District Administration - January 2012 - (Page 12)

NewsUpdate Education STEM Centers Sprouting in Higher Ed The lack of sTem [science, engineering undergraduates at [technology, engineering and mathemat- Worcester Polytechnic Institute ics] educators is a national crisis, accord(WPI) can now receive ing to education leaders such as martha specialized training in teaching STEM courses should they cyr, executive director of the newly crepursue their teaching licensure. ated sTem education center at Worcesing things, but showing students where ter Polytechnic institute (WPi) in masthey can see it happening in their lives. it sachusetts. so WPi is one of many higher makes it really vivid for students.” education institutions nationwide focusThe sTem center, which opened this ing on preparing its undergraduates to year, will allow WPi students to hone in teach sTem topics inside the classroom on how they can relay their knowledge and, ultimately, prepare students for into engaging classroom activities. careers in science or math. last february, President obama WPi is unique in that it doesn’t offer a outlined his focus for sTem educatraditional teacher preparation program; tion, which included increasing sTem rather, it works in conjunction with a literacy among students and improving teaching licensure program offered to the quality of math and science teachundergraduates pursuing degrees in bioling in the classroom. Despite the sTem ogy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, buzz, a study released in June 2011 by technology and engineering. the national center for education sta“our graduates really know how to tistics (nces) showed that 30 percent of use the content in an applied manner,” sTem teachers in U.s. k12 schools were says cyr. “They can take that into the not certified to teach their subject. classroom. They’re not just memorizScience, math, technology and Br iefings another unique higher education program is found at Wheelock college. Based in Boston, the college launched a new online professional development sTem program in november for elementary school teachers to spruce up their math and science knowledge. according to Wheelock’s president, Jackie Jenkins-scott, although there is an urgent need for teachers at all grade levels to be proficient in sTem education, most efforts are focused on middle, secondary and postsecondary schooling. The program’s two courses—numbers and operations, and Teaching and learning elementary science—will teach elementary educators how to bring sTem subjects to younger students. Social-Emotional Learning Combats Educator Burnout In GarrIson, n.Y., alonG the banks of the hudson river, lies a renovated monastery that is home to the Garrison Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to contemplative teaching, which focuses on inner healing and awareness. over 150 teachers from around the U.s. gathered in early november at this scenic retreat for a symposium, “advancing the science and Practice of Contemplative learning.” according to the Garrison Institute’s Communication Director steve kent, the national discourse on education focuses on salient issues such as testing and teacher pay. Mounting research, however, shows that addressing the inner lives of teachers may combat these associated stresses and help reduce teacher burnout rates. social-emotional learning, including 12 January 2012 Moderator Maria LeRose (left) and Mark Greenberg, chair of the Institute’s Leadership Council, discuss contemplative teaching methods at the Institute’s Education Symposium held in November 2011. yoga, meditation, reflective journaling and breathing awareness, is promoted by the Garrison Institute as a necessary component of professional development in managing a classroom. Using these techniques, the institute developed Care: Cultivating awareness and resilience in education, a professional development guide. “Most teachers haven’t been given the skills needed to manage social emotional behaviors,” says Patricia Jennings, director of Contemplation and education at the Garrison Institute. “We train them on how to recognize students’ needs so they can retain their love for teaching rather than feeling exhausted.” the Garrison Institute offers a summer program annually focused on Care techniques for teachers. For additional help, districts can reach out to the Collaborative for academic, social, and emotional learning (Casel), a nonprofit, which advocates for social and emotional science. District Administration

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - January 2012

District Administration - January 2012
Contents
Letters
News Update
Conversations
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Finding the Perfect Fit
Kansas City Plots Next Steps
Seeking Savings in Special Ed
K12 Guide to Audio/Visual Solutions
Equipping Teachers to Infuse Technology
Flipped Classrooms Gaining Ground
Buying in Bulk
Online Identity Management
Going Mobile
Student Counsel
Online Edge
New Books
New Products
Product Focus
Professional Opinion

District Administration - January 2012