FIU College of Education Points of Pride

Key Programs & Research Initiatives

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As alumni, stakeholders and friends of the College of Education at FIU, we are very proud of the extraordinary work of our dedicated faculty in preparing our undergraduate, masters and doctoral students to be the educators of our next generation. Our students are leaders and changemakers in the Miami-Dade community. Here a just a few of our points of pride.

In addition to the powerful teaching and learning that happens in the FIU College of Education, our faculty, staff and students are collaborating here and abroad to enhance our world and deliver education to people in places where it is most needed.

Dr. Charles Bleiker and his students developed a program, Math Ways, which teaches five specific number competencies (naming, writing, comparison, sequence, and bonds) which are known to predict later math achievement, based on the theory that children need a good foundation for math and that foundation begins early. These competencies are all taught by playing 15 games for 15 minutes each.

We will build on our early success and bring this project to its next iteration. We will develop the 15-game curriculum into a mobile app to be used by children on tablets in schools and at home. We will also be able to test our theory that our early success translates just as many learning gains through the use of digital technology, and a much greater reach among under-served youth.

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Project Panther LIFE Dr. Diana Valle-Riestra, Director

Project Panther LIFE provides students with intellectual disabilities (ID) a postsecondary program and an individualized system of support.

Students receive community experiences through academics and instruction, social activities, employment, and independent living.

Project Panther LIFE also provides advising, academic mentoring, peer coaching support, and job coaching. The program’s goals include developing self-determination, independent living skills and achieving the successful paid employability of its students.

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FIU After-School All-Stars Sean Prospect, Executive Director FIU After-School All-Stars is a partnership between the FIU College of Education and the national After-School All-Stars program that serves more than 2,000 students yearly in eight Miami-Dade middle schools. The program helps students living in at-risk communities with teacher-led homework help, different career options and healthy lifestyles through sports. The College of Education contributes their experienced faculty, who are developing teaching methods to help students succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) courses. FIU After-School All-Stars expanded to include nine more middle schools in January 2015.

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The Reading Scene Dr. Joyce Fine

Beginning as partnership between FIU and North Miami Senior High School, the Reading Scene has helped hundreds of students improve their literacy skills since. Graduate students in FIU Reading Education gain hands-on experience teaching a diverse student population, most of whom speak English as a second language. Reading Scene is taught with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), a national initiative that states what students should know in order to be prepared for college or the workforce after graduating high school. The program consists of 90 minutes of one-on-one or small group tutoring where students build their vocabulary through literacy-based activities and games.

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Recreational Therapy Study Abroad Program Dr. Alexis McKenney Dr. Alexis McKenney created a study abroad program where fully-abled students experience travel to Europe as paraplegic and blind tourists. Her goal was for students to understand firsthand the difficulties of traveling abroad while dealing with a disability. This experience resulted in students who were more critical of theirs surroundings and wanted to help others get the full experience. The program also resulted in a social media campaign to draw attention to the poor accessibility to public transportation for people with disabilities.

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MSCI Jamaica Dr. Flavia Iuspa This international initiative has been a partnership between FIU and the University College of the Caribbean since 2006. It provides masters degrees in Jamaica and has graduated seven cohorts. These graduates have made great accomplishments in classrooms, schools, government agencies, etc. The program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ). The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This model is now expanding its reach to Panama where Panamanian educators will have an opportunity to pursue an FIU master’s degree without leaving home.

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South Florida Educational Research Conference Dr. Tonette Rocco Now in its 14th year, the conference seeks to enhance the existing culture of research in colleges and universities in South Florida. The conference facilitates preparation, mentorship, and presentation of scholarly work by students, faculty, and alumni. It is hosted by FIU in partnership with Barry University, DeVry University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Memorial University, Johnson and Wales University, Keiser University, Lynn University, Miami Dade College, Nova Southeastern University, St. Thomas University and University of Miami.

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Study Abroad with Art Education Professor David Chang FIU College of Education professor and Director of Art Education Chang takes his students on study abroad programs to Europe and Asia for the purpose of teaching his students why artists like Monet and van Gogh painted.

