IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is a non-profit organization. It is the world’s leading professional association for the advancement of science and technology. IEEE is an international professional association dedicated to the theory and practice of electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering, computer science, the allied branches of engineering, and related arts and sciences. It was established 125 years ago, operating in 150 countries and has approximately 380,000 members, as of today. Within IEEE, members are trying to advance its reach at global prosperity by fostering technological innovation, enabling members ? careers and promoting communities worldwide for the benefit of humanity and the profession.

The Educational Activity Board (EAB) is one of the IEEE boards. Its goal is to implement programs specifically intended to serve and benefit IEEE members in educational pursuits, the engineering and scientific community, and the general public. Among the numerous EAB activities, is TISP : Teacher In-Service Program.

Through the TISP program, IEEE volunteers will work with teachers and provide them with minimal hands-on engineering lessons that they can use with their students. It is based on approved lessons plans prepared/reviewed by our volunteers, tested in classrooms and designed to highlight engineering design principles.

The TiSP program has been implemented in many countries throughout the world. Last spring a TISP workshop was held in Montreal at which it was decided to start the TISP program throughout Canada. We from the Montreal Chapter of the IEEE are eager to get this program started in Montreal and as such are contacting various persons in the education field to solicit their help in making contact with teachers/principals who they believe would support this endeavour.

The idea behind the program is to introduce students to technology during the elementary and secondary phase of their schooling. We strongly believe that by taking this approach more students will go on to become engineers, technicians, etc. thus adding to the development of their respective countries.

GEOFFREY ALLEYNE