| (CHARLOTTE,
NC June 10, 2004)----Johnson C. Smith University is continuing
to be a leader in technology not only educating its students,
but by also extending a hand to offer some of those same
learning opportunities to the community online this summer.
Twelve Charlotte area teaching
assistants will be part of a pilot program connected to
JCSU’s new Campus and Community Center for e-Learning and
Technology (C3e-LT). The purpose of the new center is to
address the growing educational needs of residents in the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg and surrounding county areas. When
completed, this will be the first time JCSU will be able to
offer courses online.
The full-time teaching assistants will
participate in the school’s online course called, Psychology
of the Exceptional. This is a required course in the teaching
profession. The course will be taught by two professors
beginning June 15 and ending July 31.
“Access to and inclusion in
education and training are critical to the economic health and
social welfare of our great nation,” said JCSU President Dr.
Dorothy Cowser Yancy. “In today’s knowledge-based economy,
information literacy, technical skills and business are
vitally important.”
JCSU is able to conduct Phase I
of the pilot program due to a $ 149,025.00 grant from the U.S.
Dept. of Education. The university received the grant last
year and since that time staff has hired a program
coordinator, formed focus groups to pinpoint the most needed
types of courses.
The funds also paid for staff and
faculty to attend two day training at the Gwinnett University
Center in Lawrenceville, GA on online course development.
The pilot online course is the
beginning of fully establishing JCSU’s Campus and Community
Center for e-Learning and Technology. In addition to the
teaching aspect, Phase I also included planning and
development to upgrade workforce skills for local low-income
populations.
A final part of Phase I is to
begin offering A+ Certification training to a select group of
West Charlotte 2004 high school graduates. These students are
interested in going directly into the workforce. This training
is scheduled for early July 2004.
For more information, contact Public
Relations Assistant Director Benny Smith at 704. 378.1032 or
Program Director Angela Jeter at 704.378.3558
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