Archive for the ‘Undergraduate Teacher Education’ Category
Celebration of Excellence on Friday April 12, 2013.
ASPIRE members were prominent of among the Elementary Education majors who received special recognition for achievement. Camille Fontenelle received the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, Alpha Chapter-Freshman Award which recognizes future promise in education based on academic achievement and participation in education-related activities. Camille, who is enrolled in the Honors College has already identified a research project and faculty mentor. She is planning a comparative study of rigor required of elementary students in schools on the Island of St. Lucia and here in Delaware. Camille is the treasure-elect of ASPIRE and is pictured below with her father.
Amber Beaman received the Mathematics Education Undergraduate Award which recognizes her outstanding potential as a mathematics educator. Amber has completed several research projects and most recently worked with Professor Jim Hiebert and conducted a comparative study of mathematics instruction in three countries using TIMMS video data to identify patterns in pedagogical styles and expectations of teachers. Amber served as treasurer of ASPIRE in 2012. She is pictured below with her mother and her sister.
The ASPIRE Family salutes Camille and Amber!!
Two prospective education majors and members of the UD Class of 2017 chat with Riley O’Brien during Destination Delaware. Two hundred future Blue Hens found their way to campus on Sunday April 7th for a fast-paced, over night adventure that sealed the deal for many of the pre-freshmen. ASPIRE leaders were on hand to welcome students to campus on Sunday and during a parting luncheon on Monday April 8th. 
On Wednesday, March 20th, Arpita, Kevin, Ellie and Kelsey, telephoned telephone approximately 100 students who received letters this week from UD admissions indicating that they have seats in the fall 2013 freshman class, and that they have been admitted as teacher education majors. The busy high school seniors who were contacted were excited and eager to learn more about the University of Delaware. The ASPIRE callers described the school’s climate as active and very busy with TONS of clubs, opportunities to travel, and many, many special interest communities such as ASPIRE to join. Some parents intercepted the calls, and they seemed equally excited, with many indicating an interest in visiting the campus again during Destination Delaware. ASPIRE will host a table on Sunday April 7 from 6:00-7:00pm in Trabant to welcome families who attend Destination Delaware.
This is our latest effort at getting the new ASPIRE officers together…they are a busy crew…pictured are Kevin Nai and Katie Kull, 2013 senior officers, with their crew in training: Camille Fontenelle, Treasurer, Tatiana Burgess, Vice President, and Gemelle John, Historian….. missing are Lorene McCoy, President, Keri Rojas, Secretary, Conor Small and Kevin Davis, PR…stay tuned we are bound to catch them all in the same room soon 
TUTORING
· Individual Tutoring. Students can visit our office to check the TutorFind directory of available tutors for one-on-one work. Undergraduate tutors are available for $11.50/hr; graduate tutors are $14.50/hr.
· Drop-In Tutoring. Two hours a day, five days a week, drop-in tutoring is available in math, chemistry and physics.
· Group Tutoring. Free group tutoring in a number of courses is offered each semester. Groups are formed in response to student requests.
· Nfoshare Online Tutoring. This new feature (using Facebook) is available for selected classes.
STUDY SKILLS ASSISTANCE
· Workshops at the OAE. We appreciate your posting our workshop schedule where it will be visible to students visiting your department; feel free to make as many copies as you wish.
· Online workshops: Your Roadmap to Success (http://www.udel.edu/AEC-workshop/). These workshops are designed to help students identify skill areas they need to improve in, to practice new techniques, and to evaluate their progress.
· Study Skills course (UNIV113). This one-credit pass/fail course includes comprehensive coverage of strategies for successful studying, which are then put to use in a concurrent “target class” of the student’s choice. While the course is aimed at freshmen and sophomores, exceptions can be made for other students when needed.
· Academic Intake appointments. Any student can meet with one of our staff members to assess his/her current study strategies and develop a plan for strengthening those strategies. In particular, students in academic difficulty can benefit from this one-on-one academic counseling.
Prospective Education Majors from four Delaware high schools visited campus on Tuesday November 13, 2012. Their day included visits to UD classes and a tour of campus, as well as information sessions on financial aid, scholarships, and the Associate of Arts program. The students received ASPIRE brochures and encouragement to learn as much about the teaching profession as possible and to equip themselves with study habits that will ensure success at every level of education. ASPIRE Encourages Students to Develop:
Study Power
PRAXIS 1 MATH REVIEW Seats are limited. Contact mware@udel.edu by Nov. 8 to add your name to the roster.
Praxis 1 Math Review Sessions 7:00pm-9:00pm on Thursdays
All Sessions Meet in 115 Gore
Orientation Meeting: Thursday November 8
Class Meetings: Thursday November 15
*Students Should Take Pre-test 1 Prior to the Class Meeting on November 15th
Bring the completed test to class on November 15.
The pre-test will be distributed during the orientation meeting, and copies are also available at the Center for Academic Success and Undergraduate Studies Upstairs in the Student Resource Center 148-150 South College Avenue.
Tutor/Instructor: Stanley Anderson (standers@udel.edu)
On October 16th, ASPIRE leaders Sai Gajjala and Arpita Mandal, presented a very interesting talk on using technology to support teaching and learning. Their Beyond Powerpoint message was well received by the group, which had a lively conversation about appropriate uses of social media to engage students. …just imagine having Abe Lincoln, Fred Douglass and the Civil War generals interacting on a “faux” Facebook page… now that might get an 8th grader interested in the day-to-day lives of 19th century Americans…who says there are no new tricks?
Great Job Sai and Arpita!!
On October 10, at the first workshop of the year, ASPIRE President, Katie Kull, opened a conversation with a provocative question: Where do you want to teach? She used the question to guide the session that focused on comparing teaching and learning conditions in public urban/suburban, rural, and private schools.
Katie had the group vote at the beginning and end of the session on their preference. More participants voted positively for working in urban/suburban environments after reviewing data on the emerging availability of resources and opportunities to make substantive positive change in schools that enroll students who face challenges in succeeding in their educational lives. Among the resources noted were the growing engagement of the community and opportunities to work with more highly qualified colleagues.
Participants shared their own experiences in working with high needs students and much of the discussion referenced work on the positive impact of building community among students and providing them opportunities to interact with role models. Video clips highlighted important work that is underway at San Francisco State University to mobilize stakeholders who want to change the status quo. The conversation was lively and thought-provoking. Several new-to-ASPIRE upper class students noted afterwards that they wish they had gotten involved in ASPIRE earlier.
Great Job Katie!
