Major News

Off to New York City

With standing-room only, preservice teachers and Franks School of Education faculty gathered for a visit to Public School 56 in Queens, New York. Using the videoconferencing equipment, FSOE preservice teachers met preservice teachers from Hofstra University as a means for expanding our cultural borders.

Eighteen preservice teachers from Hofstra University and the preservice teachers from Trine University watched a preservice teacher at Hofstra teach a science lesson to a 5th grade science class in Public School 56.

Not only were our preservice teachers able to talk to the 5th graders, we also watched their science lesson. The 5th graders learned about plant pollination. After the spirited lesson, the Hofstra preservice teachers and Trine preservice teachers exchanged questions primarily related to the challenges of teaching students from a wide variety of different cultures.

A week later, Trine preservice teachers watched another preservice teacher from Hofstra University teach 5th grade science to a different class of students focusing on physical and chemical changes that occur in everyday life.   

PS 56 is an elementary school of rich cultural diversity in one of the most diverse boroughs in the nation: the borough of Queens, New York. Over 40 languages are spoken in the classrooms. The art of learning is exciting, engaging and inspiring. PS 56 focuses on teaching, learning, and achieving excellence where each new day is an opportunity for children and adults to know more, do more, and be more than they were the day before. Learning is a participatory process that involves all stakeholders according to the school’s mission statement.

Videoconferencing is not new to these young students. They practice and are prepared for being in front of the camera. As their teacher said, “Students think videoconferencing is just too much fun along with many other hands-on activities, to misbehave and not be allowed to participate. One interesting comment from these 5th graders about Trine preservice teachers: “They asked us so many questions that we thought maybe that had never done this before!”

Well, we hadn’t, but this certainly suggests that opportunities for observing, communicating with, and understanding students in the digital generation are limitless.   We hope this was just the first of many initiatives giving us an opportunity to expand our cultural and technological boundaries.

This is an exciting breakthrough in expanding the FSOE classroom.

WHAT FUN

The annual trip to the Toledo Museum of Art. EDU 452 - Art for the Elementary Teacher- student posed in front of the Stegosaurus by A. Calder.

S.E.A. - Student Education Association

The Student Education Association, founded in 2000, is a group for all education majors. Meetings are held every other Wednesday in Ford Hall. Members participate in community service activities such as:

• YMCA Halloween
• Read Across America
• Outreach to Teach
• Adopt A Class

The state level conference is held every fall in Indianapolis. Sessions include what to do your first day and how to negotiate a contract.

We welcome new members!

 

Pi Lambda Theta, Direct Honors Program

The Franks School of Education Direct Honors Program of Pi Lambda Theta was established in February, 2007. Pi Lambda Theta is an international honor society and professional association in education. The mission is to honor outstanding educators and inspire them to be effective leaders who address critical issues in education. The Franks School of Education has had 35 outstanding students accept the invitation for membership.

Guidelines and qualifications include:

• 3.5 or higher cumulative gpa after completion of methods courses
• recommendation approved by majority of FSOE faculty
• 35 hours or less credit to complete

An NCATE Accredited Institution