The Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching and Learning (CERTL) at Wake Forest School of Medicine, part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, hosted 175 K-12 teachers from 86 schools in 16 Piedmont Triad school districts this week as part of their commitment to providing effective problem-based learning training to educators.
The ongoing training provides local teachers with the tools and knowledge to effectively prepare K-12 students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math – commonly known as STEM.
A partnership with the University of Texas at Dallas allows for enhanced training in problem- and project-based learning. This learning technique provides real-world scenarios and project management skills that engage students in a unique way that gives them ownership in their own education.
“Today’s students learn in a totally different way than previous generations did,” said Stan Hill, Ph.D., director of the Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching and Learning and assistant professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine. “That’s why we are committed to providing teachers with high-quality and cost-effective tools that are really transforming the way students learn.”
CERTL is currently in the second year of a three-year, $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create a Mathematics and Leadership Institute to serve 240 teachers from Alamance-Burlington Schools, Davidson County Schools, Lexington City Schools, Mt. Airy City Schools, Randolph County Schools and educators from Piedmont Triad Education Consortium. This grant is helping students increase their math fluency and knowledge by engaging them in real-world applications, collaboration and communication.
Since its inception in 1996, CERTL has provided school districts around the country with quality professional development and innovative instructional materials with the goal of raising student achievement by increasing teacher effectiveness.
Media Relations
Joe McCloskey: jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1273
Mac Ingraham: mingraha@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-3487