At a time when technology is revolutionizing the way we live our lives, technology education teachers are on the decline. But Old Dominion is doing its part to close the gap between the supply and demand of these specialized teachers.

Old Dominion is one of the top five universities in the nation recognized for Outstanding Technology Teacher Education Programs, according to the Council on Technology Teacher Education. This ranking recognizes superior technology education programs and exemplary professional involvements of universities preparing teacher education leaders.

Only 34 of the 210 institutions that offer technology teacher licensure programs are nationally accredited. Old Dominion has prepared more than 30 licensed teachers per year for the past three years to meet the CTTE criteria.

"Old Dominion meets 30 percent of the technology teacher education needs in the state, and students are usually offered four or five positions when they graduate," said Walter Deal, program leader of industrial technology education at Old Dominion.

The university's technology education emphasis consists of a 125-hour program designed to prepare students to teach technology education subjects in secondary and middle schools. It is an approved program for meeting certification requirements to teach technology education in Virginia.