Resources for Professional Development
| Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Little Rock | |
| Find information and tips on helping students make transitions, directing students' attention, challenging students, providing support for students, encouraging active learning, and building community with your students. | |
| Record last updated: 4/3/2009 |
| Advanced Placement Professional Development Center | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Little Rock | |
| The UALR AP Professional Development Center provides classes for educators in the areas of English and social studies, mathematics, Spanish, science, and art. The program is endorsed by the College Board and instructors who have extensive experience teaching AP or pre-AP classes will provide instruction for teachers in week-long summer institutes. Graduate credit and some scholarships are available. | |
| Record last updated: 7/21/2009 |
| Arkansas Center for Earthquake Education and Technology Transfer | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Little Rock | |
| Includes a school resources link with "fun and unusual k-12 education activities, projects, virtual field trips and virtual earthquakes." Addresses earthquake education and preparedness with teaching resources arranged by age level. Materials such as coloring books and earth science lesson plans. Also has information on seimoslogy and rockhounding in Arkansas; FEMA courses for school personnel; and an earthquake preparedness guidebook. | |
| Record last updated: 4/15/2009 |
| Arkansas Center for Mathematics and Science Education | |
| Host: University of Central Arkansas | |
| "The mission of ACMSE is to improve mathematics and science education in the state through the implementation of programs which enhance the mathematical and scientific knowledge of the Arkansas students and teachers." Site includes technical assistance for teachers and information about programs aimed at enhancing math learning in underrepresented groups. The Center provides professional development opportunities for teachers. | |
| Record last updated: 6/2/2009 |
| Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| This center is a university research institute; current projectsinclude Mars, asterioids, black holes, and space instruments. The center web site offers information (with links) about center research and education and public outreach. Advanced degrees in space and planetary science and research opportunities for undergraduates are available. Public outreach includes teacher workshops in astronomy (free), lectures, field trip ideas, school visits, and Meteorite Magazine and the center newsletter, Space Notes. | |
| Record last updated: 7/10/2008 |
| Arkansas Council for Exceptional Children | |
| Host: Council for Exceptional Children | |
| The organization is dedicated to improving the lives of those with exceptional abilities through professional development in the form of symposiums, speakers, and conferences. There are several subdivisions including early childhood, children with behavioral disorders, and developmental disabilities. Offers three scholarships. | |
| Record last updated: 6/2/2009 |
| Arkansas Discovery Network | |
| Host: Donald W. Reynolds Foundation | |
| Seven museums and educational centers in the state partner to offer experiential learning. The hands-on, interactive museum experiences for schoolchildren and their families include touring exhibits. Members include the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Mid America Science Museum in Hot Springs, Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff, Texarkana Museums System, Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover and Arkansas State University Museum in Jonesboro and the University of Arkansas Center for Mathematics and Science Education in Fayetteville. Includes links to Web resources and lesson plans. Math and science teachers can apply for summer institute on inquiry learning techniques. | |
| Record last updated: 4/16/2009 |
| Arkansas IDEAS (Internet Delivered Education for Arkansas Schools) | |
| Host: Arkansas Educational Television Network & Arkansas Department of Education | |
| A partnership between AETN and ADE provides videos, workshops for teachers, telecourses, classroom instruction and summer camps for kids to learn about television production. Offers professional development opportunities and online courses which accrue ADE credit. Has many teaching resources for technology-enhanced lesson plans, including PBS lesson plans and an online library of resources. Teachers with an Arkansas license may register for a password. | |
| Record last updated: 4/17/2009 |
| Arkansas Library Association | |
| Host: Arkansas Library Association | |
| The mission of the state's library association is "to further the professional development of all library staff members; to foster communication and cooperation among librarians, trustees and friends of libraries; to increase the visibility of libraries..." The annual fall conference provides an opportunity for school librarians and other K-12 educators to obtain quality professional development credit. There is a program track for school librarians/children’s services public librarians and many other opportunities for professional growth. | |
| Record last updated: 10/3/2008 |
| Arkansas Reading Association | |
| Host: Arkansas Reading Association | |
| An affiliate of the International Reading Association, this professional organization of individuals, institutions and councils is dedicated to promoting reading and developing literacy. Conferences, awards, college scholarships, research grants are part of their work. | |
| Record last updated: 7/1/2008 |
| Arkansas Science Teachers Association | |
| Host: Arkansas Science Teachers Association | |
| Professional association for teachers of biology, geology, physics, chemistry, and astronomy. Site includes safety standards, news, science fair info, grants, news, lesson plans, frameworks, and contacts to specialists at the state level who assist teachers around the state. | |
| Record last updated: 2/27/2009 |
| Arkansas Space Grant Consortium | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Little Rock | |
