The University of Findlay Uses Grant Funding to Offer Professional Development Opportunities for Ohio K-12 Teachers
The University of Findlay will offer four tuition-free professional development workshops for 60 Ohio teachers this summer in the areas of language arts, mathematics, science and social studies – areas emphasized in the new state learning standards.
In May, the University was awarded a $162,500 Ohio Educator Preparation Program Performance Grant, funded through Ohio’s Race to the Top grant from the United States Department of Education. UF will use the funds to offer professional development opportunities to area educators.
Fifteen teachers will attend each of the four workshops, which focus on preparing teachers to teach the new state learning standards. Workshop participants are responsible for the cost of fees and books. The workshops will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis; those interested may contact Dave Rossman, coordinator of graduate outreach and partnership, rossman@findlay.edu, 419-434-4512.
Workshops are as follows:
- ENGL 550 Topics in Rhetoric and Composition: Implementing the Common Core English Language Arts State Standards is June 16-27.
- EDCI 546 Workshop in Curriculum and Instruction for Implementing the Common Core for Mathematics State Standards is June 30 – July 25.
- EDCI 546 Workshop in Curriculum and Instruction for Implementing Ohio’s New Social Studies Learning Standards is June 30 – July 25.
- EDCI 546 Workshop in Curriculum and Instruction for Implementing the Science State Standards is June 30 – July 25.
The workshops will be taught primarily online, with some scheduled face-to-face activities on campus. Participants also are invited to attend a presentation at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 24, by Dr. Jim Mahoney, executive director of Batelle for Kids.
The University will offer a second set of grant-funded professional development opportunities later this year. UF is developing four dual enrollment certificate programs for Integrated Science, Integrated Mathematics, Integrated Social Studies and Integrated Language Arts. Each certificate will include six courses in order to ensure high school teachers the ability to teach dual enrollment courses.
The Ohio Educator Preparation Program Performance Grant award is based on the University’s score of 21.6842 in the evaluation process; the mean score of all Ohio educator preparation programs was 14.3935.
The University ranked more highly than many of its peers because of its excellence in academics; innovative teaching strategies; and value-added components such as placing students in the field early and often. In addition, student teacher surveys, which measure perceptions of the preparation program, were taken into consideration in the ranking.