Professional Institute for Educators

The culminating experience in the PIE MEd programs is the formal capstone project. Each year, students in the Educational Program Design and Educational Technology MEd Programs complete a project that represents a unique reflection of his, her or their individual course of study. This capstone project ties together the sum of the M.Ed. coursework taken in the program, and offers educators the choice of completing one of three projects, according to educator interest and utility within the educator’s classroom, school or District. Options include: 1) curriculum project, 2) research project, or 3) action research project. 

Traditionally these projects are shared and celebrated during the Capstone Gallery Walk. This event brings together the students, UArts staff, capstone committee members and guests and provides students the opportunity to share and get feedback on these culminating projects. This year, due to the need for strict social distancing, the decision was made to hold this event online via zoom. Each student utilized “Padlet” to make a poster that the community could preview before the event. During the 2-hour zoom session, each student had 10 minutes to share the highlights of their projects and committee members had the chance to ask questions. Overall the event was a huge success! The capstone course instructor, Elana Betts, provided excellent leadership in orchestrating the event and the students were able to both celebrate each other and to get the meaningful feedback that they deserved as they moved into their final revisions over the course of the next few weeks. 

This year there were five curriculum projects and two action research projects (listed below). Highlights included several projects that ended up preparing students for the distance learning that many of them are engaging in (such as “Digital Feedback.” “The In-Class Flip” and “Integrating Digital Technology in the Planning of Artwork”). The key theme that ran through all of the projects this year was a strong focus on meeting the needs of K-12 students--from giving them the tools that they need to be successful, to delivering useful and meaningful feedback to focusing on the whole student through social-emotional learning. The capstone process truly allowed these MEd students to investigate a problem that they were encountering in order to devise meaningful solutions that benefit both K-12 students and teachers alike. 

Maria Geiger is an educational technology instructor specializing in blended/flipped learning, digital communication and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum. She has participated in numerous showcases and conferences in the northeast as an educational technology leader. She created a short video to share her top tips for online learning, as educators and students transition into virtual classrooms.

• Communicate Regularly

  • Connect with students consistently to let them know you are there for them if they have questions, need reminders about work, or need other forms of support

• Use modules or units to organize lessons

  • Using themes can make online learning more manageable for you and your students

• Hold synchronous sessions when possible

  • Engaging in discussions to review the week and preview what is next will make online learning more relevant

• Know your content, but keep lectures short

  • It is scientifically proven that 6 minutes is the average attention span

• Be yourself! This will make online learning seem more like the real classroom

As educators and students around the globe transition into online learning, many are looking for ways to support and enhance teaching the visual and performing arts virtually. The University of the Arts Pre-College staff has compiled a list of fine and performing arts resources and opportunities that students can take advantage of from the comfort and safety of their homes.

The range of online arts access ranges from the Social Distancing Festival—a website celebrating art from all over the world—online collections and tours of museums, as well as virtual escape rooms. Additionally, many film festivals, poetry readings and dance performances are being streamed online while curators and scholars are offering insights about artworks and exhibitions. We hope these resources provide avenues for new and robust virtual learning experiences.
 

Explore resources

Guide to humanizing your online learning

Cindy Willits course offerings

In the past few weeks, we have seen major changes in the world and in the classroom. Schools across the country have shut their physical doors and slowly opened the door to online learning. The Professional Institute for Educators (PIE) at UArts is here to help you navigate your next steps as an educator. 

Two of our distinguished Educational Technology faculty members, Maria Geiger and Cindy Willits, have assembled resources that may benefit you as you work to keep your students actively engaged in an online learning environment. Our No. 1 priority at this time is to help you develop new skills, so you can keep your students on track and become a resource to your colleagues. You can view the resources below.

Cindy Willits has been teaching online for over a decade with a prominent Pennsylvania public cyber charter school. She leads professional development for her colleagues and is a resource for educational technology implementation for her peers and her students. She has presented at many educational conferences including several iNACOL conferences, Blackboard Summit and Blackboard World conferences, PETE & C and PAGE.

Quick guide to Screencastify

Quick guide to Flipgrid

Student guide to Flipgrid

Art & Design Education

Alumni & Friends Workshop

A Visual Art & Design Educator Professional Development Day

Preparing our students for the future by strengthening 21st century skills.

Visual Art & Design Educators and Museum Educators are invited to join us for a day devoted to art and design education and professional development. Connect with your peers, learn new studio techniques and experiment with alternative classroom methods.

Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020
8:30 a.m. Registration & Breakfast
9 a.m.–4 p.m. Keynote, Workshops & Lunch

University of the Arts
Hamilton Hall
320 S. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Price: $20
Register below (current UArts students and faculty attend FREE!)

• Keynote presentation from Sam Aquillano (founder and exective director of Design Museum Foundation)
• A full day of Art & Design Education Workshops and Materials
• Act 48 hours (if applicable)
• Breakfast/Lunch

View workshops

Learn more and register

PIE instructor Cindy Willits will be presenting a session at the 2019 Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools Conference in October. Cindy's presentation will focus on ways to make science hands-on in an online classroom.  Explore how utilizing online tools, webcam and engaging interactions can give students a hands-on and multi-sensory science experience. 