| The mission of the consortium is to promote the involvement of the state in NASA activities. Their plans include programs directed to K-12 schools and the public that increase awareness of NASA's mission and purpose. They sponsor aerospace lectures open to the public, undergraduate college scholarships, and continuing education programs for K-12 teachers. | |
| Record last updated: 7/10/2008 |
| Arkansas Victim Assistance Academy | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Little Rock | |
| The academy provides one week of intensive training on the UALR campus for victim service providers working in the state. There is a cost for the program with the option of reimbursement, and a limited number of students can be accepted. The curriculum includes the history of victim advocacy, dynamics of the criminal and juvenile justice systems, mental health needs, legal issues for victim advocates, domestic violence, child victimization, sexual assault victims, substance abuse, and vicarious victimization. Course is appropriate for school counselors. | |
| Record last updated: 4/24/2009 |
| ArkansasEd.org | |
| Host: Arkansas Department of Education | |
| This is the state's main education portal. The website from the State Department of Education covers all aspects of education for Arkansas administrators, teachers, students, and parents. It includes, for example, resources for lesson plans, homework sites, the state's education directories, laws and regulations, calendar of upcoming events, and information on many education projects and issues. Also provides the links for districts, the home school office, the educational service cooperatives, and the public charter schools. | |
| Record last updated: 7/1/2008 |
| Brown Chair in Literacy Initiative | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| The initiative to "improve literacy throughout the state and beyond its borders" and to "forge partnerships [with]... a broad array of literacy professionals." Supports research, teaching, and outreach projects in four areas: literacy for adults, the workplace, k-16, and through the family. Links to workshops for teachers, publications, literacy organizations in Arkansas and nationally. Describes literacy courses offered for teachers and student oral history projects. | |
| Record last updated: 6/1/2009 |
| Butler Center For Arkansas Studies | |
| Host: Central Arkansas Library System | |
| Created at CALS in 1997, the Butler Center "is dedicated to exploring, preserving, and interpreting the history of Arkansas." Education resources include lesson plans searchable by grade level, ADE curriculum frameworks, and resource content; The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture (free online), and Books for Arkansas Students Education (BASE, a free book program for public high schools in the state). The Center also offers a professional development course in Arkansas history for educators. See also the Ed Portal's links to the Butler Center's digital collections and blogs on Arkansas history. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
| Center for Lifelong Learning | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Fort Smith | |
| The Center provides credit and non-credit learning opportunities for community members of all ages. Programs include services for seniors, performing arts classes, lectures by campus scholars, travel tours, on-campus as well as online classes, foreign language courses, employee training and professional development for teachers. | |
| Record last updated: 4/17/2009 |
| Center for Literacy | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Little Rock | |
| Established at UALR in 2006, the Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy Model is a school-reform model dedicated to increasing student achievement. "The model uses literacy as a tool for measuring school improvement in four related areas: student learning, teacher perceptions, school climate, and school processes.” Site has descriptive content on reading recovery, intervention groups, powerpoints by experts, a discussion board, and a schedule of institutes and conferences. | |
| Record last updated: 4/3/2009 |
| Center for Mathematics and Science Education | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Monticello | |
| Sponsored by the School of Education on the UAM campus, the mission of the Center is "to improve mathematics and science education in Southeast Arkansas by implementing programs which enhance math and science knowledge of students and teachers." Has a calendar of workshops for teachers, including summer training short courses. | |
| Record last updated: 7/24/2008 |
| Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMASE) | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| "One of twelve mathematics and science centers on university and college campuses around the state, CMASE provides quality resources and materials to the home, private and public education community." This is also the Arkansas NASA Educator Resource Center, the only one in the state. Has a calendar of events for children and adults around Arkansas. Lesson plans and links for teachers; events, contests, games for children. Scientific Living offers 20 short videos (< 2 minutes each) with discussion guides on space and space exploration, short science stories useful as multimedia supplements in teaching. | |
| Record last updated: 7/24/2008 |
| Department of Education Reform | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| EDRE was established in 2005, through a substantial private gift and matching funds, in the U. of A. College of Education and Health Professions. The Department is committed to producing "high-quality research that will inform policymakers, scholars, parents, teachers, administrators and the general public about policies and practices that could improve the performance of schools.." The Education Working Paper archive includes the full text of research reports on topics such as accountability, achievement, school choice, leadership, school finance, and teacher quality. Videos of presentations by visiting scholars are linked. There is a calendar of the upcoming speakers. Includes the Office for Education Policy which offers newsletters, policy briefs, web-based resources, and consultation about current education policy issues. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
| Economics Arkansas | |
| Host: Arkansas Council of Economic Education | |
