Professional Institute for Educators + MEd Programs
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Enrich yourself. Enrich your classroom.
Classes & Registration
Professional development courses for K-12 in-service teachers in the Arts, Inclusion, Literacy, Educational Technology, and Teaching with Primary Sources.
Tuition & Policies
Review tuition and fees for courses, and learn about program policies.
Graduate Degrees & Certificates
Earn a MEd in Educational Program Design or Educational Technology, or a 15-credit Graduate Certificate in the Arts or Educational Technology.
ArtsWeek
During summer ArtsWeek, teachers across all content areas work with practicing artists to explore art-specific techniques, concepts, and history that they can bring back to their classrooms.
Teaching with Primary Sources
Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress, the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program offers tuition-free professional development opportunities for K-12 educators in the greater-Philadelphia area.
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
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:
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Director, Professional Institute for Educators + MEd Programs
School of Professional Studies
Sarah Anne Eckert obtained her Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University in Educational Theory and Policy. She served as an Assistant Professor of Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University before returning to Philadelphia to teach history and provide research support to the Center for the Advancement of Girls at the Agnes Irwin School in Bryn Mawr, PA. She teaches US History and Women’s Global Health. Dr. Eckert previously taught 3rd grade in North Philadelphia and 7th grade at the Woodlynde School.
Looking for Programs for Music Educators?
The Summer Music Studies + MM in Music Education serve the needs of music teachers, offering matriculated degrees and non-matriculated graduate-level courses for professional development that meet PA Act 48 requirements.
Questions?
Request more infoContact Professional Institute for Educators
+ MEd Programs
pie@uarts.edu
School of Critical & Professional Studies
with the Center for Engagement
211 S. Broad St, Terra Hall 905
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 717 - 6006