Shanghai is a 13,558 miles round-trip from my home in Chandler, Arizona, and a continent away from my comfort zone. Though flashbacks of 1966’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (everything that could go wrong, did!) played in my head while trying to obtain my Visa (thank you Ted Willard for your incredible patience and problem-solving skills), I arrived safe and sound and received a kind welcome from my wonderful guide and interpreter, Ms Chaimeng Xue.

I was there to represent NSTA, as District XIV Director, at the 2015 Shanghai International STEM Forum on Science Literacy for Adolescents. NSTA was invited to speak to the conference attendees about the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and NSTA’s efforts to support them.

My generous hosts from the Shanghai Science Association for Young Talents (SSAYT), who are also international members of NSTA, invited me not only to speak and collaborate, but also to spend a few days visiting Shanghai and nearby sites. I collected many lifetime memories as I explored the stunning and serene Yu Gardens built during the reign of Ming Emperor Jiajing in 1559 and the 900-year-old water village of Zhoushuang, tasted interesting and unique foods and teas, and walked the sycamore lined streets found all around Shanghai.

Working with NSTA’s resident NGSS expert, Ted Willard, I put together a “first timer’s glance” into the NGSS. The presentation addressed how the standards were developed, how they differ from anything we’ve done before, and how we’ll work as a collaborative nation and professional teachers’ organization to change the way science is taught and learned. I was able to share the presentation with an audience of science and technology teachers, specialists, and educators from all over China, along with several notable guests from the science and STEM education community in China, and guest Dr. George DeBoer from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

We joined a group of teachers from all over China for program presentations and an impromptu panel discussion on the many similarities and questions each of our countries’ faces regarding science and STEM education. The most critical concern for two large countries separated by oceans and traditions… how do we make it a priority for all?

With the help of my interpreter, I learned more about the science and STEM education issues in Shanghai, and China as a whole. Like us, China is placing much effort and focus on reforming the education system and improving students’ performance in science and technology. They also are giving a great deal of attention to the issue of testing and its impact on students as they plan their college career goals for single and multi-disciplinary studies drives planning and developing, and to STEM and what it means to the entire education community and its outcome for students. It was exciting to hear from Dr. DeBoer on how AAAS’s Project 2061 is supporting the standards effort to improve science education so all Americans can become literate in science, mathematics, and technology.

Heading back home on the 11-hour flight to Los Angeles I began to process all the beautiful sights, warm and welcoming people, and the interesting commonalities our two nations share in the quest to educate our children and prepare them for a world we are still mostly dreaming about. The opportunity to collaborate with so many like-minded people who share the same sense of urgency in education was both exciting and encouraging.

Jen Gutierrez spent 23 years as public educator and now is the K-12 STEM Education Specialist in the K-12 Standards Division at the Arizona Department of Education. She represented Arizona on the NGSS Writing Team and recently joined the NSTA Council as District XIV Director.

The mission of NSTA is to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.

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Future NSTA Conferences

2015 Area Conferences

• Philadelphia, November 12–14
• Kansas City, December 3–5

2016 National Conference

• Nashville, March 31–April 3

2016 STEM Forum & Expo

• Denver, July 27–30