By Kristine Behrhorst/reporter
Beginning this spring, NE Campus will have a new learning environment.
Education and child development courses will be team taught, meaning two or more instructors involved in the same course.
Usually, this type of teaching is connected with an interdisciplinary approach to learning.
This teaching method is effective in simulating real-life situations, and the instructors interact with students on different topics from different perspectives.
Debi Blankenship, NE speech instructor, said, from her experiences, this method of teaching has been popular with students.
The courses will also incorporate service learning. Service learning combines the academic classroom curriculum with meaningful service (frequently youth service) within the community.
According to www.servicelearning.com, the learning communities meet on an ongoing basis for joint learning, lesson planning and problem solving. These teachers and learning teams usually consist of eight members. The teams will work together in examining the standards of students, planning of lessons, critiquing each other’s work and solving common problems with today’s teaching.
Currently instructors on NE Campus are working on the core curriculum of this program (the courses all students must take), course content and the structure of the program.
Students can take all required courses for the program on NE Campus.
In a recent phone interview, Dr. Faye Murphy, director of program development for TCCD, said, “This program is unique because it consists of blended learning.”
Murphy said blended learning consists of two modes—online and in class. The program will have three traditional core classes and two hybrid classes. Sections will be offered in the following courses: English composition, speech, art, speech and education during day and evening class times.
Each week students will alternate their class structures. One week the classes will be via Internet (online through Campus Cruiser), and the next week they will be in the classroom.
A block of classes for education majors will be offered this spring Tuesday/Thursday 3-5:50 p.m. on NE Campus.
“ Offering all classes on one campus will be convenient for students, increase public communication and increase attendance for the education program,” Blankenship said.
Prior to enrollment, students must meet the program requirements for education majors/teachers and meet with the program’s academic advisor.
For more information, call Richard Cates, academic advisor, at 817-515-6399.
