Page 66 - Standards for K-12 Engineering Education

Standards for K-12 Engineering Education?

APPENDIX A 51

James (“Jim”) C. Spohrer, director of IBM University Programs (IBM UP) since 2009,
founded IBM's first Service Research Group in 2003 at the Almaden Research Center with a
focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) for Service Sector Innova-
tions. Under his leadership, this group earned ten times its investment and received four IBM
Outstanding and 11 Accomplishment Awards in seven years. Working with service research
pioneers from many academic disciplines, Jim advocates for Service Science, Management,
Engineering, and Design, an integrative extended-STEM framework for the development of
global competency, economic growth, and the advancement of science. In 2000, he became the
founding chief technical officer of IBM’s first Venture Capital Relations Group in Silicon
Valley. In the mid-1990s, he led Apple Computer’s Learning Technologies Group, where he
was named Distinguished Engineer Scientist and Technologist. Dr. Spohrer earned a Ph.D. in
computer science/artificial intelligence from Yale University and a B.S. in physics from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Elizabeth K. Stage is director of Lawrence Hall of Science, the public science center at Univer-
sity of California, Berkeley. Previously, she was director of the Mathematics Professional
Development Institutes under the Office of the President of the University of California. Dr.
Stage has worked to increase opportunities for all students to learn mathematics and science.
Her national service includes director of critique and consensus at the National Research Council
(NRC) National Committee on Science Education Standards and Assessment. She is an elected
fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a former member and
chair of the California Curriculum Commission. She is also a member of the Science Standing
Committee for the National Assessment of Educational Progress. In 1996, Dr. Stage was
awarded the Smith College Medal. She has an Ed.D. in science education and an M.Ed., both
from Harvard University, and an A.B. in chemistry from Smith College. She has been a member
of the NRC Committee on the Review on Understanding the Influence of Standards in K–12
Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education (1998 to 2001) and the Committee on the
Review and Evaluation of NASA's Pre-College Education Program (2006 to 2008).

Roberta Tanner teaches physics and other mathematics and science classes at Loveland High
School in Loveland, Colorado, and has taught in the Thompson School District for 18 years.
With help from a local engineer, she developed, and now teaches, a project-oriented course on
microchips and electrical engineering for high school students. She also started the Advanced
Placement physics program in her district. Ms. Tanner was teacher-in-residence with the Physics
Education Research Group at the University of Colorado in 2006–2007 and received the Intel
International Excellence in Teaching Award in 2004. She is currently a member of the National
Academies Teacher Advisory Council. Ms. Tanner completed her undergraduate work in
physics and mechanical engineering at Kalamazoo College and Michigan State University and
earned her teaching certificate and a master’s degree in education at the University of Colorado,
Boulder. Before becoming a teacher, she worked as a mechanical engineer in product develop-
ment at IBM.

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