Cindy is also working with PA state senators and assemblymen in September to show them how online education is a viable, interactive, and engaging experience.

Explore Cindy Willits' fall courses:

Google Apps for Education

Digital Communication in the Classroom

Shannon Luciani is a 4th grade teacher in the Harrisburg School District. She serves as a member of the Leadership Team, the grade level team leader, the webmistress, technology contact, and the science coordinator for her building. 

Shannon Luciani graduated with honors from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2002 with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and a concentration in World Religions. She earned her Masters of Education in Educational Technology from the University of the Arts in 2018. 

Shannon has been teaching in the Harrisburg Public Schools since 2008. She has taught kindergarten and 1st grade and is currently teaching 4th grade at Downey School. While in Harrisburg, she has served as the technology trainer for her building, creating a series of “Tech 101” classes for the staff that introduced them to technology tools for the classroom. She has been the coordinator for the building STEAM lab, incorporating lessons from outside agencies into lessons and programs within the science curriculum. 

Shannon was the first student to enroll in the Educational Technology program as a distance learner. She was able to digitally attend traditional classes, using iPads and Facetime to view the lecture and interact with the class. She has used the skills learned at UArts to incorporate technology into her daily lessons in various ways including differentiation for English Learners using iPads, digital field trips, learning stations with smart technology that teaches in levels matching the student’s needs, and providing a variety of leveled enrichment opportunities.

Interested in earning your MEd?

Our MEd Program is designed for K-12 educators who have yet to earn their master’s degree and are seeking a graduate-level experience in innovative teaching methods. You can transfer up to six credits of graduate coursework from accredited institutions outside ofUArts and/or non‐matriculated graduate credit earned from UArts toward your degree.

Learn more

Fall 2019 & Spring 2020 registration is now open. 

Get a head start on planning your professional development for Fall 2019. Professional Institute for Educators is an accredited PA and NJ professional development provider. This Fall, we are offering courses in Visual Art, Ed Tech, Inclusion and more – all designed to provide educators with new skills and content for their classrooms. Get a preview of our upcoming courses to get early approval from your school or district.

View Fall 2019 Course Listing

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Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress, the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program at the University of the Arts creates professional development opportunities for K-12 educators in the greater-Philadelphia area that focus on teaching with primary sources in an arts context to enhance cross-curricular areas in all grade levels.

Teaching with Primary Sources courses are offered tuition free or reduced rate for-credit and are designed to teach educators how to use primary sources and the arts in K-12 classrooms.

Courses are held during ArtsWeek on UArts' campus, August 5-August 9th.

Explore our course offerings:

• A is for Everything: How Typography Shapes our Language and Culture (Non-Credit) - Register Now
• A is for Everything: How Typography Shapes our Language and Culture (3.0 Credits) - Register Now

• Comics + Graphic Novels as Primary Sources (Non-Credit) - Register Now
• Comics + Graphic Novels as Primary Sources (3.0 Credits) - Register Now

• Moving Pictures: Connecting with Documentary Film (Non-Credit) - Register Now
• Moving Pictures: Connecting with Documentary Film (3.0 Credits) - Register Now

• STEM to STEAM: Connecting the Arts to STEM and Local Collections (Non-Credit) - Register Now
• STEM to STEAM: Connecting the Arts to STEM and Local Collections (3.0 Credits) - Register Now

Join us on Monday, April 29th at 5pm to celebrate the work of the MEd students as they share their capstone projects in an informal "Gallery Walk" format. Please RSVP by April 14th.

Monday, April 29th
5:00PM

University of the Arts: Terra Hall, 9th floor
211 S Broad St
Philadelphia PA 19107

RSVP

Are you looking for professional development or graduate credit opportunities this Summer? Professional Institute for Educators programs provide individual attention and support that are the hallmark of every learning experience at UArts. No application is required for any of our 3-credit graduate courses in the Arts, Inclusion, Ed Tech, and Literacy.

Summer course highlights:

• Design Thinking for the Classroom
  Discover how Design Thinking can be used to teach 21st century skills, creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking.
  Instructor: Phil Holcombe
  Hybrid | In-Person @ UArts: Monday, July 15-Friday, July 19, 9am-4pm | Online: Monday, July 15-Monday, July 29
   
• Graphic Design for the Classroom: Adobe Creative Cloud
  Learn the basics of image resolution, scanning, import/export, and photo adjustments, and gain an understanding of how this design program can work in your classroom.
  Instructor: Christine Bailey
  In-Person @ UArts | Monday, August 5-Friday, August 9 | 9am-5:30pm

View Full Course Listing

ArtsWeek courses are offered in two locations:

• Wayne Art Center | Monday, June 24-Friday, June 28
• University of the Arts | Monday, August 5-Friday, August 9\

ArtsWeek provides a rich studio, collaborative experience designed for teachers who are interested in innovative approaches to education.

