Back to School 2007: College of Education Focuses on Training High Quality Teachers :: University Communications Newsdesk, University of Maryland

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For Immediate Release
July 30, 2007
Contacts: David Ottalini, 301 405 4076 or dottalin@umd.edu

Back to School 2007: College of Education Focuses on Training High Quality Teachers

Prof. Donna Wiseman is the 2007-2008 Interim Dean of the College of Education at the University of Maryland

Even as change swirls around education policy in the United States, the University of Maryland's College of Education continues to focus on making sure it trains the best possible teachers for all grade levels. "By focusing on what we do best," says new Interim Dean Donna Wiseman, "we can help each school make progress."

Wiseman, who was the college's associate dean for teacher education before taking on her current post, says there is a particular focus on training teachers in the STEM professions - science, technology, engineering and mathematics. "There are fewer individuals going into STEM professions than in the past and many believe that our country cannot remain economically competitive in the global arena unless more of our high school and university students are motivated to enter careers in these areas," she says.

The focus is not just on secondary school teachers, but also helping prepare elementary teachers for these subjects. "We are considering how to best prepare (them) so that they will feel comfortable introducing elementary students to STEM content."

On another front, the interim dean says there are a number of initiatives underway to help high schools ensure their students are prepared for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and are "encouraged to experience success in college level course work." Wiseman says one example is that "the college is collaborating on a project to develop curriculum that prepares students for advanced placement courses in engineering related content."


	The College of Education is located in the Benjamin Building on campus.

The University of Maryland is a top 20 research university, and that extends to the College of Education as well, where Wiseman says a great deal of work goes into making sure research findings have an impact on the classroom. "Research enables us to better understand and improve teaching and learning." One example of the huge impact Maryland research has had includes how the work of one Maryland mathematics education professor helped students in Baltimore achieve significant gains on statewide tests in grades one through five.

"Our researchers (have also) helped educators reduce over-referral of minority children into special education, enhance our understanding of high quality teaching, improve comprehension instruction, and raised scores at elementary, middle, and high schools in the Bladensburg area of Prince George's County."

For more on Maryland's leadership role in teacher education and research, read our "Conversation With..." Interim Dean of Education Donna Wiseman =>

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