moss said.

Numbers show that students at the schools show real growth in math proficiency through the program. And Moss noted that early proficiency with math clears hurdles for high-school graduation and college.

She said a major reason students give for dropping out of high school is, “I can’t pass algebra.” And Moss noted the grim prospects for those without a high-school degree: If you’re over 18, without a degree, even McDonald’s won’t hire you.

Gray, the civic engagement manager for Citizen Schools North Carolina, said her organization focuses on after-school time, creating apprenticeships and working with volunteers to develop curriculum at schools with at-risk students. For example, the organization partners with colleges like UNCC to bring in students to teach game design to middle schoolers.

Audience questions wrapped up the session, with teachers and students voicing concerns about distance learning and access to computers.

Dahlberg noted that society doesn’t have the funding to put a computer in every student’s home, but “technology itself is not needed to learn math or science.” She pointed to a program called CS Unplugged as a way to learn algebraic and algorithmic thinking without a computer.

During the wrap-up, Deng returned to the theme that education in technology is crucial to business and society. “The future of this country, or any other country in this world, depends on its technology,” he said.

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