| “The mission of Economics Arkansas is to promote economic literacy and the economic-way of thinking to students in Arkansas by empowering educators to teach the fourth “r,” real life economics.” Teacher resources includes lessons correlated to the frameworks, videos, projects to participate in, in-service training for teachers, and financial grants for teachers. Hosts student contests such as the Stock Market Game and a poster contest. Arkansas has six university-based centers. Includes information on the Bessie B. Moore awards program for teachers and the Polly M. Jackson teacher certification program. | |
| Record last updated: 4/24/2009 |
| Education Resource Organizations Directory (EROD) for Arkansas | |
| Host: U.S. Department of Education | |
| Ed.gov, the Education Resource Organizations Directory provides links to Arkansas agencies addressing needs such as child care, adult education, special education, literacy, technical education, grants, libraries, health, and postsecondary education. | |
| Record last updated: 4/6/2009 |
| GK-12 Outreach--The KIDS Program | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| The KIDS Program: Teaching the Science in Everyday Life is a project funded by NSF "to develop inquiry-based science and engineering education in Arkansas middle schools." It is "an interdisciplinary program focused on electronics and optics that will initiate a new effort to teach mathematics, science, and technology..." Site includes lesson plans developed by teachers and a calendar of summer training for teachers. Highlights results of NW Arkansas school programs presented on NPR radio and on the website. | |
| Record last updated: 7/2/2008 |
| Historic Arkansas Museum | |
| Host: Department of Arkansas Heritage | |
| Formerly called Arkansas Territorial Restoration, the museum offers fieldtrips for students to experience Arkansas frontier life hands-on and resources to assist teachers even if a visit is not possible. Materials have been developed by grade levels. There are downloadable resources, a loan box program, information on planning student visits, and professional development opportunities for teachers. The museum features "Arkansas Made" products such as arts, furniture, silver, pottery, quilts, firearms, and tools. | |
| Record last updated: 4/15/2009 |
| Northeast Arkansas Mathematics and Science Education Partnership | |
| Host: Arkansas State University | |
| This site is, "a joint effort by the Rural and Delta Mathematics and Science Educational Institutes to assist educators in their quest to provide quality education in Arkansas." Information about conferences, science fairs, workshops, teacher loans. | |
| Record last updated: 7/28/2008 |
| Ozarks Unlimited Resources Cooperative--O.U.R. Co-op | |
| Host: Arkansas Department of Education | |
| Site includes a calendar of professional development events, and services in the areas of distance learning, early childhood education, early childhood special education, math, reading first, gifted and talented, science, technology, and workforce education. Includes links to cooperating schools. | |
| Record last updated: 6/2/2009 |
| PhysTEC--Physics Teacher Education Coalition | |
| Host: University of Arkansas and the American Physical Society | |
| PhysTEC is an NSF supported coalition of physicists and physics teachers whose goal is to improve science teaching. The project builds relationships between physical science teachers, science departments, the education department, and the regional school systems. The coalition hosts teacher-in-residence programs and continuing education. Scholarships for future high school teachers are offered. | |
| Record last updated: 4/15/2009 |
| School Choice Demonstration Project | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Department of Education Reform | |
| Describes the history and concept of charter schools, summarizing the related laws and policies in the state of Arkansas. Includes a directory of charter schools in the state, with statistics and data about their programs. | |
| Record last updated: 8/25/2008 |
| Spatial Analysis Laboratory | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Monticello | |
| Everything you want to know about GPS or GIS. This site has been developed by Dr. Robert Weih, who has been working in spatial analysis for over 25 years. The site offers free, downloadable software and links to other useful sites. | |
| Record last updated: 7/2/2008 |
| Special Education | |
| Host: Arkansas Department of Education | |
| Site includes information about becoming a special educator, learning disabilities, information about teacher resources, funding, and medicaid. | |
| Record last updated: 7/22/2008 |
| Teach Arkansas | |
| Host: Arkansas Department of Education | |
| The Non-Traditional Licensure Progrman (NTLP) allows candidates who hold a bachelor's degree and meet other criteria to become certified teachers. Classes are offered in the summer and on Saturdays in a two-year program. The course includes a mentoring component, portfolio development, teaching in accredited schools, and pre-and post program assessments. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
| UA Professional Development Academy | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| Part of the College of Education and Health Professions at the U. of A., the Academy intends to help fulfill the University's mission as a land-grant institution of serving the state. The office will work to assess teachers' needs and identify campus resources that can help. Program planning is underway and will address the state requirement for continuing education hours for k-12 teachers. The calendar of events is under development. | |
| Record last updated: 4/3/2009 |
| Welcome the Children Project | |
| Host: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | |
| UAMS Partners for Inclusive Communities is addressing the needs of Latino children in early childhood. Originally known as Nuestra Familia, they provide training on cultural differences, second language acquisition, and assessing children for possible developmental delays. This project is funded by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. Events, courses, professional institutes and other training opportunities and efforts are listed on the site. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