ArtsWeek course listings + more information

The Teaching with Primary Sources Program at the University of the Arts

Monday August 5 - Friday, August 9, 2019
9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress, the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program at the University of the Arts creates professional development opportunities for K-12 educators. TPS-UArts courses introduce educators, librarians and administrators to the digital archives and teaching resources available through the Library of Congress website, in order to identify and use primary source material in the classroom. Educators, librarians and school administrators learn inquiry-based tactics to guide students through analysis of primary sources, resulting in stronger higher-order and critical thinking skills.

Non-credit classes are TUITION FREE. Graduate credit for these courses is available at a 50% reduced tuition rate. Please note: All participants (credit and non-credit) are required to pay a non-refundable $50 materials fee at the time of registration.

2019 Course Offerings:

A is For Everything: How Typography Shapes our Language and Culture

Explore meaning and subject matter through type design. Collaborative exercises will encourage participants to think critically and openly about how type and design shape our language and visual culture. Site visits include collections in the Philadelphia region, with guest lectures and an artist studio visit.

Register Now

Comics and Graphic Novels as Primary Sources

Gain general overview of the history of comics and graphic novels, particularly as social commentary in the U.S., using the resources of the Library of Congress. Projects include researching and evaluating comics, hands-on printing and design activities, lesson plan development, and more.

Register Now

Moving Pictures: Connecting with Documentary Film

Explore the role of archival sources within documentary through screenings, discussions and projects using the Library of Congress collections. Teachers will produce a short film that draws upon this resource and, in the process, learn about research techniques, non-linear editing and ethics around archival usage.

Register Now

STEM to STEAM: Connecting the Arts to STEM and Local Collections

Examine primary sources from direct access to local collections as well as the digital resources made available by the Library of Congress. Site visits include collections in the Philadelphia region and a studio visit with a contemporary artist.

Register Now

Jill Rakowicz, a K-5 arts teacher with the Littlestown Area School District, is an alumni of the MEd in Educational Program Design program. Hear about her capstone project, which she was selected to present to at the NAEA conference in Chicago and imagine how your own classroom practice would be enhanced through one of UArts' 30-credit Master's degrees.

MEd Ed Program Design Alum - Jill Rakowicz from UArts CS on Vimeo.

Apply today and begin this Summer. The priority application deadline is March 1st, with core courses begin July 8th at Villanova University.

Meet Jill

Blended + Flipped Learning: What is it All About?
Explore flipped classroom practices using free classroom resources and learn how to flip learning in any environment, even with limited online access and/or limited devices. 
Online + 4 Synchronous Sessions | February 4-March 4
Instructor: Maria Geiger

Register Now

Classroom as Makerspace
Gain the ability to plan and develop a low-cost makerspace to use with students for the design of creative projects to deepen understanding of content though hands-on, self-directed learning.
Hybrid | Online + 8 In-Person Sessions | February 9-April 20
Instructor: Noah Brock

Register Now

Special Topics in Ed Tech: Integrating Technology into Content Areas
Blend technology tools into hands-on activities and lessons that engage students and enhance learning. Discover specific strategies for your individual content area(s) while engaging with teachers from other disciplines.
Online + 4 synchronous sessions | January 21-February 22
Instructor: Howard Glasser

Register Now

View a full course listing here.

Fulfill Act 48 hours and earn graduate credits early in 2019 on your own schedule. Online courses allow you to advance your career without interrupting it.

Don't miss these courses starting in January:

Digital Communication in the Classroom
Explore the opportunities that digital communication such as blogs, fora, wikis, discussion boards, and others can present in the classroom setting, and how digital communication strategies can effectively support and enhance curriculum.
Online + 5 synchronous sessions | January 7-February 8
Instructor: Cynthia Willits

Register Now

Special Topics in Ed Tech: Integrating Technology into Content Areas
Blend technology tools into lessons that engage students and enhance learning. Discover specific strategies for your individual content area(s) while engaging with teachers from other disciplines. Hands-on activities for classroom application include desktop publishing projects to combine text with images, web-based activities, podcasting and more.
Online + 4 synchronous sessions | January 21-February 22
Instructor: Howard Glasser

Register Now

View a full course listing here.

Fulfill Act 48 hours and earn graduate credits while gaining new practices to bring to your classroom.

Courses include the Arts, Ed Tech, Inclusion, Literacy, and more. View a full course listing or view brochure.

Interested in an MEd or Graduate Certificate?

Begin earning your MEd in Educational Program Design or Educational Technology this Summer.

Our practice-centered programs provide individual attention and support at your own pace, so you can advance your professional goals without career interruption.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with priority given to those submitted by March 1st. Learn more about the application process here.

Christianna Berg, MEd in Educational Program Design, presented her MEd Capstone Project - an integrated science and social studies curriculum designed for 5th grade - at Pennsylvania's Curriculum Summit in Pittsburgh, PA. Since her presentation, Christianna has reflected on and adapted her curriculum. You can read more about Christianna's journey as an MEd graduate on her blog here.