Research and Outreach Initiatives
The descriptions below provide just a glimpse of the innovative initiatives
undertaken by the faculty and students of the School of Education. The School
of Education supports numerous activities that span traditional geographic and academic boundaries.
Centers/Institutes
- Training & Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC)
This Center helps to improve educational opportunities and contribute to the success of children and youth with disabilities. The T/TAC system develops products based on research, shares effective practices, and consults with schools. - Virginia View
Associated with the Counselor Education Program, Virginia VIEW (Vital Information for Education and Work) is the Career Information System for the Commonwealth of Virginia. This project provides information to all citizens
about educational and career opportunities through online resources and workshops. - Educational Policy Institute
EPI is sponsored and maintained by the Higher Education Program in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies of Virginia Tech's College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Its purpose is to facilitate the distribution of information and to stimulate discussion of policy issues affecting public education and higher education in Virginia. - Center for Instructional Technology Solutions in Industry and Education (CITSIE)
The CITSIE is a research and development center whose mission is to provide a focus for instructional technology research as well as outreach to clients in K-12, higher education, private sector, and government settings, including design and development expertise, instructional technology research and evaluation skills and knowledge, and instruction/assessment of technology skills. In addition, the center provides consulting expertise and/or collaborative efforts with faculty members across the university.
Initiatives
- Malawi Project
This project stretches VT expertise to east Africa, where faculty and graduate students are helping to foster teacher training and civic education. Funded by two grants from USAID, the project will result in the development of an advanced degree program, primary education teacher training, and integration of information communications and educational technology.
- Phi Delta Kappa Awards
Recognizing excellence in public schools and on campus, the VT chapter of Phi Delta Kappa selected awardees for the 2006 ceremony: Outstanding Educator Award–Melissa Lisanti; Excellence in Education–The Weight Club; Innovative Teacher Award–Marilyn Galbraith; Outstanding Pre-Service Teacher Award–Jamie Beamer; Public School Professional Educator Awards–Patricia Talbot and Patricia Agnew; Teacher as Researcher Award-Samantha Quesenberry; Research Award-Dana Gregory Rose. - VT Robotics Project
Team 401 – First Robotics Project: This MCPS/VT pre-engineering project brings together high school students from all over Montgomery County Virginia, Virginia Tech engineering students from all over the world, and faculty from Montgomery County Public Schools, and Virginia Tech! - International Conferences on Educational Leadership
Educators from PK-12 and university settings can study a range of international issues related to educational systems and reform in England and China, including the Conference on Educational Leadership and Ethics, the International Conference on Special Education, and the Joan L. Curcio International Women’s Leadership Conference. - Bridges for Engineering Education (BEEVT) Project
The BEEVT Project is a collaborative effort between engineering and education faulty at Virginia Tech. One project outcome is the new Technology Education Masters/Licensure Program (TEMLP), which allows graduates of engineering , architecture, and design programs to earn teaching licensure in Technology Education, a critical teaching shortage area. - Teaching American History
In October 2005, the U.S. Department of Education (Teaching American History Grant Program) awarded Floyd County Public Schools, Roanoke City Public Schools (LEA), Roanoke County Public Schools and Salem City Public Schools (Commonwealth of Virginia: Region VI Superintendents' Study Group Region), $1,000,000 to implement an intensive 3 year professional development program to support the teaching and learning of American history. The program is offered to all K-12 teachers who are responsible for teaching the content of the state-required American history standards in the four participating school districts. Monthly seminars, graduate coursework, and summer seminars serve as the foundation for this program. - Graphic Comm Central (GCC) Project
Since 1997, the GCC Project has been the Web portal for Graphic Communication and Communication Technology teachers and students. The site hosts/links to more than 4,000 educational resources, receives about 2 million electronic accesses per year, and hosts the GCC Listserv, which supports daily dialogue within the graphic communication education community. - Teaching, Learning, and Discovering Communities in Mexico
Purpose
This study abroad will have three purposes: 1) to provide an immersion experience in Spanish; 2) to examine the causes of migration from Mexico to the United States in recent years; and 3) to provide an opportunity to practice teaching English as a foreign language.
Location
The colonial city of Puebla, Mexico’s fourth largest city, is located two hours by bus from Mexico City. The UDLA is within walking distance of Cholula, the oldest continuously inhabited town in the Americas, also known as an important archaeological zone. The UDLA has a panoramic view of four of the largest volcanoes in Mexico. The campus offers outdoor recreation facilities, including a swimming pool.
Program Overview
Graduate students and practicing teachers will have a Spanish-language immersion course. They will also participate in a course called “Mexico Past and Present,” which examines the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical issues that have shaped modern Mexico and resulted in the waves of migration being experienced in the US. This experience will be enriched by a service-learning opportunity to teach English as a Foreign Language in a local community. Weekend and weekday trips to Oaxaca, Mexico City, and Cuetzalán will provide glimpses of the contrasts that shape Mexico today. - Southwest Virginia Assistive Technology System (SW VATS)
Southwest Virginia Assistive Technology System (SW VATS) at Virginia Tech is one of three regional sites of the Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS), a statewide assistive technology (AT) organization funded by the VA Department of Rehabilitative Services. VATS is committed to improving access to assistive technology devices and services for people with disabilities of all ages and abilities. SW VATS serves the region from Harrisonburg to Danville to Big Stone Gap. Maureen Weyer (Coordinator) and Susan Asselin (PI) in the Virginia Tech, School of Education offer:
AT Demonstrations & Trainings
Individuals interested in acquiring AT want to know what kinds of devices are available, how they work, and how easily each device is maintained. VATS offers demonstartion and trainings, directly and indirectly, to increase the consumer's knowledge of devices and level of skills.
VATS Demonstration Lab
All VATS Regional Sites have a demonstration area where individuals can see, touch, and experience a variety of devices as they search for the right tools. Some devices are available for short term loans and/or trials.
AT Information and Referral
There are countless numbers of approaches and devices to provide an independent living aid to yourself or a loved one.
AT and Transition workshops
Workshops for youth with disabilities, families and educators are offered in collaboration with Virginia Tech, New River Community College, & Radford University that include Real World Day for secondary students, and a summer College Bound program to prepare high school juniors and seniors for college success.
For help navigating the process, contact Project Coordinator, Maureen Weyer, 540-231-4270 or email swvats@vt.edu.