Professor Chang does this by taking his students to Monet’s home and the Great Wall of China so that they can experience the artists’ surroundings. Study abroad programs in France consist of three seminars, including a guided study tour of the country, on-site art education workshops, and a final seminar and presentation after returning from the trip.

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Business and Leadership Institute for Early Learning Dr. Laura Dinehart FIU College of Education has partnered with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz, chair of the Early Learning Business and Leadership Institute, to present this series of seminars for early learning childcare center owners, directors, family center providers and those planning to be owners. Previously existing in Broward County, FIU has assisted in bringing this worthwhile program to Miami. Wells Fargo and Florida Power and Light fund this commitment to making child care center businesses more successful, profitable and fiscally viable.

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Scholarships in the College of Education The College of Education awards more than $60,000 in scholarships annually based on need, merit and/or academic background. Scholarships are available to fulltime undergraduate and graduate degree seeking students of the College of Education.

Scholarships are also available in specialized master’s degrees (MS in Urban Education; MS in Reading; MS in Curriculum Instruction; MS in Adult Education and Human Development; MS in Higher Education Administration; MS in Recreational and Sports Management.

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Literacy Tutoring at Elementary Schools Dr. Lynne Miller and the COE Reading Faculty

Our faculty have done extensive research on teaching reading to all ages with those who struggle in literacy skill development and abilities. They have developed in-school and summer practicum experiences, which benefit the literacy development of students and the professional development of undergraduate students in reading education.

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Habits of Mind Dr. Erskine S. Dottin & the Faculty Learning Community

Dr. Dottin and the Faculty Learning Community developed this philosophical mindset to enhance and nurture habits of mind for our teacher education candidates.

Workshops are for P�12 school faculty and administrators, college faculty and administrators and college students who want to be better thinkers in their discipline/content areas.

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Graduate Certificates

And our newest addition: Graduate Bilingual Education Certificate Starting Fall 2015, teachers will be able to pursue a 15-credit graduate certificate in Bilingual Education. We are looking forward to the opportunity to provide tuition scholarships for teachers enrolled in worthwhile initiative, which is so important to our South Florida community.

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Visible Thinking Dr. Angela K. Salmon Visible Thinking South Florida is a community engagement initiative created in 2006 by Dr. Angela K. Salmon and a few of her early childhood education students. The initiative is a collaboration of teachers, graduate students, alumni and early childhood practitioners from over 20 schools of Miami and Broward counties. A conference is held annually to engage early childhood and primary education in communities that want to enhance the thinking of children in the classroom. This year’s conference will be held on March 12-14, 2015.

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Kinect and Angle Measurements Dr. Barbara King

Microsoft’s Kinect was used by Professor Carmen Petrick Smith at the University of Vermont in Canada and our very own, Professor Barbara King, to show that body movements can enhance cognitive understanding.

Kinect was used on 20 third- and fourth-grade students to help them understand angle measurements and to solve geometric and trigonometry problems. The participants’ body movements were used to create an onscreen graphic where arrows duplicated the angle formed by their arms and the monitor changed color to distinguish acute, right, obtuse or straight angle. Kinect also allowed students to measure the angles with a visual protractor.

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Families Learning at Home and School (FLASH) Delia C. Garcia, Ed.D. The FLASH Program is a College of Education project designed to instruct linguistically and culturally diverse parents/caregivers and their children in the areas of ESL / literacy and school involvement. The program promotes the participation of families in the educational process of their children. An intergenerational approach is utilized with culturally relevant curricula and strategies oriented to the linguistic and academic needs of the family. While in the program, families participate in intensive cycles of 100-140 hours of instruction and intergenerational activities at selected schools in the district. The program has been in operation for the past 25 years receiving millions in funding from such organizations as the U. S. Department of Education, Florida Department of Education, Barbara Bush Foundation, and the Volunteer USA Foundation.

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Thank You! This has been just a quick look at some of the key programs and research initiatives happening at the College of Education at Florida International University. To learn more about these worthwhile programs or the many other ways that our dedicated faculty and students are truly making a difference, please contact:

Kristin Bird Senior Development Officer FIU College of Education (305) 348-2755 kbird@fiu.edu