The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) urges institutions of higher education, school districts and schools to consider adult learning theories and career stages as they plan Professional Development. ODE recommends it is better to provide opportunities for educators to review, discuss and explore solutions rather than to demand or provide a set group of rules or policies that may not fit a particular environment or situation.

“Educators are charged with preparing students to live and work in the 21st century which incorporates technologies for learning and communication. It is also important for them to help students develop problem solving and collaborative skills and encourage creativity and self-motivation. This shift in teaching and learning requires a change from how teachers prepare, teach and assess students and can be supported through professional development,” says Carolyn Jaksetic, M.Ed., Director of Graduate Education and Professional Development at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio.

Clinical partnerships

The Lourdes University education department has developed clinical partnerships with local, regional and international schools. These relationships are proving to be extremely beneficial for both education students and clinical partners.

Pan American School

Last year, Dawn Milner, M.Ed., Coordinator of Clinical and Field Experience, provided professional development to educators at the Pan American School (PAS), an international baccalaureate school in Porto Alegre, Brazil. “While there, I worked with teachers in pre-K through grade 5 and their support teachers on co-teaching strategies. This included a three-hour professional development workshop on ‘Communication, Collaboration, and Co-Teaching’ to approximately 40 teachers and support teachers. The professional development also encompassed observing the pairs in action in their classrooms and meeting with them individually to provide formative feedback and brainstorm next steps,” she says.

Designed to be a mutually beneficial partnership, Lourdes University students have completed a portion of their student teaching and field experiences in Brazil and Lourdes professors have provided professional development to Pan American School educators. In January 2017, two Pan American School administrators reciprocated.

Middle/High School Principal Barbara Rogers and Athletic Director Daniel Simões spoke with Lourdes Master of Education Principal Academy students about “Global Perspectives in Education” while on campus. Two PAS students – Guilherme Caumo of Brazil and Maurice Gaudian of Germany – also made the trek. The four-member group gave a presentation to the EDU 216 Multicultural and Social Issues in Education class. They also immersed themselves in the region’s culture.

For more information on Lourdes University and its educational partnerships, call 419-824-3661 or email cjaksetic@lourdes.edu. You can also visit www.lourdes.edu/education. 

First Published March 10, 2017, 5:00 a.m.