Approval of the Oct. 5 meeting minutes - draft posted at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/deptminutes0001.html

Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium grant - $35,000 to develop online MS in Educational Technology

PT3 consortium meeting - 11/8-14/00

Alternate needed for Grade Appeal Process

Other News

Reports from the Units

Reports from departmental Committees, Projects, and university governance

Final approval of the Departmental Goals for 2000-2001 - draft listed below
Proposed World Language Certification - first discussion
Ed. Dept. brochure
Alumni Weekend - April 28 events
Generic Syllabus
Policy on Education Department Online Courses - alternating oncampus and online - second discussion

Online Educational Department meeting minutes are available at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/deptminutes0001.html

1. Revise and implement all of the Education Department programs in alignment with National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and national, professional organizations standards and changes in certification regulations.

2. Recruit additional faculty to fully support the academic excellence of our current programs and offerings.

3. Explore, enhance and develop Professional Development School (PDS) formal agreements with 2 to 4 regional school districts, reflecting NCATE standards.

4. Fully develop portfolio assessment in all programs that are aligned with national teaching standards and the Connecticut Common Core of Teaching.

5. Integrate technology applications within the coursework and field experiences of the Teacher Education and Graduate Studies programs.

6. Enhance the quality of field experiences by implementing a supervisory model that reflects the department's goals and conceptual framework.

7. Develop MS programs in Children’s Literature, in Mathematics Education, and in Educational Technology and begin the development of an MS in Special Education.

8. Recruit students and faculty who better represent the diversity of the state’s population.

9. Refine policies and processes for admission and retention of students in the teacher education programs.

10.  Improve departmental systems for gathering and reporting student data, and advise the registrar on departmental data needs as the CSU-BANNER system is developed.

1) Promoting Academic Excellence - All departmental goals

2) Financial Stability - goals 1, 3, 8, 9, 10

3) Faculty, Staff, and Student Diversity - particularly goals 2, 8

4) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) - particularly goals 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9

5) Integration of Technology - particularly goals 5, 7

6) BANNER Installation - particularly goals 8, 9, 10.

The notes from the NCATE Writers' meetings have been posted at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/ncatenotes.html .

Next meeting - Tuesday, November 7, 3:30, WH 115.

Computer support is available on weekday evenings and Saturdays for faculty
with classes and activities at those times.

Lab monitors are on duty in Webb 410 during all open lab hours.  They can be
reached at x54619.  Bill Kenney is also available on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday evenings and during the day on most Saturdays.  His phone number
is x54688.  Bill's pager number is (860)366-4871.

PURPOSE:  The America Reads program was developed to improve the reading skills of children in kindergarten through sixth grade.

WHY:  Four out of ten children in kindergarten through third grade are at risk in terms of literacy development.  Forty percent of fourth graders scored below the basic level in reading.  Further, intervention does not come until age 9 or 10.  This means the child has experienced failure at reading for at least two years.  Now it is very difficult to catch up.

HOW TO HELP: By becoming an America Reads tutor you can help improve the literacy problems of the children.  Our program targets children kindergarten through third grade.  All you need to do is come see me Daniel Sterner  @ Career Services or call me @ 465-4477.

COMMITMENT:  This is a long-term commitment. There is a training session you must complete to be a tutor.  It is four hours.  After that you will be placed at an institution that is most convenient for you, depending on your transportation and area.  You will also be provided the necessary items to complete your training.

BENEFITS:  The individualized attention the child receives helps to encourage more reading and with that better reading skills.  Tutors also provide a supplementary resource to the teachers making increased attention to all the children.  Tutors involve the parents (the child’s primary teacher) in encouraging them to support their child and help enhance their development.   Students eligible for federal work-study money can be paid $7.00 an hour.

from Daniel Sterner, Eastern Community Outreach Office, Career Services, sternerd@easternct.edu, 465-5577

We are also interested in finding a trainer to run the training session in November.  They would volunteer for this one session.  The trainer would talk abut how to read with this age group.  We also have copies of a textbook which can be used, The Reading Team, A Handbook for Volunteer Tutors K-3.  If you want to take a look at this book, I can lend you a copy.

The Stoloff Boys will also be participating in the ECSU Bowlathon on Saturday, November 4 at 2 pm.  Please consider contributing to the ECSU Foundation for Scholarships by supporting the team.

Empowering Families to Build a Better Life conference on November 2, 2000 at the Sheraton Hotel, 3580 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT.   Jonathan Kozol is keynote speaker.    For more information, please call Lucy Hernandez at (860) 240-0186 or email empowerconference@yahoo.com.

"On Thursday, November 2nd Meredith Gavrin and Greg Baldwin form Connecticut Charter Schools Network will be coming to my 4 pm class to talk about charter schools for an hour. All are welcome who would like to come. If you have any questions just ask. - Julie Alexandrin"

The 3rd Annual Peaceable Classroom Conference, Three Rivers Community College, November 4, 2000, Mohegan Campus, Norwich, CT.   Please see Diane Cerreto for details.

Connecticut Educators Computer Association conference on Monday, November 6 in Cromwell, CT - for more information, please see http://www.ceca-ct.org/CECA2000/index.html .

The PT3 (Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology) - ECSU group - Shirley Ernst, Leslie Ricklin, Ken Dobush, Dan Rothermel, and David Stoloff will be participating in a project development meetin at the Waikoloa Village on the Big Island of Hawaii from November 8 - 13, 2000.

The Education Department has been authorized to begin the process of searching for 3 tenure track faculty members in Early Childhood Education, Science Education, and Special Education, for Fall 2001.  The announcements for these positions are posted at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/search01.html.

Milne, A.A. (1926) Winnie-the-Pooh.  New York:  Puffin Books. (used to illustrate models of learning and teaching - particularly the Guiding Partner Model)

Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (2000).  Engage discoverers:  Kids constructing knowledge with technology.  Austin, TX.  A VIDEO.

Gibson, G. W. (1992) Good start:  A guidebook for new faculty in liberal arts colleges.  Bolton, MA:  Anker Publishing Co. (gift from the Center for Educational Excellence - thank you, Dr. Rhona Free)
 

Other available documents are listed on the Education Department Documents page at
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/documents.html

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Please contact David Stoloff at (860) 465-5501, email: stoloffd@easternct.edu if you have any questions or comments on this newsletter.