About DTEACh
Program History
DTEACh began in 1992 as a grassroots science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teacher education project for elementary school educators. Designed by University of Texas engineering faculty members Drs. Richard Crawford and Kristin Wood and by teacher educator Dr. Marilyn Fowler, DTEACh trained many teachers in its first eight years. In 2000, DTEACh began partnering with Austin-based high-tech company National Instruments to offer Robotics and Automation workshops using LEGO MINDSTORMS. Through this partnership, DTEACh has since trained an additional 430 educators from 70 Texas schools.
Over the past eight years, the DTEACh program has helped more than 380 Central Texas educators discover new ways to integrate cutting-edge technology into their curricula through the DTEACh Robotics and Automation Summer Institutes. Participants in this innovative program learn to use the engineering design process to more effectively teach state-mandated science and math standards. Then, with the assistance of mentors from the engineeering community, these DTEAChers use LEGO MINDSTORMS technology to engage their students in active learning that integrates core STEM subjects while incorporating 21st century skills.
Beginning in the summer of 2007, DTEACh is pleased to expand its focus to include an Assistive Technologies Summer Institute for high school educators. Offered through the T-STEM initiative of the Texas High School Project, this institute will introduce design-based learning into high school science and math classrooms.
