Aug. 1, 2008

GSW hosts PDS network

AMERICUS--Field experience is essential in all pre-service teacher education programs. Because of a 2004 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) grant worth more the $400,000, Georgia Southwestern State University’s School of Education and School of Computing and Mathematics worked in tandem to develop a self-sustaining, Web-based national network where institutions involved with Professional Development Schools (PDS) can contribute to and learn from each other’s experiences.

The cost for GSW to host and maintain the sight was not included in the grant. Fortunately, the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) has agreed to subsidize these costs in each year of its existence.

Georgia Southwestern Vice President of Academic Affairs Brian U. Adler, Ph.D., recently signed an agreement to renew the contract with the ATE, effective today.

Administered and operated by GSW Information Technology personnel, the network was created by the School of Computing and Mathematics and two computer science graduates in particular, Brian Campbell and Joao Paulo Clementi. The network allows institutions from around the country, including George Mason University, the University of Maryland and Georgia Southern University, to compare and contrast information vital to the improvement of educator preparation and student learning.

These institutions all have a network of school systems known as Professional Development Schools where they send students in preparation to become teachers. Georgia Southwestern’s PDS network includes the following school systems: Ben-Hill, Crisp, Dodge, Houston, Lee, Macon, Marion, Pulaski, Schley, Sumter, Webster and Wilcox.

"The GSW Professional Development Schools Network was established in 2004 and has been an important collaboration with the GSW School of Education in improving the quality of new teachers,” said Education Dean Lettie Watford, Ph.D. “The continuous feedback from our partners in the Professional Development Schools not only helps us in Southwest Georgia to provide good real-life classroom experiences for teacher candidates but provides a service through the FIPSE grant to ensure the quality of new teachers throughout the nation."

 PHOTO AVAILABLE

Signing—Front row, left to right: GSW VPAA Brian Adler (left) is shown signing the contract with ATE while Dean Boris Peltsverger looks on. Back row, left to right: Computer Science Professor Arvind Shah, Systems Support Technician Jarrett Hartsfield and Chief Information Officer Royce Hacket. 

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