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The Department of Curriculum and Instruction houses 10 research and service units.
The Arkansas Leadership Academy, through the use of research and best practices, designs creative and innovative approaches to establish learning communities in public schools by developing human resources and by modeling and advocating collaboration, support, shared decision making, team learning, risk taking and problem solving. Partners commit to changing their organizations to support system improvement. Director: Beverly Elliott
The Arkansas A+ Schools Network is a comprehensive school reform that views the arts as fundamental to the way teachers teach and the way students learn.
Comprehensive school reform takes into account every aspect of the school community. Through A+, the entire school is reorganized and revitalized in virtually all aspects of its operations, from curriculum and instruction to assessment, professional development, parental involvement, and school and classroom management. Director: Marie Parker
In 2003, the Arkansas General Assembly established education renewal zones across the state to promote collaboration among public schools, education service cooperatives, colleges and universities, parents and communities. The Northwest Arkansas Education Renewal Zone's objective is to improve student achievement. Centralizing resources allows schools in Northwest Arkansas to access financial, cultural and technological support. Director: Nick Tschepikow
The National Office for Research, Measurement and Evaluation Systems (NORMES) addresses the immediate need for improved student assessment and evaluation practices in rural school systems. NORMES uses interactive technology to identify best educational practices and curriculum interventions contributing to increased student achievement. NORMES provides an improved system for early detection of those students at-risk academically and the specific information necessary for educators to respond. Director: Sean Mulvenon
Part of the international program begun at Berkeley in 1972, the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project teachers joined more than 140,000 educators from around the world at 163 National Writing Project sites, joining rank with some 1.3 million others involved with the program to date. The "hands-on minds-on" programs involve teachers in creative workshops and institutes that give them new ideas to bring spark and creativity to their classroom writing curriculums. The institutes also enable teachers to develop professional and personal relationships with their peers and create a community of dedicated individuals striving to teach Arkansas children excellent writing skills. Kidswrite, a writing "boot camp" for local kids, was developed in 1999, gathering more than 50 Arkansas youngsters each summer to practice writing across the curriculum for fun. Interim Director: Chris Goering
The Project to Advance Science Education is dedicated to enhancing science instruction in the nation's education infrastructure through basic research, the preparation of science teachers for school service and the development of science education leaders who can impact science teaching in schools and as professors in colleges and university settings. Director: William F. McComas
The Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) is an aggressive effort to build working relationships among the major contributors to the development of physical science teachers: the science department, the education department and the regional school systems. These new relationships are focused on improved recruiting and training of physical science teachers to greatly increase the pool of high quality teachers.
The Research Advocacy Network is an important component of efforts to move forward a partnership between the superintendents of leading school districts with the college and the university to improve education in public schools. Director: Les Carnine
Robert Noyce Scholarship Program for Math, Science and Engineering K-12 Teachers
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the goal of the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program is to produce new science and mathematics teachers. These scholarships will provide support for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduates who wish to enter the University of Arkansas Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. The project is a cooperative effort among the departments of physics, mechanical engineering, mathematical sciences, and curriculum and instruction.
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Wavering
Teach Them All
Funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant, Project Teach Them All will prepare teachers for English as a Second Language endorsement to teach in all subject matters at the secondary grade levels. Working in conjunction with the Springdale school system, teachers will have the ability to learn various aspects of successful language acquisition theory, methodology, and investigative strategies necessary to successfully teach those students who are learning English as a second language. These teachers, in turn, will be able to pass on working techniques in their particular schools and school systems.
Primary Investigator: Dr. Janet Penner-Williams
Director: Dr. Diana Gonzales Worthen
Action Research Projects (PDF format)
Abstracts from the 2005-2006 Secondary M.A.T. Interns.
For more information, contact Dr. Michael Wavering.
Page last updated: 2/21/2008 10:43
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